Rate My Professor John Williams

Dr. P. John Williams is a Professor of Education and the Director of Graduate Research in the School of Education at Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia, where he teaches and supervises research students in STEM and technology education. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Arts, Diploma of Secondary Teaching, Bachelor of Arts, and Diploma of Secondary Education. His career encompasses diverse roles across Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Zimbabwe, and other countries. At Curtin University since 2016, he also directs the STEM Education Research Group and the Digital Technologies group within it. From 2010 to 2016, he was Acting Head of the School of Curriculum and Pedagogy and Director of the Technology, Environmental, Mathematics and Science Education Research Centre at the University of Waikato. During 1995 to 2009 at Edith Cowan University, he served as Secondary Program Director, Acting Associate Dean for International and Commercial, and Coordinator of Technology Education. Previous positions include Lecturer in the Department of Applied Science and Technology at the University of Newcastle (1991-1994), Principal Lecturer at Belvedere Technical Teachers College in Harare, Zimbabwe (1986-1990), Lecturer in the Applied Arts Department at Avondale College (1985), and graduate studies as a PhD student, Research Assistant, and Teaching Assistant at Andrews University in Michigan, USA (1980-1984). He started as an Industrial Arts teacher at Adelaide High School (1977-1978).

Professor Williams specializes in STEM education, technology education, mentoring beginning teachers, pedagogical content knowledge, and electronic assessment of performance. He has authored or contributed to over 250 publications and edited books including Critique in Design and Technology Education (2016) and Explorations in Technology Education Research: Helping Teachers Develop Research-Informed Practice (2019). As series editor for Springer’s Contemporary Issues in Technology Education, he also serves on the editorial boards of six professional journals. A member of eight professional associations, he presents regularly at international conferences, consults on technology education in various countries, and has been a visiting scholar at Aix-Marseille University (France), University of Malawi, Goldsmiths College (UK), National Taiwan Normal University, National Kaohsiung Normal University, Nanjing Normal University (China), and King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (Thailand). He has acted as external examiner for education programs at Mauritius Institute of Education, Hong Kong University, Bindura University of Science Education (Zimbabwe), and University of Malawi, and as Chief Examiner for Design Technology for the International Baccalaureate Organization. For his prominence in the field, he was elected to the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association’s Academy of Fellows.