Dr. Colleen Vale

Biography

Colleen Vale is a professor in mathematics education affiliated with the Faculty of Education at Monash University. Her research primarily focuses on equity and social justice in mathematics education, particularly examining gender equity and the integration of digital technologies in learning. Vale has contributed significantly to the field through her work on out-of-field teaching in STEM, where she investigates the experiences of teachers working in areas outside their specialty. She has received numerous research grants aimed at evaluating students’ learning processes and teachers’ practices, particularly in relation to government policies. Currently, she is leading an Australian Research Council Discovery Project that studies primary teachers' adaptive expertise in interdisciplinary mathematics and science learning. Additionally, Vale is co-author of the award-winning reference book, 'Teaching Secondary School Mathematics: Research Practice for the 21st Century.' She has held leadership roles in various international mathematics education committees and has been involved in collaborative research projects across countries, enhancing the understanding of teacher education. Her expertise extends to both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, and she is experienced in supervising higher degree research candidates successfully in the area of mathematics education.

Research Interests