Dr Margaret Plunkett - Researcher Profile

Biography

Dr Margaret Plunkett has a background in secondary education. She was Deputy Course Director of Secondary Teacher Education at Monash from 2007-2009. Margaret coordinates and lectures in a range of units in both secondary and primary education, mainly related to the professional placement. However, her main area of interest is the field of Gifted Education with a particular focus on provisioning for highly able rural students. Her undergraduate unit EDF4512 (Gifted Education) is a popular elective for both on campus and distance education students, attracting around 150 students per year. Gifted education has also been the focus of Margaret's research and has included a major evaluation of the SEAL program for the Department of Education, Victoria. Other research interests include teacher education, specifically relating to mentoring partnerships in professional placements, and also alternative educational settings such as the School for Student Leadership, which is a residential setting for Year 9 students, offering nine-week leadership programs. She has published and presented her research at both the national and international level. Margaret has won a number of awards for teaching excellence including the Monash Vice Chancellors Teaching Excellence award (Special Commendation, 2010) and the Pearson/ATEA Teacher Educator of the Year award (2012).

Research & Supervision Interests

• Gifted Education
• Teacher Education
• Alternative educational settings

Qualifications

PHD

Institution: Monash University

Year awarded: 2006

MASTER OF EDUCATION

Institution: Monash University

Year awarded: 2000

GRAD DIPLOMA EDUCATION (PROF DEVELOP STUDIES)

Institution: Monash University

Year awarded: 1995

DIPLOMA IN EDUCATION

Institution: Monash University

Year awarded: 1979

BACHELOR OF ECONOMICS

Institution: Monash University

Year awarded: 1978

Publications

Books

Plunkett, M.M., 2009, Tales from the Pond: Student Perceptions of Ability Grouped and Mainstream Learning Environments, VDM, Saarbrucken, Germany.

Book Chapters

Plunkett, M.M., 2012, Justice for gifted rural students, in Let the Tall Poppies Flourish: Advocating to Achieve Educational Justice for all Gifted Students, eds Susan Nikakis, Heidelberg Press, Heidelberg Vic Australia, pp. 37-49.

Kronborg, L.G., Kelly, L., Plunkett, M.M., 2010, Curricular responses to teaching gifted students in Australia, in Curriculum Development and Teaching Strategies for Gifted Learners, eds C. June Maker and Shirley W. Schiever, Pro-Ed, USA, pp. 317-327.

Kronborg, L.G., Plunkett, M.M., 2009, Providing an optimal school context for talent development: an extended curriculum program in practice, in Gifted and Talented Education, eds Deborah Eyre, Routledge, UK, pp. 264-278.

Plunkett, M.M., 2002, Impacting on Teacher Attitudes Toward Gifted Students, in The Gifted Enigma: A Collection of Articles, eds Wilma Vialle, John Geake, Hawker Brownlow Education, Cheltenham, Victoria, pp. 240-259.

Journal Articles

Kronborg, L.G., Plunkett, M.M., 2012, Examining teacher attitudes and perceptions of teacher competencies required in a new selective high school, Australasian Journal of Gifted Education [P], vol 21, issue 2, Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented, Australia, pp. 33-46.

Dyson, M.D., Plunkett, M.M., 2012, Making a difference by embracing cooperative learning practices in an alternate setting: an exciting combination to incite the educational imagination, Journal of Classroom Interaction [P], vol 47, issue 2, Journal of Classroom Interaction, United States, pp. 13-24.

Plunkett, M., Dyson, M., 2011, Becoming a teacher and staying one: examining the complex ecologies associated with educating and retaining new teachers in rural Australia?, Australian Journal of Teacher Education [E], vol 36, issue 1, Social Science Press, Australia, pp. 31-47.

Plunkett, M., Kronborg, L., 2011, Learning to be a teacher of the gifted: The importance of examining opinions and challenging misconceptions, Gifted and Talented International [P], vol 26, issue 1 and 2, World Council for Gifted & Talented Children, University of Western Kentucky, USA, pp. 31-46.

