Staff Members
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Umesh Ramnarain (PhD) is a professor of science education in the Department of Science and Technology Education at the University of Johannesburg. His main research interest is in inquiry-based science education, with a particular focus on its uptake in South African classrooms. His research has been published in top-tier journals such as the International Journal of Science Education, Research in Science Education, Journal of Research in Science Teaching, Studies in Science Education, Chemistry Education Research and Practice, and Teaching and Teacher Education. He is the associate editor of the journals ‘Research in Science Education’ and ‘African Journal of Research in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education’ and has served on the editorial board of the Journal of Research in Science Teaching. He is currently a B-rated researcher by the NRF. He is a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf).
Contact: uramnarain@uj.ac.za
Dr Mafor Penn
Mafor Penn (PhD) is a senior lecturer at the Centre for Advanced Learning Technology in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (CALTSTEAM) and the Department of Science and Technology Education at the University of Johannesburg. She holds a Ph.D. in Science Education, a Masters in Science Education (MEd with distinction), and a BSc in Biochemistry (Upper Hons). Mafor currently does research in technology-enhanced science education with a focus on the affordances of Virtual and Augmented Reality (VAR) in science teaching and learning, simulation-enhanced science learning and Inquiry-Based Science Education (IBSE). She has also published some of her work in reputable journals and various national and international conferences, including SAARMSTE (Southern African countries), ISTE (South Africa), ICET, ICPE, ICESS & END (International). Before joining the University of Johannesburg, Mafor spent eight years in high school teaching Natural Sciences, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematics and Technology in South African schools.
Contact: mpenn@uj.ac.za
Ayodele Ogegbo Abosede (PhD) obtained her PhD in Science Education from the University of Pretoria in 2018. She is currently a Lecturer in the Centre for Advanced Learning Technologies in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (CALTSTEAM) and the Department of Science and Technology Education (SciTechEd). Her research interests are inquiry-based science education, computational thinking, and technology use in science education. Before joining the University of Johannesburg, Dr. Ogegbo worked at the Lagos State Ministry of Education as a senior education officer and served in various leadership capacities. She was a PDRF at UJ from 2019 and also worked as a Physics Tutor at the Physics Department at the University of Pretoria during her PhD studies.
Contact: ayodeleo@uj.ac.za
Noluthando Mdlalose is a Lecturer in the Centre for Advanced Learning Technologies in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (CALTSTEAM) and the Department of Science and Technology Education (SciTechEd). She started her lecturing career as an Assistant Lecturer from 2020 to 2022. Miss Mdlalose holds a Masters in Science Education (with Distinction in 2022) and is currently doing her PhD in science education, mainly specializing in the use of Virtual Reality classrooms (VR-Classroom) embedded with Learning Analytics (LA) to professionally develop Physical Science pre-service teachers’ Inquiry-based instructional strategies. Noluthando’s research niche areas are Inquiry-based learning approaches in science classrooms, Science teachers’ formative assessment practices, Mobile learning in science classrooms and the use of advanced immersive technologies for science teaching and learning.
Contact: nmdlalose@uj.ac.za
Distinguished Visiting Professors
Prof Joseph Krajcik (Michigan State University)
Joseph Krajcik (PhD) serves as director of the CREATE for STEM Institute and is the Lappan-Phillips Professor of Science Education and a University Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University. Throughout his career, Joe has collaborated with colleagues and science teachers to design and test project-based learning environments to improve teaching practices and to research student learning and engagement. Joe has also investigated the design of formative assessment to promote student learning, and recently, he has explored machine scoring to assess open-ended assessment tasks. Joe served as president of NARST, from which he received the Distinguished Contributions to Science Education Through Research Award in 2010. He served as the lead writer for developing Physical Science Standards for the NGSS and the lead writer for the Physical Science Design team for the Framework for K–12 Science Education. In 2020, Joe was elected to the National Academy of Education and received the prestigious McGraw Prize for Innovation in Pre-K-12 Education. In 2021, the International Society for Design and Development in Education Prize for Excellence in Educational Design. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts, and his book on Project-based Learning is in its fifth edition. He is a Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Department of Science and Technology Education at the University of Johannesburg.
Prof Timothy Teo (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Timothy Teo (PhD) is Professor and Associate Dean (Research) at the Faculty of Education at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Timothy’s research interests are multi-disciplinary and include both substantive and methodological areas Timothy is Editor-in-Chief of The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher (TAPER) (Scopus Q1; SSCI Q2) and a member of over 10 journal editorial boards. A highly published and cited scholar, Timothy has edited three books, written many book chapters and conference papers, and published over 205 journal articles, with 158 in highly ranked SSCI journals. He is a Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Department of Science and Technology Education at the University of Johannesburg.
