Rate My Professor Karen Inwood

Ms Karen Inwood currently holds the position of Lecturer within the School of Education, which falls under the College of Education, Behavioural and Social Sciences at Adelaide University. Her academic qualifications include a Master of Education degree, wherein her studies concentrated on drama-based pedagogy, the development of creative self-efficacy among learners, and the training of pre-service teachers. Complementing this advanced degree, she undertook acting training at the Flinders University Drama Centre and pursued studies in music at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, University of Adelaide. In her research endeavors, Inwood focuses on enhancing the confidence and capabilities of pre-service students to effectively teach subjects within The Arts.

Inwood initiated her university-level teaching career in 2013 as part of the Arts Education team at the University of South Australia (UniSA). Prior to this academic role, she established a professional foundation as an actor, puppeteer, and musician, with active involvement in Youth Theatre. One of her notable initiatives is the founding of Tutti Kids and Youth, a dedicated after-school performing arts workshop program specifically designed for children living with disabilities to promote inclusive artistic expression. Her extensive teaching experience spans several schools, including Mitcham Primary School, Wilderness Girls School, Suneden Special School, Prince Alfred College, and St John’s Grammar School, where she also served as Head of House. In 2023, she advanced to the role of Arts Curriculum Advisor for UniSA Education Futures. Her significant contributions to the field of education have earned her the World Education Forum Award in 2020 and the Educators SA Innovative Association Award from the Creative Arts Association Australia (CA3) in 2022. Additionally, she co-authored a key publication: Inwood, K., Fowler, S., Devis, D., & Leonard, S. (2023). Improving music teacher self-efficacy (Catalyst Report #13). University of South Australia.