A/Prof Shaun Belward ~ Associate Dean, Learning and Teaching

Since 2010 Shaun Belward has held learning and teaching leadership roles within JCU. During this time he has actively pursued a research agenda aligned with these roles and has had considerable success in attracting external funding to JCU to progress this.

A common theme running through Shaun's research is in facilitating understanding of the numeracy demands of tertiary curricula. Mathematicians are uniquely placed for this role and Shaun has demonstrated this in two broad areas: designing curricula that develop quantitative skills in science students and in designing curricula for preservice secondary mathematics teachers.

Shaun's earlier research focussed on the solution of free boundary problems arising in modelling of airflow over mountains and groundwater flow. His interest in mathematical modelling remains and he is open to collaboration in this broad area.

Teaching

• MA1011: Mathematical Foundations for Advanced Secondary Students (Level 1; TSV)
• MA2210: Linear Algebra (Level 2; CNS & TSV)
• MA2900: Mathematics Content Knowledge for Lower Secondary School Teaching (Level 2; TSV)
• MA5010: Directed Study (Level 5; TSV)
• MA5020: Special Study A (Level 5; TSV)
• MA5021: Special Study B (Level 5; TSV)
• MA5022: Special Study C (Level 5; TSV)
• MA5023: Special Study D (Level 5; TSV)
• MA5050: Research Project A (Level 5; TSV)
• MA5051: Research Project B (Level 5; TSV)

Interests

Research

• Large scale curriculum design. Specifically in the case where one goal is to foster the development of quantitative skills in science students across the duration of a degree. Different influences have been researched. They are interwoven and include: the disconnect between the atomised view of the curriculum as often seen by teaching academics and the whole of program view which is often only held by those in teaching leadership or administration roles; the beliefs held by both students and academics regarding the nature of quantitative skills and who should teach them; the challenges in cross-disciplinary collaboration between mathematicians/statisticians and discipline scientists.
• Learning and teaching strategies for diverse cohorts of first year mathematics students. Research here includes the use of peer learning, the use of technology for content delivery and to develop conceptual undertstanding and the influences on negotiating the transition from secondary to tertiary mathematics or from VET study to tertiary mathematics.
• Learning and teaching strategies for preservice secondary mathematics teachers (PSTs). Research includes developing appropriate mathematics curriculum for PSTs, developing resources to enlighten PSTs and existing secondary teachers as to the value of mathematics beyond the classroom and designing recruitment strategies to bring more and better qualified students in to PST education.

Teaching

• Use of technology in teaching first year mathematics
• How to optimise peer group learning
• The use of diagnostic testing to inform subject selection
• Achieving a balance - what form should face-to-face classes take?

Experience

• 2019 to 2020 - Associate Dean Learning and Teaching (50%) and Associate Professor in Mathematics (50%), JCU (Townsville)
• 2016 to 2018 - Associate Professor in Mathematics, JCU (Townsville)
• 2004 to 2015 - Senior Lecturer in Mathematics, JCU (Townsville)
• 1996 to 2003 - Lecturer in Mathematics, JCU (Townsville)
• 1993 to 1995 - Associate Lecturer in Mathematics, JCU (Townsville)

Awards

• 2018 - JCU Awards for Excellence: Community Service (team award, joint with Dr Leah Daniel)
• 2009 - Faculty Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning
• 2009 - Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) Citation Winner for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning
• 1990 to 1993 - Australian Postgraduate Research Award

Memberships

• 2011 to 2020 - Queensland Association of Mathematics Teachers (QAMT) and the Townsville Branch of the QAMT
• 1993 to 2020 - Australian Mathematics Society (AustMS), the Australian and New Zealand Industrial and Applied Mathematics (ANZIAM) Division of AustMS and the Mathematics Education Special Interest Group of AustMS.

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

• King D, Varsavsky C, Belward S and Matthews K (2017) Investigating students’ perceptions of graduate learning outcomes in mathematics. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 48 (S1). pp. S67-S80
• Matthews K, Belward S, Coady C, Rylands L and Simbag V (2016) Curriculum development for quantitative skills in degree programs: a cross-institutional study situated in the life sciences. Higher Education Research & Development, 35 (3). pp. 545-559
• Penesis I, Kilpatrick S, Broun D, Belward S, Barnes R, Roddick J, Thomas G, León de la Barra B, Sammut K and Battersby P (2015) Development of mathematical pathways for VET students to articulate to related higher education courses: a focus on engineering. International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, 23 (1). pp. 52-63
• Mallett D, Nelson M, Porter A, Dekkers A, Townley-Jones M, Hudson I, Belward S, Coady C and King D (2013) Australian Learning and Teaching Council projects in the Mathematical Sciences: a retrospective. ANZIAM Journal, 53. pp. C576-C591
• Rylands L, Simbag V, Matthews K, Coady C and Belward S (2013) Scientists and mathematicians collaborating to build quantitative skills in undergraduate science. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 44 (6). pp. 834-845
• Higgins P, Read W and Belward S (2012) Analytical series solutions for three-dimensional supercritical flow over topography. Journal of Engineering Mathematics, 77 (1). pp. 39-49

Conference Papers

• Balatti J and Belward S (2012) Improving first year mathematics teaching through making connections: an action research approach. Merga Conference Proceedings. In: 35th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, 2–6 July 2012, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
• Balatti J and Belward S (2012) Working through the practice architectures of first year university mathematics teaching. Mathematics Education: expanding horizons. In: 35th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, 2–6 July 2012, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
• Belward S and Balatti J (2012) Doing it differently: the ups and downs of peer group learning. Mathematics Education: expanding horizons. In: 35th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, 2–6 July 2012, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
• Belward S, Matthews K, Thompson K, Pelaez N, Coady C, Adams P, Simbag V and Rylands L (2011) Applying mathematical thinking: the role of mathematicians and scientists in equipping the new generation scientist. Proceedings of the Eighth Southern Hemisphere Conference on Teaching and Learning Undergraduate Mathematics and Statistics. In: Volcanic Delta 2011 the Eighth Southern Hemisphere Conference on Teaching and Learning Undergraduate Mathematics and Statistics, 27 November-2 December 2011, Rotorua, New Zealand
• Belward S, Matthews K, Rylands L, Coady C, Adams P and Simbag V (2011) A study of the Australian tertiary sector's portrayed view of the relevance of quantitative skills in science. Proceedings of the 23rd biennial conference of the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers and the 34th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. In: AAMT-MERGA 2011 23rd biennial conference of the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers and the 34th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, 3-7 July 2011, Alice Springs, NT, Australia
• Ruhl K, Belward S and Balatti J (2011) A Systematic Analysis of Errors in the Simplification of a Rational Expression. Proceedings of the Eighth Southern Hemisphere Conference on Teaching and Learning Undergraduate Mathematics and Statistics. In: Volcanic Delta 2011 the Eighth Southern Hemisphere Conference on Teaching and Learning Undergraduate Mathematics and Statistics, 27 November-2 December 2011, Rotorua, New Zealand

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 30+ research outputs authored by A/Prof Shaun Belward from 2001 onwards.

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or 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

• Improving scalability, privacy and security of Blockchain Technology (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Parallel and Scalable Neural Network Algorithms (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Dynamic and stochastic vehicle routing for autonomous weed control. (PhD , Primary Advisor)

Completed

• Investigation of Unconditionally Secure Multi-Party Computation (2023, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Adaptations and acute physiological effects of various resistance training programs in adolescent and elite athletes (2018, PhD , Associate Advisor)