Josh McCarthy

Dr Josh McCarthy

Program Director: Visual Effects

School of Architecture and Built Environment

College of Creative Arts, Design and Humanities

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

Available For Media Comment.

Dr Josh McCarthy is a Senior Lecturer at the University of South Australia, and is the Program Director for the Bachelor of Visual Effects. He also teaches into the Bachelor of Film and Television, the Graduate Certificate in Compositing and Tracking and the Graduate Certificate in Dynamic Effects and Lighting, the Graduate Certificate in 3D Animation, and the Graduate Certificate in Creature Effects.
Josh teaches across a diverse array of disciplines, including visual effects, film, photography, and digital media, and has a particular interest in the cinematic language of contemporary film directors, and more broadly, the role design language plays across different creative fields. 
Josh has published more than 30 papers exploring emerging technologies in learning and teaching, and has exhibited his photography work at various South Australian art galleries. Josh is also the director of Electricityscape, an Adelaide-based company delivering design, media and photography services to local and international clients.
Josh was awarded a Teaching Fellowship by Advance HE in 2023.

Teaching Awards:
2023 Teaching Fellowship, Advance HE
2022 UniSA Creative, Leading an External Partnership, University of South Australia
2019 School of Creative Industries Outstanding Contribution to Teaching and Learning, University of South Australia
2015 Academic Excellence Award (Teaching), University of South Australia, Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences
2015 High Achievement in Student Evaluation Attainment, University of South Australia, Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences
2013 Academic Excellence Award, University of South Australia, Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences
2010 Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning
2009 The University of Adelaide, Excellence in Education Award
2009 The University of Adelaide, Faculty of the Professions, Executive Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching

Emerging technologies in learning and teaching,Abstract expressionism in photography,Animation in tertiary education,Mentoring in design and digital media education

Year Citation
2018 McCarthy, J. (2018). Blended learning strategies for engaging diverse student cohorts in higher education. International journal of teacher education and professional development International journal of teacher education and professional development, 1(2, article 3), 29-45.
DOI
2017 McCarthy, J. (2017). Enhancing feedback in higher education: Students' attitudes towards online and in-class formative assessment feedback models. Active learning in higher education, 18(2), 127-141.
DOI Scopus109
2016 McCarthy, J. (2016). Reflections on a flipped classroom in first year higher education. Issues in Educational Research, 26(2), 332-350.
Scopus50
2016 McCarthy, J. (2016). Global learning partnerships in the Café: peer feedback as a formative assessment tool for animation students. Interactive learning environments, 24(6), 1298-1318.
DOI Scopus7
2015 McCarthy, J. (2015). Evaluating written, audio and video feedback in higher education summative assessment tasks. Issues in educational research, 25(2), 153-169.
Scopus91
2015 McCarthy, J. A. R. (2015). Learning in the cafe : pilot testing the collaborative application for education in Facebook. Australasian journal of educational technology, 31(1), 67-85.
DOI Scopus8
2014 McCarthy, J. (2014). Multicultural learning partnerships in the Café: integrating ICT into transnational tertiary education in Australia using the collaborative application for education. Journal of international and comparative education, 3(2), 173-184.
DOI
2013 McCarthy, J. (2013). Learning in Facebook : first year tertiary student reflections from 2008 to 2011. Australasian journal of educational technology, 29(3), 337-356.
DOI Scopus36
2013 McCarthy, J. (2013). The Cafe: creating the 'collaborative application for education'; a dedicated e-learning environment in Facebook. International journal of social media and interactive learning environments, 1(4), 419-438.
DOI
2012 McCarthy, J. (2012). International design collaboration and mentoring for tertiary students through Facebook. Australasian journal of educational technology, 28(5), 755-775.
DOI Scopus62
2011 Francis, R., & McCarthy, J. (2011). Engaging design students through a video-based tutorial system. Ergo, 2(2), 45-54.
2010 McCarthy, J. (2010). Blended learning environments: Using social networking sites to enhance the first year experience. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 26(6), 729-740.
DOI Scopus210
2009 McCarthy, J. (2009). Utilising Facebook: immersing Generation-Y students into first year university. Ergo: The Journal of the Education Research Group of Adelaide, 1(2), 39-50.

Year Citation
2019 McCarthy, J. (2019). Student perceptions of screencast video feedback for summative assessment tasks in the creative arts. In C. E. Dann, & S. O'Neill (Eds.), Source details - Title: Technology-enhanced formative assessment practices in higher education (pp. 177-192). US: IGI Global.
DOI
2018 McCarthy, J. (2018). Tackling diversity and promoting inclusivity: a flipped classroom model to enhance the first year university experience. In R. Jeffries (Ed.), Source details - Title: Diversity, equity, and inclusivity in contemporary in higher education (pp. 13-33). US: IGI Global.
DOI
2014 McCarthy, J. A. R. (2014). The collaborative animation forum in facebook: learning partnerships across Australia, the United States and Singapore. In F. J. Garcia-Penalvo, & A. M. Seoane-Pardo (Eds.), Source details - Title: Online Tutor 2.0: methodologies and case studies for successful learning (pp. 280-297). US: IGI Global.
DOI
2012 McCarthy, J. A. R. (2012). Connected: online mentoring in Facebook for final year digital media students. In A. Okada, T. Connolly, & P. J. Scott (Eds.), Source details - Title: Collaborative learning 2.0: open educational resources (pp. 204-221). UK: IGI Global.
DOI Scopus14
2012 McCarthy, J. A. R. (2012). Online networking: integrating international students into first year university through the strategic use of participatory media. In F. J. Peñalvo (Ed.), Source details - Title: Multiculturalism in technology-based education: case studies on ICT-supported approaches (pp. 189-210). Hershey, PA: Information Science Reference.
DOI Scopus9