Visiting Professors
Prof Yiyu Cai (Nanyang Technological University)
Yiyu Cai (PhD) heads the Computer-aided Engineering Labs and the Digitalization Cluster of Energy Research Institute at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. He is the deputy director of NTU’s Centre of Augmented and Virtual Reality. His research interests are mainly on Virtual and Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and their applications in Education, Biomedicine, and Building & Construction. His research findings have been published in leading journals such as Automation in Construction, Interactive Learning Environment, Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, IEEE Transactions on Robotics, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, etc. He has 10 books co-edited on Simulation, Serious Games, and Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality for Education. He is also a visiting professor at the University of Johannesburg.
Prof Hsin-Kai Wu (National Taiwan Normal University)
Hsin-Kai Wu (PhD) is an NTNU Chair Professor in the Graduate Institute of Science Education at the National Taiwan Normal University. Her research interests include learning technology, chemistry education, computer-based assessment, and early childhood science education. She is the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education and an associate editor of the Journal of Research in Science Teaching. Her research work has been published and highlighted in leading journals and recognized with the Early Career Award from the USA-based National Association for Research in Science Teaching and the Outstanding Research Award from the National Science and Technology Council of Taiwan. She is a visiting professor at the University of Johannesburg.
Prof Tutaleni Asino (Oklahoma State University)
Tutaleni I. Asino (PhD) is an Associate Professor at Oklahoma State University’s College of Education and Human Sciences, directing the Emerging Technology and Creativity Research Lab. His global research spans informal and formal learning spaces, focusing on Emerging Technologies in Learning environments, Comparative and International Education, Mobile Learning, Indigenous knowledge, and Open Education. Actively engaged in associations like CIES, AECT, and the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education, he’s chaired various groups, including the Indigenous Knowledge Special Interest Group. Tutaleni, a Carnegie Africa Diaspora Fellow, also served as a visiting associate professor at the University of Johannesburg, showcasing a deep commitment to advancing education globally.
Research Associates
Dr Sami Lehesvuori ( University of Jyväskylä)
Sami Lehesvuori (PhD) is an adjunct professor at the University of Jyväskylä with a demonstrated history of working in the research industry. Skilled in Science Education, Computer Science, Teacher Training, Science, and Teacher Evaluation. He is a strong research professional with a focus on university-level pedagogical development, classroom interaction and dialogic teaching. He is a research associate at the University of Johannesburg.
Dr Johnson Upahi (University of Ilorin)
Johnson Enero Upahi (PhD) is a Research Associate in the Department of Science and Technology Education at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa and a lecturer in the Department of Science Education at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. His research endeavour is focused on context and problem-based learning, the nature of science and scientific literacy, and science document analysis. His recent research interest focuses on inquiry-based learning, learning progression in science and teachers’ PCK, teacher talk, argumentation and scientific explanations. He has extensive teaching and research experience that spans a period of about ten years. He is passionate about science teaching and learning and has mentored and supervised several students’ research projects at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Johnson is a Research associate at the University of Johannesburg.
Ying-Shao Hsu (PhD)is a Professor of the Graduate Institute of Science Education and the Department of Earth Sciences, as well as Vice President for Research and Development at the National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU). She also holds the position of Chair Professor at NTNU. Her research focuses on auto-scoring, e-learning and teaching, SocioScientific Issue (SSI) teaching, inquiry learning, metacognition, and STEM education. Professor Hsu’s research work has been recognized with Outstanding Research Awards by the Minister of Science Technology (MOST) in Taiwan (2011 & 2015), National Science Council Reward Special Talents (2010 & 2011), National Taiwan Normal University Research Awards (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, & 2012), and Wu Da-Yu Memorial Award (2005). Ying-Shao is a visiting professor at the University of Johannesburg.
Dr Garima Bansal has served varying roles in the education sector ranging from a schoolteacher, university educator, and a research fellow in the Australian Council for Educational Research. Her research interests entail education assessment; science and mathematics education; and teacher education. She has published widely with top-tier journals with publishers, such as, Taylor and Francis and Springer. She has been a recipient of international awards by renowned academic bodies like the International Association of Education Assessment, the American Evaluation Association, and the British Educational Research Association. She serves on the editorial board of the journal Education 3-13.