Teaching Strengths
Mr Shane Leathem
Lecturer
School of Education
College of Education, Behavioural and Social Sciences
Shane Leathem is a Lecturer in Education specialising in Health and Physical Education (HPE) teacher education. He teaches and coordinates courses that help preservice teachers connect what they learn at university with the practical demands of teaching in schools. His work focuses on developing students’ confidence in planning, teaching and reflecting on learning experiences in HPE.
Shane holds a Bachelor of Human Movement, a Master of Teaching and a Master of Education. After completing his Master of Teaching, he worked in schools before taking on a school development role at Tennis South Australia. These experiences shaped his interest in building meaningful connections between HPE students, schools and state sporting organisations. He works with industry partners to give preservice teachers opportunities to learn from practising coaches and apply their learning in authentic settings.
His research interests include preservice teacher development and professional experience, particularly how supervising teachers provide feedback during placements and how international preservice teachers can be supported to communicate confidently and build professional relationships in schools.
My research focuses on preparing preservice teachers for professional experience, particularly the communication, feedback and relationships that shape learning during school placements.
My Master of Education research examined how supervising teachers decide what feedback to give preservice teachers. Through interviews with nine supervising teachers, I explored feedback about teaching techniques, the realities of classroom practice, and professional dispositions such as communication and initiative. I have applied these findings to the way I prepare students to discuss expectations and feedback with their supervising teachers.
I also contribute to research on supporting international preservice teachers during placement. As part of a collaborative placement preparation program, I helped develop and deliver workshops, interviewed participants about their experiences, and contributed to the evaluation of the program. This work has been presented at a conference and published in the Journal of Global Higher Education.
Across these projects, I am interested in how teacher education can better connect university learning with the interpersonal and practical demands of teaching in schools.
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Soong, H., Mu, M., Gilson, S., Piltz, W., Leathem, S., Larkin, L., . . . Thompson, J. (2025). Developing Communication Competence and Confidence: International Student Placement Preparation Program. In Journal of Global Higher Education (No. Of Pieces: 19 pages). |
Courses I teach
- EDUC X421 Health and Physical Education (2026)
- SPOR 2004 Teaching and Coaching (2026)
- EDUX X228 Teaching and Learning Motor Skills
- EDUC X210 Health and Physical Education for Secondary Teaching 1 (2026)
- EDUC 6060 Reflexive Practice and Professional Experience 2: Inquiry into Practice (2026)
- EDUC 2067 Teaching and Learning of Motor Skills (2025)
- EDUC 3067 Game, Sports Theory, Practice and Participation (2025)
- EDUC 5167 Health and Physical Education for Secondary Teaching 1 (2025)
- EDUC 5168 Health and Physical Education for Secondary Teaching 2 (2025)
- EDUC 5271 Reflexive Practice and Professional Experience 1 (2025)
- EDUC 5294 Reflexive Practice and Professional Experience 2: Inquiry into Practice (2025)
- HLTH 1027 Principles of Teaching and Coaching (2025)
- EDUC 2006 Health and Physical Education (2024)
- EDUC 2067 Teaching and Learning of Motor Skills (2024)
- EDUC 5167 Health and Physical Education for Secondary Teaching 1 (2024)
- EDUC 5271 Reflexive Practice and Professional Experience 1 (2024)
- EDUC 5294 Reflexive Practice and Professional Experience 2: Inquiry into Practice (2024)
- HLTH 1013 Fitness and Lifestyle Management (2024)
- HLTH 1027 Principles of Teaching and Coaching (2024)
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