Mr. Peter Murphy
Details
Department: School of Education
Campus: Bundoora West Australia
peter.murphy3@rmit.edu.au
ORCID: 0009-0006-5555-5646
Open to
- Collaborative projects
- Career advice
- Join a web conference as a panellist or speaker
About
Peter Murphy is an Associate Lecturer in Education at RMIT University and a PhD candidate in the School of Design. His PhD research project explores how speculative design practices can be translated into pedagogical approaches that expand creative thinking, futures literacy, and social problem solving in school-based Design and Technologies education.
His work draws on design-based research, participatory and speculative methodologies to investigate how young people and teachers engage with emerging technological, social, and environmental futures through creative inquiry. His research interests include design education, futures studies, curriculum innovation, transdisciplinary learning, connectivist pedagogies, and AI-supported educational practice.
Before entering academia, Peter trained and worked as an industrial designer in Glasgow before moving into Design and Technologies education in Australian schools, where he held leadership roles for more than a decade. He served as State and National President of the Design and Technology Teachers’ Associations (DATTA Vic and DATTA Australia) and contributed to state and national curriculum development, including VCE Product Design and Technologies.
Media
Research fields
- 390307 Teacher education and professional development of educators
- 390405 Educational technology and computing
- 3303 Design
- 390102 Curriculum and pedagogy theory and development
- 330306 Design practice and methods
UN sustainable development goals
- 13 Climate Action
- 14 Life Below Water
- 15 Life on Land
- 4 Quality Education
- 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
Academic positions
- Associate Lecturer
- RMIT University
- School of Education
- Melbourne, RMIT University
- 3 Feb 2025 – Present
Non-academic positions
- Head of Programmes
- Melbourne Polytechnic
- Banyule Nillumbik Tech School
- Melbourne, Australia
- 1 Jun 2023 – 30 Jun 2024
- Sessional lecturer.
- ACU, SCU, La Trobe, RMIT
- School of Education (ACU, SCU, La Trobe) & School of Design (RMIT)
- Australia
- 19 Mar 2021 – Present
- Leading Teacher
- Department of Education
- Northcote High School.
- Melbourne, Australia.
- 1 Jan 2014 – 1 Jun 2021
Teaching interests
Peter teaches in the Master of Teaching Practice program at RMIT University, with particular emphasis on Design and Technologies, STEM education, curriculum innovation, and connectivist pedagogical practice.
His teaching focuses on creative inquiry, applied and authentic learning, futures-oriented education, and the integration of emerging technologies within school contexts.
Across his courses, Peter emphasises collaborative learning, creative thinking, critical reflection, systems thinking, culturally responsive, relational, and place-based pedagogical practices, and the development of inclusive and AI-resilient assessment approaches.
Courses
- TCHE2712 – Method 2: Design, Implementation and Innovation (12 CP)
- TCHE2679 – Thinking About Learning (12 CP)
- TCHE2680 – Young People, Education and Society (12 CP)
- TCHE2605 – Professional Experience: Introduction to Teaching (12 CP)
- TCHE2715 – Method 4: Professional Learning and Leadership (12 CP)
- TCHE2711 – Method 1: Curriculum and Pedagogy Years 7–10 (12 CP)
Research interests
- Design and Technologies education
- Speculative design and futures-oriented pedagogies
- Creative thinking, futures literacy, and social problem solving
- Transdisciplinary, systems-based, and connectivist learning
- Design-based research and participatory co-design
- Regenerative and sustainability-focused education
- AI-supported creative and educational practices
- Curriculum innovation and emerging technologies
- Critical and ethical approaches to technological futures
- School-university-industry partnerships in design education
