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Doctor of Philosophy (Queensland University of Technology), Master of Education (James Cook Uni. of North Qld), Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) (Kelvin Grove C.A.E), Bachelor of Arts (University of Queensland)
Jill Willis is an Associate Professor in Education. She evaluates the social structures of assessment and learning spaces, to make recommendations for improving teacher and student agency. Her current projects include co-leading the ARC Linkage Accessible Assessment; and the ARC Linkage Thriving in Vertical Schools. She is the Australian lead researcher on the SSHRC Preparing Assessment Capable Teachers project. Jill has a strong track record in collaborative partnerships and innovative methodologies.
Additional QUT highlights include:
- Collaborating with Dr Andrew Gibson to bring together his field of reflective writing analytics with her sociocultural commitments to self assessment and feedback loops that build collective agency. The design led learning is ongoing through a series of collaborative research inquiries using the reflective writing tool GoingOk.
- Innovative teaching in postgraduate Masters of Educational Leadership, recognised by the ACEL Qld Miller Grassie Award. Implementing digital feedback loops when teaching in the Masters of Teaching.
- International research collaborations with Chris DeLuca, Bronwen Cowie and Christine Harrison preparing Assessment Capable teachers.
- Working with Independent Schools Queensland to support their Highly Accomplished and Lead Teachers, and how teachers represent their impact on student learning in this professional evaluation process.
- Investigating the impact of physical and digital learning environments on learner agency in a series of projects that have culminated in an edited book School Spaces for Student Wellbeing and Learning.
- Working with schools to understand how assessment within the changes to Queensland Senior Assessment and the Australian Curriculum can enhance student experiences of learning in schools.
- Involvement in establishing the Kelvin Grove Teacher Education Centre of Excellence partnership program (2011 - 2013) with Education Queensland and Kelvin Grove State College and partner schools.
- Supporting experienced teachers throughout Queensland through the Mentoring Beginning Teacher project.
ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5200-5039
Additional information
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2020
- Details
- The Miller-Grassie Award for Outstanding Leadership in Education, and President¿s Citation is the highest honour awarded each year by the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (Qld). It is nominated by members and acknowledges and perpetuates the memory of the life and work of educational researchers and administrators, Dr Laurie Miller and Associate Professor McCrae Grassie. Miller and Grassie were pioneers in educational administration in Queensland from the 1970s through to the 1990s.
- Type
- Fellowships
- Reference year
- 2019
- Details
- Senior Fellowship demonstrates a personal and institutional commitment to professionalism in learning and teaching in higher education. As a senior Fellow of the international Higher Education Academy I have demonstrated a thorough understanding of effective approaches to teaching and learning to support high quality student learning. I support and mentor others in relation to learning and teaching, and integrate quality teaching principles and practices into my own tertiary teaching.
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2018
- Details
- Faculty of Education Teaching and Learning Team award, for innovative use of data to improve learning.
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2018
- Details
- Vice Chancellor's Performance Award in recognition of a significant and superior contribution to the work of the University.
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2012
- Details
- Faculty of Education Teaching and Learning Award for teaching excellence, Early Career Award.
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2012
- Details
- Vice Chancellor's Performance Award in recognition of a significant and superior contribution to the work of the University.
- Finch, M. & Willis, J. (2021). Learning to be expert writers: Feedback in secondary English. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy and Practice, 28(2), 101–117 . https://eprints.qut.edu.au/209683
- Willis, J., Gibson, A., Spina, N., Kelly, N., Azordegan, J. & Crosswell, L. (2021). Towards faster feedback in higher education through digitally mediated dialogic loops. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 37(3), 22–37. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/203506
- Willis, J. & Gibson, A. (2020). The emotional work of being an assessor: A reflective writing analytics inquiry into digital self-assessment. In J. Fox, C. Alexander & T. Aspland (Eds.), Teacher Education in Globalised Times: Local Responses in Action (pp. 93–113). Springer. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/200815
- Hughes, H., Franz, J. & Willis, J. (2019). School Spaces for Student Wellbeing and Learning: Insights From Research and Practice. Springer. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/126900
- Willis, J., McGraw, K. & Graham, L. (2019). Conditions that mediate teacher agency during assessment reform. English Teaching, 18(2), 233–248. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/131037
- Willis, J., Churchward, P., Beutel, D., Spooner-Lane, R., Crosswell, L. & Curtis, E. (2019). Mentors for beginning teachers as middle leaders: the messy work of recontextualising. School Leadership and Management, 39(3-4), 334–351. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/124101
- Harrison, C., Coombs, A., Gibson, A., Trask, S., Deluca, C., Willis, J. & Cowie, B. (2019). Policies, programs, and practices: Exploring the complex dynamics of assessment education in teacher education across four countries. Frontiers in Education, 4, 1–19. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/134867
- Churchward, P. & Willis, J. (2019). The pursuit of teacher quality: identifying some of the multiple discourses of quality that impact the work of teacher educators. Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 47(3), 251–264. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/123233
- Willis, J. & Klenowski, V. (2018). Classroom assessment practices and teacher learning: An Australian perspective. In MF. Hill & H. Jiang (Eds.), Teacher learning with classroom assessment: Perspectives from Asia Pacific (pp. 19–37). Springer. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/107023
- Adie, L., Willis, J. & Van der Kleij, F. (2018). Diverse perspectives on student agency in classroom assessment. Australian Educational Researcher, 45(1), 1–12. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/116330
- Title
- Improving Outcomes through Accessible Assessment and Inclusive Practices
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- LP180100830
- Start year
- 2019
- Keywords
- Diverse experiences of assessment for learning pedagogies: student and teacher learning
PhD, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Dr Andrew Gibson - How do carer responsibilities impact women's higher education decision-making?
PhD, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Dr Melinda Laundon, Dr Andrew Gibson - Interactive Data Visualisation: Structure and Purpose of Design
PhD, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Dr Andrew Gibson, Professor David Lovell - Evaluating the impact of a co-designed self-advocacy program with students with dyslexia: A mixed-methods approach
PhD, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Dr Sofia Mavropoulou - Enabling middle-years (M-Y) student voices about assessment to improve their assessment experiences, academic wellbeing and achievement
Professional Doctorate, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Associate Professor Jenna Gillett-Swan - Accessible Assessment in Higher Education
Professional Doctorate, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Dr Glenys Mann
- Early Career Teachers' Experiences in the Pursuit of Quality (2020)
- Secondary English Feedback: a Case Study of Contextual Influences on the Feedback Practices of Four Queensland Teachers (2020)
- Determining Leadership Practices that Impact on Primary School, Mid-Career Teachers' Commitment to the Profession: Mid-Career Teachers' Perspectives. (2018)
- Teachers Creating the "Third Teacher": An Action Research Approach to Learning Environment Design (2017)
- Ghosts in the Classroom: Passive Disengagement and Its Implications for Teachers (2020)
- School Design and Procurement and Educational Goals: A Qualitative Case Study of Two Australian Schools (2019)
- Higher Degree Research as Professional Learning for Teachers: A Cohort Perspective (2017)
- High School Learning Spaces: Investigating Year 6 Students' Imaginings and Representations (2016)
- Leading toward a Growth Mindset in an Educational Climate of Accountability (2016)
- Understanding Curriculum Planning Practices That Promote Equity and Excellence for Students with Disability (2016)