Dr Amy Cutter-Mackenzie

Biography

Dr Cutter-Mackenzie commenced her career as a primary school teacher in Queensland. She later moved into academia after completing her PhD in 2003. Her PhD was aimed squarely at assessing the scope and range of teachers' ecoliteracy. A key finding from Amy's postgraduate work was the conceptualisation of ecoliteracy during a time where little progress had been made in the area. Amy's PhD examiners noted that her work disrupted the conventional assumptions about environmental education and dug deeply into the culture of the teaching profession. In her postdoctoral research she has continued with this research trajectory and is now working closely with leading environmental education and sustainability organisations in both Australia and internationally in further developing environmental education in schools, communities, higher education and non-formal educational settings. Dr Cutter-Mackenzie was recently awarded (August 2008) a prestigious Australian Learning and Teaching Council Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning. Her citation was specifically for "leading school-community teaching and learning practices and partnerships to influence, motivate and inspire pre-service education students and schools to engage in environmental education and sustainability".

Research Interests

Amy's broad research interests are solidly situated within environmental education and sustainability. She has a clear interest in teachers' and children's environmental thinking (ecoliteracy) and experiences, together with research-led-teaching practices and methodologies in environmental education and sustainability. Amy's interests also extend to: research methodologies involving children as researchers; environmental philosophy; social ecology; experiential education; teachers' knowledge; science education; and professional practice.

Professional Associations

• Amy presently holds executive positions on key national and international environmental education committees. These include: Council Member of the Australian Association for Environmental Education; Convener of the Teachers and Teacher Education AAEE Special Interest Group; and AAEE Representative for the Australian Federation of Societies for Studies of Society and Environment. She recently completed her term as the Chair of the American Educational Research Association Ecological and Environmental Education SIG (2007-2008).

Community Service

• Dr Amy Cutter-Mackenzie is considered a leading environmental and sustainability educator in Australia, publishing widely and holding key Chair positions on national and international environment and sustainability committees and organisations. From 2007-2008, Amy was the Chair of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Ecological and Environmental Education Special Interest Group (SIG). The SIG is the peak environmental and sustainability education research group in the world, made up of leading researchers in the field. Amy is also the founding Chair of the National Teachers and Teacher Education Special Interest Group, Australian Association for Environmental Education. She formed this group in 2003 which brings together teachers and teacher educators with expertise and/or an interest in environmental and sustainability education research. This group has spearheaded a number of policies and initiatives particularly pertinent to schools and teacher education faculties.

Supervision

Amy is a fully Accredited Monash University Supervisor and is currently supervising 11 research students in the areas of environmental education, science education and professional practice.

Editorial

Amy is a regular reviewer for: The Australian Journal of Environmental Education; Australian Journal of Early Childhood; Environmental Education Research; and AERA Ecological and Environmental Education SIG. She is also currently guest editing a special issue of Environmental Education Research.

Publications

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Selected Refereed Book Chapters

Cutter-Mackenzie, A. (2007). Knowledge Matters: Teaching Environmental Education in the Early Years. Chapter in Fleer, M. (Ed). Young Children: Thinking about the scientific world (pp. 54-56). Canberra: Early Childhood Australia.

Cutter-Mackenzie, A., & Tilbury, D. (2002). Meeting Commitments for a Sustainable Future: Environmental Education in Pre-Service Teacher Education. Chapter in Knight, B.A.(Ed). Reconceptualising learning in the knowledge society (pp. 17-34). Flaxton: Post Pressed.

Cutter, A., & Smith, R. (2001). A Chasm in Environmental Education: What Primary School Teachers Might or Might Not Know. In Knight, B.A. and Rowan, L. (Eds). Researching in Contemporary Educational Environments (pp. 113-132). Flaxton: Post Pressed.

Selected Refereed Journal Articles

Cutter-Mackenzie, A., Clarke, B., & Smith, P. (2008, forthcoming). A Discussion Paper: The Development of Professional Teacher Standards and Professional Learning in Environmental Education. Australian Journal of Environmental Education.

Cutter-Mackenzie, A., Edwards., & Fleer, M. (2008, accepted, revisions in progress). How do Children and Teachers Interpret Play-Based Learning? Investigating the Environmental Scientific Concepts in Childrens Play. Australian Research in Early Childhood Education.

Cutter-Mackenzie, A., & Kiln, E. (2008, accepted, revisions in progress). Australian Waste Wise Schools Program: Past, Present and Future. Journal of Environmental Education.

Cutter-Mackenzie, A., Seah, W.T., & Hayes, V. (2008, in submission). Demystifying Science: Engaging Middle School Students.

Eastwood, K., & Cutter-Mackenzie, A. (2008, in submission). We're not Doctors and Nurses: The Teacher's Role in the Management of Anaphylaxis. Australian Journal of Education.