Somerville, M., Plunkett, M., Dyson, M., 2010, New teachers learning in rural and regional Australia, Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education [P], vol 38, issue 1, Routledge, Australia, pp. 39-55.

Plunkett, M.M., 2009, Re-conceptualizing ability grouping within a social justice framework: A student perspective, Australasian Journal of Gifted Education [P], vol 18, issue 2, Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented, Sydney, Australia, pp. 5-16.

Kronborg, L.G., Plunkett, M.M., 2008, Curriculum differentiation: An innovative Australian secondary school program to extend academic talent, Australasian Journal of Gifted Education, vol 17, issue 1, Australian Association for the Education of Gifted and Talented Ltd, Australia, pp. 19-29.

Kronborg, L.G., Plunkett, M.M., Kelly, L., Urquhart, F., 2008, Student attitudes towards learning in differentiated settings, Australasian Journal of Gifted Education, vol 17, issue 2, Australian Association for the Education of Gifted and Talented Ltd, Australia, pp. 23-32.

Plunkett, M.M., Kronborg, L.G., 2007, Gifted education in Australia: a story of striving for balance, Gifted Education International, vol 23, issue 1, AB Academic Publishers, Bicester United Kingdom, pp. 72-83.

Plunkett, M.M., Kronborg, L.G., 2007, The importance of social-emotional context: perceptions of students, parents and teachers regarding the Extended Curriculum Program for students with high abilities, Australasian Journal of Gifted Education, vol 16, issue 2, Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented Ltd, Sydney NSW, pp. 35-43.

Kronborg, L.G., Plunkett, M.M., 2006, Providing an optimal school context for talent development: an extended curriculum program in practice, Australasian Journal of Gifted Education, vol 15, issue 1, Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented, http://www.aaegt.net.au/whatwedo.html, pp. 16-24.

Plunkett, M.M., Harvey, D.H., Harvey, B., 2003, Survived or thrived? Reflections of graduates of an accelerated learning program, Australasian Journal of Gifted Education, vol 12, issue 2, Aust. Assoc. for the Education of the Gifted and Talented, Wollongong NSW Australia, pp. 5-17.

Plunkett, M., 2000, Education teachers to meet the needs of gifted students: an option or a necessity?, TalentEd, vol 18 issues 1 & 2, University of New England, NSW Australia, pp. 9-16.

Plunkett, M.M., 2000, Impacting on Teacher Attitudes Toward Gifted Students, Australasian Journal of Gifted Education [P], vol 9, issue 2, Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented, Melbourne Victoria, pp. 33-42.

Plunkett, M., Harvey, D.H., 1999, Accelerated learning program: Lessons from a country college, Australasian Journal of Gifted Education, vol 8, issue 2, Aust. Assoc for Educ of Gifted and Talented, Melbourne Vic Australia, pp. 16-19.

Plunkett, M.M., 1995, Teaching the Gifted: Is Interest Alone Enough?, Australasian Journal of Gifted Education [P], vol 4, issue 1, Hawker Brownlow Education, Highett, Victoria, pp. 16-21.

Conference Proceedings

Dyson, M.D., Plunkett, M.M., 2012, Alternative settings - alternative teachers? Reflections on teaching outside the mainstream, AARE 2012 Conference Proceedings & Program, 2 December 2012 to 6 December 2012, Australian Association for Research in Education, Deakin ACT Australia, pp. 1-12.

Dyson, M.D., Plunkett, M.M., 2012, An innovative mentoring approach to prepare holistic educators for the 21st century, American Educational Research Association 2012 Annual Meeting Program, 13 April 2012 to 17 April 2012, American Educational Research Association, Washington DC USA, p. 72.

Plunkett, M.M., 2012, Going for gold in regional Victoria:current challenges and future possibilities related to teaching highly able rural students, The Australian Teacher Education Association (ATEA) 2012 Conference: Conference Handbook & Abstracts: Going for Gold! Reshaping teacher education in the future, 01 July 2012 to 04 July 2012, ATEA, Australia, p. 58.

