Dr Derek Bland

Biography

Derek Bland's focus as a researcher and practitioner is the intersection of low socio-economic status and education. Building on his practical experience, he currently teaches undergraduate and post graduate courses in inclusive education, coordinating a 4th Year core unit and two school/university projects improving educational outcomes for “at-risk” groups. First joining QUT in 1991, he established the Q-Step Program, a special entry and student support initiative of the university to assist people from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Prior to this, Derek taught secondary art and worked with the Disadvantaged Schools Program as a regional coordinator in Victoria.            

• Research 2012 (current): 'Re-imagining Schools to Inform the Design and use of Learning Spaces' (Queensland Council for Social Science Innovation) with Dr Hilary Hughes and Dr Jill Willis. The key aim of this study is to identify pedagogic principles underpinning practices in re-imagined learning spaces in schools that improve students’ engagement and educational outcomes.
• 2009: 'Imagine a School....' This CLI-funded ECR visual research project, invited Year 5 and 6 students from a range of Queensland schools to imagine, draw, and write about their ideal learning environment.   
• Research interests
•    Socio-economic disadvantage and social class in education
•    Imagination in education
•    Young people as researchers
•    Participatory action research