Dr Donnalee Taylor ~ Senior Lecturer, Vet Professional Education and Development

Dr Donnalee Taylor is a behavioural scientist with research expertise in cognition (learning, memory and temperament), psychology, behaviour, wellbeing, hope theory, higher education and student support. In her role as a senior lecturer, first year experience and personal and professional development coordinator she has implemented new support initiatives and created iAspire Student Support resources based on learning and transition pedagogy to improve student academic development.

Her grant proposals have attracted funding from government, industry and private funding bodies for rapid dissemination of results that have contributed to the human and animal cognition, health, behaviour and welfare bodies of knowledge that has help facilitate real-word changes.  Dr Taylor’s research includes refereed journal publications, peer reviewed national and international conference publications, guest speaker presentations and multi-media publications. 

Teaching

• TV1002: Veterinary Professional Life 2 (Level 1; TSV)
• TV1003: Animal Structure and Function (Level 1; TSV)
• TV1101: Veterinary Professional Life 1 (Level 1; TSV)
• TV2001: Integrated Animal Structure and Function 1 (Level 2; TSV)
• TV2002: Integrated Animal Structure and Function 2 (Level 2; TSV)
• TV3002: Transitions from Health to Disease 2 (Level 3; TSV)
• TV4001: Veterinary Clinical Sciences 1 (Level 4; TSV)
• TV4002: Veterinary Clinical Sciences 2 (Level 4; TSV)
• TV5005: Veterinary Clinical and Professional Practice Part 1 of 4 (Level 5; TSV)
• TV5006: Veterinary Clinical and Professional Practice Part 2 of 4 (Level 5; TSV)
• TV5007: Veterinary Clinical and Professional Practice Part 3 of 4 (Level 5; TSV)
• TV5008: Veterinary Clinical and Professional Practice Part 4 of 4 (Level 5; TSV)

Interests

Research

• Student support and transition through first year and second year known as the sophomore slump: Research and Development of the first year experience at university and how instructional theory tools can improve students’ wellbeing and academic success in second and third year. SSAF Competitive Grant, Research and Development of the first year experience at university and how instructional theory tools can improve students’ wellbeing and academic success in second and third year. Funded in 2014, 2015 & 2016 ($10,200).
• Capacity and Resilience building: The components of capacity building tends to include a conception of collective development that taps into the abilities of individuals, communities and/or organizations to address perceived inherent obstacles. Capacity building focused on a partnership approach to increase self-sustaining abilities of individuals to recognize, analyse and effectively solve challenges while utilizing their existing and new found knowledge.
• Professional Development – Secondary Teachers Professional Development, Joint Curriculum and University Science Tasters for Student Preparedness for University – Providing professional development and capacity building for secondary teachers to build their confidence in addressing the ‘crisis’ in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Higher Education Participation and Partnership Program (HEPPP B) funded 2014 ($23,071).
• Hope Theory similar to Positive Psychology assesses levels of hope as well as agency and pathway thoughts. The importance of pathway thoughts in pursuing implicit or explicit goals provides a target for mental cognitive sequences.

Teaching

• Teaching and Measuring Hope (Hope Theory): An individual’s pathways and agency thinking are learned over the course of one’s child hood and later casts an affective tone on goal pursuit processes in general and are either broken or reinforced by subsequent success in goal pursuit.
• Mental Health & Wellbeing: The importance of providing knowledge and training in mental health and wellbeing to build capacity in mental health knowledge within their professional training will build their resilience and normalize mental health. The key is to capacity build our students to better care for themselves and improve helping behaviours for others.
• Student Support: Creator of iAspire Student Support resources in addition to creating and delivering unique student engagement and networking activities.

Experience

• 2013 to present - First Year Experience Coordinator, James Cook University (Townsville QLD)
• 2013 to present - Senior Lecturer, James Cook University (Townsville QLD)
• 2014 to 2015 - Graduate Certificate Education, James Cook University (Townsville QLD)
• 2012 to 2013 - Research Associate, Faculty of Medicine & Psychiatry, University of Sydney (Concord NSW)
• 2011 - Lecturer, Charles Sturt University (Wagga Wagga NSW)
• 2008 to 2011 - PhD Cognition and Behavioural Science, University of New England (Armidale NSW)
• 1997 to 2002 - Market Manager, Corporate Furniture Manufactures (Canada)

Research Disciplines

• Curriculum and Pedagogy (1302)
• Education Systems (1301)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Curriculum (9303)
• Teaching and Instruction (9302)

Awards

• 2010 - Keith & Dorothy Mackay Travel Award used for international research travel.
• 2010 - OhS University of New England Travel Award used for international research travel.

Fellowships

• 2008 to 2011 - Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovate (Sheep CRC)
• 2008 to 2011 - Australian Wool Education Trust (AWET)

Memberships

• 2013 to 2015 - Higher Education Research & Development Society of Australia (HERDSA)
• 2009 to 2015 - International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE)
• 2009 to 2015 - Australasian Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASSAB)

Other

• 2015 - The SP2 "Your JCU Subject and Teaching" survey highlighted 100% subject content satisfaction for the BM1003 subject that Dr Taylor coordinated and taught, along with 95% student satisfaction for her teaching content and style with 5% undecided.
• 2013 to 2015 - Student recognition for her contribution to student transition and support over the years. Announced at the Biomedical and Medical Laboratory Science (BMML) Society end of year dinner and graduation celebration 2015.

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Taylor D (2017) A chronicle of just-in-time information: the secret to building first year university student wellbeing and resilience based on a three year initiative. Student Success, 8 (1). pp. 35-47
• Taylor D and Harrison G (in press) Supporting biomedical students struggling with second-choice-syndrome to thrive rather than just survive first year. Journal of College Student Retention,
• Holland C and Taylor D (2016) Was that said with a smile?: factors influencing effective online negotiations. Australasian Dispute Resolution Journal, 27. pp. 103-110
• Dobos R, Taylor D, Trotter M, McCorkell B, Schneider D and Hinch G (2015) Characterising activities of free-ranging Merino ewes before, during and after lambing from GNSS data. Small Ruminant Research, 131. pp. 12-16
• Taylor D, Schneider D, Brown W, Price I, Trotter M, Lamb D and Hinch G (2011) GPS observation of shelter utilisation by Merino ewes. Animal Production Science, 51 (8). pp. 724-737
• Taylor D, Price I, Brown W and Hinch G (2011) Effects of Merino flock size, paddock complexity and time of day on response to trained leaders. Small Ruminant Research, 97 (1-3). pp. 35-40
• Taylor D, Brown W, Price I and Hinch G (2010) Training Merino sheep to respond to visual and auditory cues. Animal Production Science, 50 (6). pp. 541-545

Other research outputs

• Taylor D (2016) Biomedicine Freaky Friday Student Support Initiatives: engaging students socially and academically. [Digital recording]
• Taylor D (2016) iAspire student support: an introduction to statistics. [monograph]
• Taylor D (2016) iAspire Student Support: exam tips. [monograph]
• Taylor D (2016) iAspire Student Support: maximize your exam potential. [monograph]
• Taylor D (2016) iAspire Student Support: what is your preferred learning style? [monograph]

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 27+ research outputs authored by Dr Donnalee Taylor from 2008 onwards.

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

• Teaching 'Hope': Incorporating Hope Theory in Australian Law Students' Academic Experience (PhD , Secondary Advisor)