Kronborg, L., Plunkett, M., 2012, More than knowing: helping teachers understand the needs of highly able students in a new select entry school, Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, 13 - 17 April 2012, American Educational Research Association, Washington DC USA, pp. 1-9.

Dyson, M., Plunkett, M., Dyson, B., 2011, Making a difference by embracing cooperative learning practices in an alternate setting: inciting the social imagination, American Educational Research Association 2011, 8 April 2011 to 12 April 2011, American Educational Research Association, Washington DC United States, p. 1.

Plunkett, M., Dyson, M., 2011, Making a difference: a different way of being a teacher in an alternate educational setting, AARE 2010 Conference Proceedings, 28 November 2010 to 2 December 2010, Australian Association for Research in Education, Deakin ACT Australia, pp. 1-13.

Dyson, M., Plunkett, M., 2011, Shifting the focus in teacher education: foregrounding the value of teacher/student relationships, ATEA Conference Proceedings 2011, 3 July 2011 to 6 July 2011, Australian Teacher Education Association (ATEA), Australia, pp. 1-6.

Plunkett, M., Dyson, M., 2010, Becoming a teacher and staying one: examining the complex ecologies associated with educating and retaining new teachers in rural Australia, AERA Annual Meeting 2010, 30 April 2010 to 4 May 2010, American Educational Research Association, Washington DC United States, p. 1.

Dyson, M., Plunkett, M., 2010, Building positive relationships through an alternate educational setting: an Australian case study, International Conference on Interpersonal Relationships in Education 2010, 28 April 2010 to 29 April 2010, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands, p. 1.

Dyson, M., Plunkett, M., 2010, Complex ecologies playing out in Australia: creating holistic learning environments for adolescents, AERA Annual Meeting 2010, 30 April 2010 to 4 May 2010, American Educational Research Association, Washington DC USA, p. 1.

Dyson, M., Plunkett, M., Dyson, B., 2010, Cooperative learning and teaching experiences: making a difference to year nine students in alternate settings, AARE 2010 Conference Proceedings, 28 November 2010 to 2 December 2010, Australian Association for Research in Education, Deakin ACT Australia, pp. 1-2.

Plunkett, M., Kronborg, L., 2009, Pre-service teacher attitudes towards giftedness: Can a semester make a difference?, 18th World Conference on Gifted and Talented Children, 3 - 7 August 2009, The World Council for Gifted and Talented Children, Canada, p. 72.

Plunkett, M.M., 2008, Grouping students by ability to maximise achievement,motivation and self efficacy:an Australian story, From Giftedness in Childhood to Succesful Intelligence in Adulthood: Program and the Book of Abstracts, 16 September 2008 to 20 September 2008, Publishing House TRITION, Vykanska 5, Praha 10 Czech Republic, p. 89.

Somerville, M.J., Plunkett, M.M., Dyson, M.D., 2008, Thirty teachers go to school: New teachers learning in rural and regional communities in Australia, British Educational Research Association (BERA) Annual Conference 2008, 3 September 2008 - 6 September 2008, British Educational Research Association, UK, pp. 1-17.

Plunkett, M.M., 2005, Ability Grouping in a Rural Setting: An Enabling or Disabling Experience?, Conference Proceedings Not Yet available 03.05.06, 06/08/05 - 10/08/05, World Council for Gifted and Talented Children, New Orleans USA.

Plunkett, M.M., 2005, Ability Grouping in a Rural Setting: An Enabling or disabling Experience?, American Educational Research Association2005 Annual MeetingDemography and Democracy in the Era of Accountability, 11-15th April 2005, AERA.

Osborn, M.Y., Plunkett, M.M., 2005, Independent study skills: nurturing self efficacy to enrich the post compulsory learning experience, Australian Association For Research In Education AARE 2004 International Educational Research Conference Doing The Public Good: Positioning Education Research, 28/11/2004 - 02/12/2004, AARE Inc., Vic Australia, pp. 1-19.

