Tony Dowden has a part-time role at AC fostering and supporting research in education. He has conducted research on learning and teaching pertaining to designs for curriculum and pedagogy at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Tony also has broad sociological interests, including democratic education, Christian education, inclusive education and social justice in education. He has also engaged in the scholarship of learning and teaching, especially by exploring ways to enhance written feedback on assessment. Tony has an extensive research output and is an experienced higher degree research (HDR) supervisor. He was a Senior Lecturer of Education at the University of Southern Queensland (2013-2025) and a Lecturer of Education at the University of Tasmania (2005-2012). His doctoral thesis won the 2007 Sutton-Smith Doctoral Award prize for the best thesis in education in Aotearoa New Zealand. Tony is a registered secondary teacher with the Queensland College of Teachers and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK). His university teaching has been recognised by a 'Teaching Merit Certificate' (UTas, 2009) and a 'Stellar Award' (UniSQ, 2024). Earlier in his career, Tony was a secondary school teacher in NZ (1987-2001). He served in missions with Catholic Overseas Volunteer Service (NZ) by teaching at Logoipulotu College in Samoa (1985) and with Youth With A Mission (NZ) in a Discipleship Training School with an outreach to Jakarta (1990). Tony sat on the Academic Council of Worldview Centre for Intercultural Studies (WEC) in Launceston, Tasmania (2005-2012) and, immediately prior to his current role, sat on the Academic Board of AC as an external member (2024-2025). Tony is married with two adult children. He enjoys bushwalking, competitive chess and being (almost) retired.
Qualifications
EdD (Massey University) , Curriculum integration for early adolescent schooling in Aotearoa New Zealand: Worthy of serious trial [NZ Association of Research in Education Doctoral Award] – 2007
MEd (with Distinction) (Otago University) – 1993
Grad Cert Univ L&T (University of Tasmania) – 2010
BA (Massey University) – 1992
BSc (Otago University) – 1985
Dip Tch (Canterbury University) – 1986
Field of Research
Specialist Studies in EducationBooks
-
2010
- Dowden, T. (2010). Curriculum Integration for Young Adolescents: Historical and Theoretical Perspectives. VDM Verlag.
Book Chapters
-
2024
- J-F., Pullen, D., Bown, A., Dowden, T., Opoku, P. M., and Reck, S. (2024). Sports Data on Prepubescent Athletes: A Developmental Challenge In A. Mansurali, P. M. Jeyanthi, D. Hack-Polay, A. B. Mahmoud, and P. J. Tobin, Sports Analytics – Data Driven Sports and Decision Intelligence (pp. 19–34). Springer.
-
2018
- Dowden, T. and Drager, M. (2018). Investing in Australian Youth: Nurturing Values Integrated Through Action-Based Learning In J. M. Luetz, T. Dowden, and B. Norsworthy, Reimagining Christian Education: Cultivating Transformative Approaches (pp. 273–282). Springer Nature.
- Norsworthy, B., Dowden, T., and Luetz, J. M.(2018). Learning and Loves Envisaged Through the Lens of James K. A. Smith: Reimagining Christian Education Today In J. M. Luetz, T. Dowden, and B. Norsworthy, Reimagining Christian Education: Cultivating Transformative Approaches (pp. 3–15). Springer Nature.
-
2017
- Dowden, T. (2017). Curriculum In D. Pendergast, K. Main, and N. Bahr, Teaching Middle Years: Rethinking Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment (3rd ed.) (pp. 170–187). Allen & Unwin.
-
2013
- Dowden, T. (2013). Understanding the Curriculum In P. Hudson, Learning to Teach in the Primary School (pp. ). Cambridge University Press.
-
2009
- Dowden, T., Bishop, P., and Nolan, P. (2009). Middle Schooling in New Zealand In S. B. Mertens, V. A. Anfara Jr., and K. Roney, Handbook of Research in Middle Level Education: An International Look at Educating Young Adolescents (Vol. 7) (pp. 135–156). Information Age Publishing.
Journal Articles
-
2025
- Opoku, M., J-F, Nur, S., Dowden, T., Belbase, S., and Moustafa, A. (2025). Teachers’ Self-Reported Awareness of Trauma Identification and Practices Among Students with Disabilities: An International Study from Bangladesh, Egypt and Nepal. International Journal of School & Educational Psychology, 13(2) 123–140.
- Hukkinen, E., Luetz, J., and Dowden, T. (2025). Heutagogy as a Framework for Christian Discipleship: The Triadic Role of Biblical Wisdom Literature, the Teachings of Jesus Christ, and the Work of the Holy Spirit. Journal of Religious Education, 73(1) 95–114.
-
2024
- Dowden, T., Brough, C., and Fogarty-Perry, B. (2024). Student-Centred Curriculum Integration in Primary Schools: Nurturing Democratic Citizenship in Aotearoa New Zealand. Curriculum Perspectives, 44 513–523.
- J-F, Dowden, T., Pullen, D., Opoku, M., and Garate, P. (2024). High Performing Male and Female Engineering Students in Chile: Accounting for Mental Health and Well-Being from a Developmental Paradigm. European Journal of Engineering Education, 49(6) 1113–1130.
