Rate My Professor Kimberley Beasley

Dr. Kimberley Beasley is an Associate Lecturer and Academic Chair of the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary Teaching) in the School of Education at Murdoch University. She possesses a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from Murdoch University, conferred in February 2023, as well as a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) and a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed). With more than 25 years of experience in the field of early childhood education, including eight years as a university lecturer, Beasley has dedicated the last 10 years to researching botanical literacies. Her PhD thesis, entitled "An investigation of the botanical literacies of children and their teachers in the early years of school," examines how children aged five to eight and their educators identify and interact with plants in school grounds, drawing from case studies across two Western Australian schools. This work underscores her commitment to integrating environmental and botanical knowledge into early years pedagogy.

Beasley's scholarly contributions include key peer-reviewed publications in prominent journals focused on early childhood environmental education. These encompass "Indigenous Knowledge Sharing and Botanical Literacies in Early Childhood Education," co-authored with Sandra Hesterman, Judy MacCallum, and Libby Lee-Hammond, published in the International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education in 2023; "Reviving botany in the curriculum: The botanical journey of two Western Australian early childhood teachers," featured in the Australian Journal of Environmental Education in 2022; and "A Framework for Supporting the Development of Botanical Literacies in Early Childhood Education," also in the International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education in 2021. Her earlier Master's by Research thesis, "Children’s garden design: Young children’s perspectives on the affordances of outdoor spaces," was completed in 2015. Beyond publications, she presents at professional forums, such as the Early Childhood Conference 2024 and Murdoch University's Sustainability Forum, and co-hosts a podcast with Kylie Ridder to deliver innovative educational content to students. These endeavors highlight her influence in advancing botanical and environmental literacies within early childhood education.