Cutter-Mackenzie, A. (2009, fortchoming). Multicultural School Gardens: Fostering a Dialogue between Cultures. Canadian Journal of Environmental Education (Special Issue).

Eastwood, K., & Cutter-Mackenzie, A. (2008). The more people with knowledge, the more likely youll get it right: Teachers Role in the Management of Anaphylaxis. Everychild.

Cutter-Mackenzie, A., and Widdop Quinton, H. (2008, invited). Transforming Schoolgrounds: Teacher Narratives. Journal of Education for Sustainable Development (Special Issue).

Cutter-Mackenzie, A N. (2007). Children as researchers: Applications and possibilities for Environmental Education evaluation and research, Eingana (pp.14-16), Victorian Association for Environmental Education, 30(1).

Cutter-Mackenzie, A N., Clarke, B., Smith, P., & Su, J. (2007). Promoting Excellence in Environmental and Sustainability Education. Eingana (pp.4-7), Victorian Association for Environmental Education,30(3).

Cutter-Mackenzie, A., & Edwards, S. (2006). Environmental education as a content area in early childhood education and curriculum. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 22(2), 13-19.

Miles, R., Cutter-Mackenzie, A., and Harrison, L. (2006). Teacher Education: A Diluted Environmental Education Experience. Australian Journal of Environmental Education. 22(1), 1-11.

Cutter-Mackenzie, A. (2005). Review Early Childhood Environmental Education: Making it Mainstream. Australian Journal of Early Childhood Education. 30 (1), 58-59.

Cutter-Mackenzie, A., & Smith, R. (2003). Ecological Literacy: the missing paradigm in environmental education (part one). Environmental Education Research, 9(4), 497-524.

Cutter, A., & Smith, R. (2001). Gauging Primary School Teachers Environmental Literacy: An Issue of Priority. Asia Pacific Education Review, 2 (2), 45-60.

Selected Referred Conference Papers

Cutter-Mackenzie, A., Clarke, B., Smith, P., & Su, J. (2008). Recognition of Excellent Teachers in Environmental Education: A Discussion Paper about the Development of Professional Teacher Standards and Learning in Australia. AERA, New York City, March 24 - March 28, 2008.

Cutter-Mackenzie, A., Edwards., & Fleer, M. (2008). Investigating the environmental scientific concepts in childrens play: How do children and teachers interpret play-based learning? presented at the Australian Research in Early Childhood Education Conference, Monash University, 22-23 Jan 2008.

Cutter-Mackenzie, A N & Edwards, S E. (2007) Deconstructing early childhood content, context and pedagogy through everyday environmental education experiences InN/A(Eds) The World of Educational Quality (pp.1) Washington, USA American Educational Research Association 0163-9676 Chicago, USA 9/04/2007 American Educational Research Association, 2007 Annual Meeting, The World of Educational Quality AERA 09/04/2007 - 13/04/2007 2007

Cutter-Mackenzie, A N. (2007) Kids as researchers: Applications and possibilities for Environmental Education research In Linda Downsborough and Helia Lotz-Sisitka(Eds) Learning in a changing world. Abstract Book. (pp.145) Durban 4th World Environmental Education Congress 1 1 Durban, South Africa 2/07/2007 4th World Environmental Education Congress. Learning in a changing world. 02/07/2007 - 06/07/2007 2007

Cutter-Mackenzie, A., Clarke, B., Smith, P., and Su, J. (2006). Showcasing Excellence: Professional Teacher Standards and Learning in Environmental Education. In S. Wooltorton, and D. Marinova (Eds.), Sharing wisdom for our future, Environmental education in action: Proceedings of the National Conference of the Australian Association for Environmental Education. Sydney: Australian Association for Environmental Education.

Edwards, S. & Cutter-Mackenzie, A. (2006). Eco-literacy and the content-pedagogy relationship in early childhood education. In S. Wooltorton, & D. Marinova (Eds.), Sharing wisdom for our future. Environmental education in action: Proceedings of the National Conference of the Australian Association for Environmental Education. Sydney: Australian Association for Environmental Education.

Miles, R., and Cutter-Mackenzie, A. (2006). Environmental Education: Is it really a Priority in Teacher Education? In S. Wooltorton, and D. Marinova (Eds.), Sharing wisdom for our future, Environmental education in action: Proceedings of the National Conference of the Australian Association for Environmental Education. Sydney: Australian Association for Environmental Education.

Cutter-Mackenzie, A. (2005). Environmental Education in an Era of Accountability: Are Teacher Educators Meeting the Benchmarks? Paper Presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Conference (Ecological and Environmental Education SIG), Montreal, Canada.

