Sam Fowler

Research Interests

Education systems Educational Psychology Learning, motivation and emotion Primary Education Teacher Education and Professional Development of Educators

Dr Sam Fowler

Lecturer

School of Education

College of Education, Behavioural and Social Science

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

I am a lecturer and researcher at the School of Education, who researches the implicit psychological aspects of learning – such as epistemic beliefs, metacognition, motivation, and self-regulated learning – and explores how this understanding can inform the development of meaningful, authentic learning experiences for both teachers and students. With extensive classroom teaching experience, I collaborate with schools and education systems to strengthen teachers’ pedagogical reasoning and address the complexities of holistic teaching.
My office can be found in Mawson lakes in MC2-20 (Ext:25778)

Date Position Institution name
2018 - ongoing Lecturer University of South Australia
1999 - 2019 Primary School Teacher Catholic Education South Australia

Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
2024 Award Ian Davies Research Thesis prize University of South Australia Australia 5000
2023 Achievement Ian Davies thesis prize for the most outstanding research thesis University of South Australia Australia -

Date Institution name Country Title
2020 - 2023 University of South Australia Australia Doctor of Philosophy

Year Citation
2025 Marrone, R., Fowler, S., Bathakur, A., Dawson, S., Siemens, G., & Singh, C. (2025). Perceptions and perspectives of Australian school leaders on the integration of artificial intelligence in schools. School Leadership & Management, 45(1), 30-52.
DOI Scopus2 WoS1
2025 Brinkman, S. A., Lam, B., Dawson, S., Marrone, R., Schunk, D., Winkel, K., . . . Engelhardt, D. (2025). Pragmatic clustered randomised control trial to evaluate a self-regulated learning intervention to be implemented in South Australian primary schools—study protocol. Trials, 26(1), 12 pages.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1
2025 Fowler, S., Gabriel, F., & Leonard, S. N. (2025). Exploring the effect of teacher ontological and epistemic cognition on engagement with professional development. Professional Development in Education, 51(2), 319-335.
DOI Scopus4 WoS3
2024 Leonard, S. N., Devis, D., MacGill, B., Unsworth, P., Colton, J., & Fowler, S. (2024). Enhancing Empathy for Justice: A Methodology for Expansive Teacher Professional Development through Creative Body-Based Learning. Sustainability Switzerland, 16(1), 16 pages.
DOI Scopus2
2024 Fowler, S., & Leonard, S. N. (2024). Using design based research to shift perspectives: a model for sustainable professional development for the innovative use of digital tools. Professional Development in Education, 50(1), 1-13.
DOI WoS14
2023 Fowler, S., Korolkiewicz, M., & Marrone, R. (2023). First 100 days of ChatGPT at Australian Universities An analysis of policy landscape and media discussions about the role of AI in Higher Education. Journal of Learning Letters, 1(1), 1-8.
DOI
2023 Fowler, S., Kennedy, J. P., Cutting, C., Gabriel, F., & Leonard, S. N. (2023). Self-determined learning in a virtual makerspace: a pathway to improving spatial reasoning for upper primary students. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 34(2), 563-584.
DOI Scopus8 WoS5
2023 Fowler, S., Leonard, S. N., & Gabriel, F. (2023). Empowering mathematics teachers to meet evolving educational goals: the role of 'epistemic objects' in developing actionable practice knowledge in tumultuous times. Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 51(1), 45-57.
DOI Scopus1
2023 Leonard, S. N., Repetto, M., Kennedy, J. P., Tudini, E., & Fowler, S. (2023). Designing maker initiatives for educational inclusion. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 33(3), 883-899.
DOI WoS6
2023 Fowler, S., Cutting, C., Fiedler, S. H. D., & Leonard, S. N. (2023). Design-based research in mathematics education: trends, challenges and potential. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 35(3), 635-658.
DOI WoS11
2022 Fowler, S., Cutting, C., Kennedy, J., Leonard, S. N., Gabriel, F., & Jaeschke, W. (2022). Technology enhanced learning environments and the potential for enhancing spatial reasoning: a mixed methods study. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 34(4), 887-910.
DOI Scopus34 WoS28
2021 Fowler, S. (2021). Navigating through augmented reality - a spatial reasoning exploration. Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom, 26(2), 23-26.
2019 Fowler, S., O'Keefe, L., Cutting, C., & Leonard, S. (2019). The mathematics proficiencies: A doorway into spatial thinking. Australian primary mathematics classroom, 24(1), 36-40.

