Research Interests
Applications in social sciences and education Educational Psychology Higher Education Secondary Education Cognitive and computational psychology Psychology and Cognitive Sciences Virtual and mixed reality Artificial Intelligence Teaching and instruction technologies STEM Education Equity and access to educationMs Jackie Steffan
Grant-Funded Researcher (A)
School of Computer Science and Information Technology
College of Engineering and Information Technology
Jackie Steffan is a doctoral candidate at Adelaide University whose research sits at the intersection of education, technology, and cognitive psychology. Her doctoral project investigates the impact of virtual reality on schema acquisition and cognitive load among STEM students, with a focus on advancing understanding of innovative teaching methodologies.
Alongside her doctoral studies, Jackie is a Research Associate within the Computer Science Education Research (CSER) Group at Adelaide University, where she works with Dr Rebecca Vivian and Professor Katrina Falkner on CSER's research programs. This research explores contemporary and emerging best-practice pedagogies in STEM education. Her work spans literature reviews, data collection and analysis, course design, and the development of evidence-based literature and resources to support both pre-service and in-service teachers.
Jackie is also a passionate advocate for equity in education. As an educator and researcher, she has spoken publicly about the challenges girls continue to face in the education system, emphasising the importance of empowering girls to pursue non-gender normative education opportunities, ultimately working towards building confidence in girls and reducing discrimination and inequality.
Jackie is currently working on the following research project:
Doctoral Research:
The effectiveness of virtual reality on cognitive load and schema acquisition of STEM students
There has been an increase in the use of virtual reality (VR) in schools, yet due to a gap in the literature, educators and researchers have a limited understanding of how VR contributes to the development of schema and impacts on the human cognitive process.
This research aims to determine if VR has an impact on the acquisition of schema and how VR impacts the cognitive load of students compared with traditional teaching methods.
It is expected that VR will enhance schema and reduce the effect on students’ cognitive load due to the vivid and lifelike simulations, which afford students the ability to assimilate new learning into previous knowledge.
Current Projects:
- Get into STEM - Diversity in STEM
- Raspberry Pi (Google for Education Initiative)
Past Projects:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) Familiarity of Newly Enrolled University Students and Its Impact on Their Expectations for University Study
- Understanding of the Pedagogical use of Video in a Higher Education Context
- Project Albus (Google for Education initiative)
- School of Education Micro-credentials (Phonics, Classroom Management, Explicit Teaching)
- Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) and Cognitive Load theory to cross boundaries between mathematics & Physics
- Life Education (Let's talk about it)
- Initial Teacher Education: Does the AfGT support PST classroom readiness?
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | University of Adelaide | Australia | PhD Candidate |
| 2021 - 2023 | University of Adelaide | Australia | Master of Teaching (Middle & Secondary) |
| 2017 - 2020 | Flinders University | Australia | Bachelor of Science (Forensic & Analytical Science) |
Jackie teaches various courses within the School of Education at Adelaide University
Previously Jackie taught Biology in the Foundations Studies Program at Eynesbury College (entry pathway for international students to Adelaide University).
Jackie is also a registered teacher in South Australia, previously teaching junior, middle and senior STEM subjects in schools.
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