Professor Sue Bennett

Technology in education innovator

Professor Sue Bennett has advanced a particular set of original insights which have gained her international recognition in the field of technology in education. 

Bennett, from UOW’s School of Education, has a research agenda which explores students’ experiences of technology and teachers’ learning design practices – and the interactions between them. Such an integrated approach is rare in her field. 

Her research draws on psychological theory commonly used in educational technology research, and less well-known sociological theory. This interdisciplinary approach has led her to develop the innovative mixed methods techniques that characterise her work. It can result in findings that challenge the expected; for example that because children and teenagers today have grown up surrounded by technology they are all ‘digital natives’. In fact, Bennett’s research has shown there is a digital literacy divide and this can lead to an educational disadvantage for some kids. 

Bennett’s career achievements include a publication track record of more than 100 refereed journal articles, conference papers and scholarly book chapters; more than $1.3 million of research grant funding; and citations in a broad range of key international journals in education, psychology and sociology. 

She has worked for more than 15 years to develop the Information Technology in Education specialisation at UOW, during which time she has designed and taught innovative new subjects, co-ordinated the program, and led the teaching team to continuously improve its offerings. She has also been engaged with her professional community through the peak professional association, ASCILITE, as an editor of Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, and serving on editorial boards and conference program committees, as a reviewer and an examiner.