Cutter-Mackenzie, A. (2003). Quality versus Quantity: Primary School Teachers Ecological Literacy. Paper presented as Key Session for Ecological and Environmental Education Special Interest Group at the American Educational Research Association Annual Conference, Chicago, USA (April 29 2003).

Cutter-Mackenzie, A., & Walker, K. (2003). Disparities Between Theory and Practice: Unveiling the Rifts in Environmental Education. Paper presented as Key Session for Ecological and Environmental Education Special Interest Group Symposium at the American Educational Research Association Annual Conference, Chicago,USA, (April 30 2003).

Cutter, A. (2002). The Value of Teachers Knowledge: Environmental Education as a Case Study. Paper presented as Key Session (Symposium) for Ecological and Environmental Education SIG Symposium at the American Educational Research Association Annual Conference, New Orleans, USA, (April 4 2002).

Selected Other Publications (Refereed)

Cutter-Mackenzie, A N & Wardell, D (2007) Schoolgrounds for learning evaluation DVD Melbourne Gould Group and Monash University DVD

Cutter-Mackenzie, A N & Wardell, D (2007) Sustainable cities challenge research DVD Melbourne Gould Group and Monash University DVD

Cutter-Mackenzie, A N & Wardell, D (2007) Multicultural school gardens research DVD Melbourne Gould Group and Monash University DVD

Cutter-Mackenzie, A.N & Wardell, D (2007) Sustainables Challenge Research DVD Gould Group and Monash University DVD

Cutter-Mackenzie, A N & Seah, W T (2007) Research report: Science outside school Science Outside School (SOS) Program (pp.1-21) Melbourne Vic Australia Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) and Monash University 1st Research report

Cutter-Mackenzie, A N (2007) Waste Wise Schools Research Report (pp.1-47) Melbourne Monash University 1 Research Report

Cutter-Mackenzie, A N (2007) Research report 1: Schoolgrounds for learning (pp.1-46) Melbourne Gould Group and Monash University 1 Research report

Cutter-Mackenzie, A N (2007) Sustainable cities challenge research report (pp.1-41) Melbourne Gould Group and Monash University 1 Research report

Cutter-Mackenzie, A N (2007) Research report 1: Multicultural school gardens (pp.1-50) Melbourne Gould Group and Monash University 1 Research report

Cutter-Mackenzie, A N (2007) Sustainables Challenge 2007 research report (pp.1-70) Melbourne Monash University and Gould Group Research report

Cutter-Mackenzie, A. (2006). Waste Wise Schools Program: Phase One Report An analysis of existing waste wise schools survey data. Melbourne: Gould Group.

Cutter-Mackenzie, A. (2006). Research Report: Waste Wise Schools. Melbourne: Gould Group.

Cutter-Mackenzie, A. (2006). Research Report: Enterprise Schools. Melbourne: Gould Group.

Cutter-Mackenzie, A. (2006). Research Report: Sustainables Challenge. Melbourne: Gould Group.

Cutter-Mackenzie, A. (2004). Eco-Literacy: The Missing Paradigm in Environmental Education. Unpublished PhD Thesis, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Australia.

Cutter, A.N. (1998) Integrated Pre-Service Environmental Education: The Abandonment of Knowledge. Unpublished Honours Thesis, Griffith University: Gold Coast, Australia.

Selected Research Funding (2006-2008)

Cutter-Mackenzie, A. & Clarke, B. A Pilot Study: The Development of Professional Teacher Standards and Learning in Environmental Education, Staff Grant ($6000).

Cutter-Mackenzie, A. Waste Wise Schools Longitudinal Research Project. Gould Group Research Grant ($19,000).

Cutter-Mackenzie, A. The Sustainables Challenge Research Project, Gould Group ($64,000)

Cutter-Mackenzie, A. Multicultural School Gardens Project, Gould Group Research Grant ($40,000).

Cutter-Mackenzie, A. Schoolgrounds for Leraning Research Project, Gould Group Research Grant ($25,000).

Edwards, A., and Cutter-Mackenzie. Pilot (ARC Discovery), Staff Grant ($6000)

Cutter-Mackenzie, A. Sustainable Cities Research Project, ASISTM and Gould Group ($6000).

Cutter-Mackenzie. A. Frankston Water-Proofing Cluster Project, ASISTM, Curriculum Corporation ($70,000).

Cutter-Mackenzie, A. Enterprise Schools Research Project, Gould Group ($25,000)

Cutter-Mackenzie. A. ASISTM Critical Friend, Curriculum Corporation ($10,000).

Mordialloc Cluster and Monash University (Cutter-Mackenzie and Seah). Science Outside Schools. Curriculum Corporation (ASISTM)($50,000).

Cutter-Mackenzie, A. (2005/6). Dissemination Faculty Grant ($2,000).