Year Citation
2010 Francis, R., & McCarthy, J. (2010). Engaging design students through a video-based tutorial system. In Proceedings of ERGA Conference 2010 (pp. 1-6). Adelaide: University of Adelaide.
2010 McCarthy, J. (2010). Connected: Linking postgraduate design students and industry through online mentoring. In Proceedings of the 44th Annual Conference of the Architectural Science Association, ANZAScA 2010 (pp. 1-8). Auckland: Architectural Science Association.
2009 McCarthy, J. A. R. (2009). Using social media to enhance the first year experience. In R. J. Atkinson, & C. McBeath (Eds.), Proceedings of the 26th Annual International Ascilite Conference (pp. 1202-1205). Auckland, New Zealand: Ascilite.
2008 McCarthy, J. (2008). Utilising Facebook: immersing Generation-Y students into first year university. In Proceedings of Motivating and Engaging Students, 3rd ERGA Conference (pp. 1-2). Adelaide: University of Adelaide.
2007 McCarthy, J. (2007). Digital design and student learning through videoconference collaboration. In Ron Oliver (Ed.), Proceedings of ascilite 2007 (pp. 653-655). Singapore: Nanyang Technological University.
2007 McCarthy, J. (2007). Digital design and student learning through videoconference collaboration. In Ascilite 2007 the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (pp. 652-655).
Scopus2
2006 McCarthy, J. (2006). What do first year students think about learning graphics packages?. In Ascilite 2006 the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education Vol. 1 (pp. 509-512).
Scopus1
2006 McCarthy, J. (2006). Digital media within the Bachelor of Design Studies degree. In S. Shannon, V. Soebarto, & T. Williamson (Eds.), Proceedings of ANZAScA 2006 (pp. CDROM1-CDROM8). CDROM: University of Adelaide.
2006 Pietsch, S., Shannon, S., & McCarthy, J. (2006). Changing track - Form Z to Sketch UP - rationale, tactics and outcomes. In S. Shannon, V. Soebarto, & T. Williamson (Eds.), Proceedings of ANZAScA 2006 (pp. CDROM1-CDROM8). CDROM: University of Adelaide.
2006 McCarthy, J. (2006). What do first year students think about learning graphics packages?. In L. Markauskaite, P. Goodyear, & P. Reimann (Eds.), Proceedings of ASCILITE 2006 (pp. CDROM1-CDROM4). CDROM: ASCILITE.

Courses I teach

  • COMM 2096 Hard Surface Modelling (2025)
  • COMM 2097 Development and Lighting (2025)
  • COMM 3069 Visual Effects Project: Dynamic Effects and Lighting (2025)
  • COMM 3082 Visual Effects Placement: Compositing and Tracking (2025)
  • COMM 5070 Compositing Production Project (2025)
  • COMM 5071 Plate Preparation Techniques (2025)
  • COMM 5072 Introduction to 3D Tracking (2025)
  • COMM 5073 Visual Effects Professional Practice (2025)
  • COMM 5074 Effects Skills Development (2025)
  • COMM 5075 Effects Element Development (2025)
  • COMM 5076 Look Development and Lighting (2025)
  • GRAP 3023 Creature Effects (2025)
  • GRAP 5007 Assets Animation (2025)
  • GRAP 5008 Creature Animation (2025)
  • GRAP 5009 Human Animation (2025)
  • GRAP 5010 Cloth Simulation (2025)
  • GRAP 5011 Hair Simulation (2025)
  • GRAP 5012 Shot Finalling (2025)
  • COMM 2096 Hard Surface Modelling (2024)
  • COMM 2097 Development and Lighting (2024)
  • COMM 3069 Visual Effects Project: Dynamic Effects and Lighting (2024)
  • COMM 3082 Visual Effects Placement: Compositing and Tracking (2024)
  • COMM 5070 Compositing Production Project (2024)
  • COMM 5071 Plate Preparation Techniques (2024)
  • COMM 5072 Introduction to 3D Tracking (2024)
  • COMM 5073 Visual Effects Professional Practice (2024)
  • COMM 5074 Effects Skills Development (2024)
  • COMM 5075 Effects Element Development (2024)
  • COMM 5076 Look Development and Lighting (2024)
  • GRAP 3022 3D Animation for Visual Effects (2024)
  • GRAP 3023 Creature Effects (2024)
  • GRAP 5007 Assets Animation (2024)
  • GRAP 5008 Creature Animation (2024)
  • GRAP 5009 Human Animation (2024)
  • GRAP 5010 Cloth Simulation (2024)
  • GRAP 5011 Hair Simulation (2024)
  • GRAP 5012 Shot Finalling (2024)
  • INFT 1019 Cinematic Design (2024)

Programs I'm associated with

  • ICVE - Graduate Certificate in Compositing and Tracking
  • MBME - Bachelor of Film and Television

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2023 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr George William Martin
2022 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Sandy Cameron

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