-
2023
- Hukkinen, E., Luetz, J., and Dowden, T. (2023). Assessing Research Trends in Spiritual Growth: The Case for Self-Determined Learning. Religions, 14(6) Article 809.
-
2022
- Seward-Linger, R., Dowden, T., and Andrews, D. (2022). Reform from the Grassroots: Key Lessons Learned from an Australian Case Study. Asia Pacific Education Review, 23(2) 221–232.
-
2019
- Shanks, B., and Dowden, T. (2019). Investigating the Provision of Professional Learning and Development for Middle Level Teachers in New Zealand. Australian Journal of Middle Schooling, 19(2) 6–17.
- Opoku, M., J-F, Swabey, K., Pullen, D., and Dowden, T. (2019). Poverty Alleviation Among Persons with Disabilities via United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in Ghana: Voices of Stakeholders with Disabilities. Sustainable Development, 27(1) 175–182.
-
2018
- J-F, Swabey, K., Pullen, D., Getenet, S., and Dowden, T. (2018). Teenagers’ Perceptions of Teachers: A Developmental Argument. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 43(2) 26–38.
-
2015
- Shanks, B., and Dowden, T. (2015). Teacher Education for the Middle Years of Schooling: Sustaining Quality Middle Level Preparation in Australian Universities. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 40(12) 59–72.
- Geiblinger, H., and Dowden, T. (2015). Considerations for Controlled Competition Landings in Gymnastics: Aggregated Opinions of Experts. Science of Gymnastics Journal, 7(3) 47–58.
- Pendergast, D., Main, K., Barton, G., Kanasa, H., Geelan, D., and Dowden, T. (2015). The Education Change Model as Vehicle for Reform: Shifting Year 7 into High School and Implementing Junior Secondary. Australian Journal of Middle Schooling, 15(2) 4–18.
-
2014
- Dowden, T. (2014). Challenging, Integrated, Negotiated and Exploratory Curriculum in the Middle Years of Schooling: Designing and Implementing High Quality Curriculum Integration. Australian Journal of Middle Schooling, 14(1) 16–27.
- Pittaway, S., and Dowden, T. (2014). Providing Students with Written Feedback on Their Assessment: A Collaborative Self-Study Exploring the Nexus of Research and Practice. Studying Teacher Education, 10(3) 197–209.
-
2013
- Fluck, A., and Dowden, T. (2013). On the Cusp of Change: Examining Pre-Service Teachers’ ICT Beliefs and Envisioning the Digital Classroom of the Future. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 29(1) 43–52.
- Shanks, B., and Dowden, T. (2013). Reinvigorating Middle Level Teacher Education in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies, 48(1) 99–112.
- Dowden, T., Pittaway, S., Yost, H., and McCarthy, R. (2013). Students’ Perceptions of Written Feedback in Teacher Education: Ideally Feedback Is a Continuing Two-Way Communication that Encourages Progress. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 38(3) 349–362.
-
2012
- Dowden, T. (2012). Implementing Curriculum Integration: Three Easy Lessons from Past Practice. Set: Research Information for Teachers, Issue 3 25–31.
- Dowden, T. (2012). Middle Schooling in Tasmania: Teachers’ Beliefs about Classroom Pedagogy. Australian Journal of Middle Schooling, 12(1) 4–11.
-
2011
- McLaine, J., and Dowden, T. (2011). Accommodating Environmental Controversies in the Classroom Curriculum: Too Hot to Handle or Opportunities for Deep Learning?. The Social Educator, 29(2) 22–29.
- Dowden, T. (2011). Locating Curriculum Integration within the Historical Context: Innovations in Aotearoa New Zealand State Schools, 1920s–1940s. History of Education Review, 40(1) 47–61.
-
2010
- Dowden, T. (2010). Curriculum Integration in Aotearoa New Zealand: Rediscovering the Potential of Student-Centred Curriculum Design in the Middle Years. Australian Journal of Middle Schooling, 10(2) 4–10.
-
2007
- Dowden, T. (2007). Relevant, Challenging, Integrative and Exploratory Curriculum Design: Perspectives from Theory and Practice for Middle Schooling in Australia. Australian Educational Researcher, 34(2) 51–71.
-
1996
- Dowden, T., and McMillan, B. (1996). What Science Teachers Believe about Using Computers in Schools. Computers in New Zealand Schools, 8(1) 19–22.
Edited Books
-
2018
- Dowden, T (2018). Reimagining Christian Education: Cultivating Transformative Approaches.
Professional Memberships
Higher Education Academy (since 2021)
Qld College of Teachers (since 2025)
Current Supervision
-
Current
- Lowrey, R, Olfactory sense and maths anxiety: using scent to help reduce maths anxiety. (PhD thesis)
Completed Supervision
-
2025
- Hukkinen, E, Heutagogy in Christian discipleship : A qualitative action research exploration of spiritual growth (PhD thesis)
If you’d like to contact Tony, you can use the form below.
If you’d like a reply, please include your return email address in the box provided.