Rate My Professor Carla Valerio

Dr Carla Valerio is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Education at Southern Cross University on the Gold Coast campus. With a background as an elite gymnast and sprint canoeist from Portugal, she pursued sports science studies, discovering her passion for sport pedagogy. She holds a Bachelor of Sports Science, Master of Physical Education, and PhD from the Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, completed in 2022. Her doctoral research employed an ethnographic approach to examine social learning strategies, including communities of practice, in the professional development of pre-service physical education teachers, emphasizing their role in fostering student-centred approaches within teacher education programs. Joining Southern Cross University in October 2022, Dr Valerio contributes to the TeachLab research group, investigating initial teacher education, the impacts of social learning strategies, and the translation of outdoor education practices into school-based settings. She teaches Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE), delivering game-based, inclusive gymnastics lessons that promote creativity and student voice for learners of all abilities and interests. Her research is underpinned by student-centred pedagogy and social learning theory, supporting United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to quality education.