Amanda Richardson

Research Interests

Curriculum and Pedagogy Higher Education Health

Dr Amanda Richardson

Lecturer, Academic Development

Teaching and Learning Innovation

Academic

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Since commencing her role as Lecturer: Academic Development in 2020, Amanda has collaborated with staff across the univeristy through multiple curriculum design initiatives, led the development of courses for Adelaide University Online across several disciplines, as well as coordinating the Engaging Learners Online short course - part of the Professional Certificate of Universty Teaching, designed specifically for staff to strengthen their online teaching skills.
 
After completing a double degree Bachelor of Science/Education at UniSA in 2009, and Honours (Health Sciences) in 2011, Amanda jumped into a PhD to explore first-year university students' time use. She taught across a number of first-year Health Science courses between 2010-20, and is involved with ongoing teaching and learning research.
 
In addition to her work supporting on-campus and online learning across Adelaide University, Amanda is passionate about research relating to supporting first-year students as they transition into university study, driving intitiatives that enhance the student learning experience, the health and wellbeing of students and staff, as well as impactful first-year curriculum design. 

Amanda's PhD research explored predictors of first-year student success; in particular the influence of students’ personal characteristics and their time use and the way these factors influence both their academic and health outcomes during the first year.

Amanda's current research interests include the first-year student experience, first-year transition supports embedded in the taught curriculum, learning technologies for the provision of student feedback, curriculum design (both online and on-campus), and health and well-being of staff and students more generally. 

In collaboration with colleagues from several Academic Units, Amanda is exploring the use of an attributional retraining intervention for students undergoing Academic Review at UniSA (for unsatisfactory academic achievement) to shift how students' think about the challenges they face with their studies; to influence their causal attribution styles toward patterns more often associated with academic success. 

Year Citation
2025 McCarten, B., Richardson, A., Raschella, L., Goodwin, A., & Pearson, E. (2025). Evaluation of an embedded transition support module: bringing academic skills and peers into first-year classrooms. Student Success, 16(2), 37-49.
DOI
2024 Pearson, E., Richardson, A., & Le Busque, B. (2024). Fostering psychological literacy and student well-being through the first-year course connecting and working with nature: a case study. Psychology Learning and Teaching, 23(2), 129-340.
DOI Scopus2 WoS1
2023 Sauchelli, I., Heath, G., Richardson, A., Lewis, S., & Lim, L. A. (2023). You've got mail: a technology-mediated feedback strategy to support self-regulated learning in first-year university students. Student Success Journal, Online(1), 1-12.
DOI Scopus2 WoS3
2023 Goodchild, T., Heath, G., & Richardson, A. (2023). Delivering resilience: embedding a resilience building module into first-year curriculum. Student Success, 14(2), 30-40.
DOI Scopus4 WoS3
2019 Richardson, A., King, S., Olds, T., Parfitt, G., & Chiera, B. (2019). Study and life: how first year university students use their time. Student success, 10(1), 17-31.
DOI Scopus12 WoS15
2014 Graham, C., Richardson, A., King, S., Chiera, B., & Olds, T. (2014). An initial exploration of the association between psychological distress and sedentary behaviour in first year undergraduates. A practice report. International journal of the first year in higher education, 5(2), 95-101.
DOI
2013 Richardson, A. J., & Williams, C. R. (2013). Inter-population mating success in Australian dengue vector mosquitoes: effects of laboratory colonization and implications for the spread of transgenics. Journal of vector ecology, 38(1), 111-119.
DOI Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC3
2012 Richardson, A., King, S. A., Garrett, R., & Wrench, A. (2012). Thriving or just surviving? Exploring student strategies for a smoother transition to university. A practice report. International journal of the first year in higher education, 3(2), 87-93.
DOI
2012 Richardson, A., King, S., Garrett, R., & Wrench, A. (2012). Thriving or just surviving? Exploring student strategies for a smoother transition to university. A Practice Report. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THE FIRST YEAR IN HIGHER EDUCATION, 3(2), 87-93.
DOI WoS31

Year Citation
2025 Pearson, E., Le Busque, B., & Richardson, A. (2025). Three Activities to Foster Psychological Connection with Nature and Support Self-Care, Well-Being, and Sustainability. In Tutorial Ideas for Educators on the Run Innovative and Engaging Teaching Activities (pp. 131-140). Springer Nature Singapore.
DOI

Courses I teach

  • SCTIU 90003 Engaging Learners Online 1 SC (2025)
  • SCTIU 90003 Engaging Learners Online 1 SC (2024)

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2024 Co-Supervisor In Search of Lost time in the Practice of Teaching Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Cameron Richard Bacholer
2024 Co-Supervisor This is what I actually need: Addressing contemporary learner's needs through amplifying the first-year student voice Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Isabella Sauchelli

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