Rate My Professor Wayne Cotton

Associate Professor Wayne Cotton serves in the Sydney School of Education and Social Work within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Sydney, where he is Director of Academic Partnerships and Engagement. His academic qualifications comprise a Bachelor of Education (BEd), Master of Education (MEd), Master of Computer Studies (MCompStud), Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies (Higher Education), and PhD. Cotton joined the University of Sydney's Faculty of Education and Social Work in January 2008 and has held various leadership roles in teacher education.

Cotton specializes in research on teacher education, teaching effectiveness, health promotion, physical activity, nutrition education, and experiential learning in educational contexts. As a key member of the Teacher Quality research team, he contributes to projects such as the 'What’s the Evidence? A Study on Teacher Quality,' funded by the New South Wales Department of Education from 2021 to 2024, which developed evidence-based indicators of teacher quality through scoping reviews and measure development. He co-led a 2025 study identifying 10 essential traits of great teachers. His prolific scholarship includes over 60 publications with more than 1,400 citations. Prominent works are 'Teaching approaches and strategies that promote healthy eating in primary school children: a systematic review and meta-analysis' (Dudley, Cotton, Peralta, 2015), 'A systematic review of the effectiveness of physical education and school sport interventions targeting physical activity, movement skills and enjoyment of physical activity' (Dudley et al., 2011), 'The effect of teacher-delivered nutrition education programs on elementary-aged students: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis' (Cotton et al., 2020), 'Promoting physical activity among adolescent girls: the Girls in Sport group randomized trial' (Okely et al., 2017), and 'Physical activity levels and movement skill instruction in secondary school physical education' (Dudley et al., 2012). Recent publications address moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in natural blue spaces (2024) and technology-supported physical education courses (2023). Cotton's research informs school-based health interventions and teacher professional development.