Year Citation
2025 Gabriel, F., Fowler, S., & Brinkman, S. (2025). Motivation for learning review. Australia: University of South Australia.
DOI
2025 Gabriel, F., Marrone, R., Fowler, S., & Brinkman, S. (2025). Implementing self-regulated learning in South Australian primary schools: a qualitative study of teacher and leader perspectives. Australia: University of South Australia.
DOI
2024 Vieira, M., Devis, D., Le Cerf, T., Fowler, S., Kennedy, J., & Leonard, S. (2024). Design thinking for creative confidence. Australia: University of South Australia.
DOI
2024 Lam, B., Marrone, R., Gabriel, F., Fowler, S., & Brinkman, S. (2024). Measuring self-regulation in the wellbeing and engagement collection - pilot study. Australia: University of South Australia.
DOI
2023 Fowler, S., Gabriel, F., & Leonard, S. N. (2023). Co-designing the translation of the science of learning (Catalyst report #10). Australia: University of South Australia.
DOI
2023 Inwood, K., Fowler, S., Devis, D., & Leonard, S. (2023). Improving music teacher self-efficacy (Catalyst Report #13). Australia: Univeristy of South Australia.
DOI
2023 Devis, D., Fowler, S., Vieira, M., Giannoni, K., Gabriel, F., Kennedy, J., & Leonard, S. (2023). From insight to action: strategies for cultivating equity and empowering women in industry. Australia: University of South Australia.
DOI
2023 Smith, L., Fowler, S., Gabriel, F., & Brinkman, S. (2023). Measuring metacognition in children and adolescents. Australia: University of South Australia.
DOI
2023 Smith, L., Gabriel, F., Terauds, V., Fowler, S., & Brinkman, S. (2023). Interventions to improve metacognition for children and adolescents. Australia: University of South Australia.
DOI
2022 Fowler, S., Kennedy, J., Cutting, C., Devis, D., & Leonard, S. (2022). A data summary report on the impact of a computer aided design program on the spatial reasoning and attitudes of primary school students (Catalyst report #7). Australia: University of South Australia.
DOI
2021 Kennedy, J., Thompson, K., Fowler, S., & Leonard, S. N. (2021). A novel approach to mapping changes in student attitudes towards science and mathematics in reaction to changes to their learning environment. Australia: Curtin University.

  • Self Regulated Learning RCT, Department for Education, 19/06/2023 - 31/12/2029

  • High Achieving Teachers (HAT) Program: Phase 2 Expansion Pilots, Cwth Dept of Education, Skills & Employment, 12/09/2024 - 31/12/2028

  • Closing the loop in authentic assessment: An EFA collaborative project, Seaview High School, 03/07/2024 - 03/07/2027

  • Rapid Response Evidence Review + extension , Department for Education, 01/07/2024 - 30/06/2025

  • Self Regulation Measurement, Department for Education, 07/06/2023 - 06/06/2024

  • Rapid-Response Evidence Reviews – Metacognition Part 2, Department for Education, 01/06/2023 - 15/08/2023

  • Rapid-Response Evidence Reviews – Metacognition Part 1, Department for Education, 01/06/2023 - 07/07/2023

Courses I teach

  • EDUC 4229 STEM: A Project Based Pedagogy (2025)
  • EDUC 4229 STEM: A Project Based Pedagogy (2024)

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2025 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Allyce Caitlyn Cole
2024 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Louise Nicole King
2024 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Danielle Perfect

Date Role Membership Country
2023 - ongoing Member European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction -

Date Engagement Type Partner Name
2023 - ongoing Collaboration Department for Education, South Australia

Connect With Me

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