Dr Ian Robertson

Teaching/Work Responsibilities

Ian is a senior lecturer in education. He is the program co-ordinator for the Graduate Certificate/Graduate Diploma in Industrial Education and Training.

Research Interests

Ian has a particular interest in flexible learning, e-learning and workplace learning from the perspectives of learners, teachers and managers. Specific areas of interest include learner readiness, adoption and diffusion of technology, educational and instructional design.

His research approaches incorporate the use of naturalistic inquiry, Basil Bernstein's theoretical framework and Activity Theory. Examples of topics supervised in post-graduate research include:

Can competency based training and a humanistic/development focus coexist in a TAFE program?

Project based learning and the implementation of a Training Package in the Fashion industry

Does the use of digital audio-visual assessment improve learning?

Supports and barriers to the implementation of blended learning

Learner readiness for online learning in an off-campus program

Generational change and capability development

The place of experiential learning in developing project management skills

Dropout from a high demand TAFE program

Publications

Robertson, I. (2007). Factors influencing vocational teacher's use of online functionalities in Australia. Australasian journal of educational technology, 2(2), 371-389.

Robertson, I. (2007). E-Learning practices: Exploring the potential of pedagogic space, activity theory and the pedagogic device [Electronic Version]. Learning and Socio-cultural Theory: Exploring Modern Vygotskian Perspectives International Workshop 2007, 1, 77-93.

Smith, P., Sadler-Smith, E., Robertson, I., & Wakefield, L. (2007). Leadership and learning: facilitating self-directed learning in enterprises. Journal of European industrial training, 31(5), 324-335.

Robertson, I. (2007, 11-13 April). Technology-based learning: Problematising VET students' preferences and readiness Paper presented at the 10th Annual AVETRA Conference: Evolution, revolution or status quo? The new context for VET. Victoria University, Melbourne.

Robertson, I. (2007, 19-20 February). E-learning practices: Exploring the potential of pedagogic space, activity theory and the pedagogic device. Paper presented at the Learning and socio-cultural theory: Exploring modern Vygotskian perspectives. International Workshop. Wollongong University.

Robertson, I. (2006, May). Surveying online technology: A matter of design. The knowledge tree. An e-journal of learning innovation, Edition 9, pp.38-49.

Robertson, I. (2006, 19-21 April). Deconstruction, confusion and frequency: Surveying technology use by vocational teachers. Paper presented at the 9th Annual AVETRA Conference. Global VET: Challenges at the Global, National and Local Levels, University of Wollongong.