Plunkett, M.M., 2004, Ability Based Learning Experience (ABLE) for able students: Enable or disable?, Proceedings of the 10th Australian Conference of the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented, 15/08/04 - 17/08/04, AAEGT, Melbourne Vic Australia, p. 18.

Plunkett, M.M., 2004, Help or Hindrance? Ability Grouping in an Australian Rural Setting, American Educational Research Association 2004 Annual Meeting, 12/04/04 - 16/04/04, American Educational Research Association, Baltimore USA, p. 68.

Levy, S., Osborn, M.Y., Plunkett, M.M., 2003, An investigation of international students' academic and social transition requirements, 7th Pacific Rim First Year in Higher Education Conference Proceedings, 09 July 2003 to 11 July 2003, Queensland University of Techology (QUT), Brisbane Qld Australia, pp. 1-10.

Osborn, M.Y., Plunkett, M.M., 2003, Assessment and learning styles; mix and match or mismatch?, Educational research, risks and dilemmas, 29/11/2003 to 3/12/2003, AARE, http://www.aare.edu.au/03pap/index.htm, pp. 2-9.

Other

Kronborg, L.G., Plunkett, M.M., 2005, An Evaluation of the Extended Curriculum Program at Melbourne Girls Grammar School, Monash University, Melbourne Vic Australia, pp. 1-105.

Plunkett, M.M., Kronborg, L.G., 2004, Final report (phase 1) Evaluation of Select Entry Accelerated Learning (SEAL) Programs in Victorian Government Secondary Schools, Commissioned Research for the Department of Education and Training, DE&T.

Postgraduate Research Supervisions

Current Supervision

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

A study of the development of India's newly-developed role as a world power with special reference to the importance of English language acquisition as a post-colonial phenomenon.

Supervisors:

Taylor, A (Main), Plunkett, M (Associate).

Program of Study:

(MASTER'S BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

An Investigation into the implementation of Open Plan Learning in Secondary Schools.

Supervisors:

Plunkett, M (Main), Albon, N (Associate).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

An investigation into the development of adolescent leadership in an alternative educational setting.

Supervisors:

Dyson, M (Joint-co), Plunkett, M (Joint).

Program of Study:

(MASTER'S BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

An investigative study into the integration of cooperative and experiential learning within a primary school context.

Supervisors:

Dyson, M (Joint-co), Plunkett, M (Joint).

Program of Study:

(MASTER'S BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Beyond the Barriers: Exploring strategies for improving performance in twice-gifted students.

Supervisors:

Plunkett, M (Main).

Program of Study:

(MASTER'S BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Gifted education practices and teachers' perceptions of teaching young gifted students.

Supervisors:

Kronborg, L (Joint-co), Plunkett, M (Joint).

Program of Study:

(MASTER'S BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Implementation of the National Curriculum in Regional Catholic Primary Schools: 'AusVELS' Teacher Pe.

Supervisors:

Plunkett, M (Main).

Program of Study:

(MASTER'S BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Longitudinal Study into Effect of School for Student Leadership on Student Engagement and Achievemen.

Supervisors:

Dyson, M (Joint-co), Plunkett, M (Joint).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Reframing technical vocational education and training in Papua New Guinea: an auto-ethnographic investigation into the commercialisation of a mining town technical college..

Supervisors:

Dyson, M (Joint-co), Plunkett, M (Joint).

Program of Study:

(MASTER'S BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

School Leadership in remote areas: building a professional learning culture.

Supervisors:

White, S (Main), Plunkett, M (Associate).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

The effects of student generated representations on student engagement and acheivement.

Supervisors:

Waldrip, B (Main), Plunkett, M (Associate).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Using telecommunication and its relation with social values of youth in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Supervisors:

Dyson, M (Joint-co), Plunkett, M (Joint).

Completed Supervision

Student:

Cartwright, K.

Program of Study:

Regional Education & Sustainable Rural Communities. (Masters) 2008.

Supervisors:

Plunkett, M (Joint), Taylor, A (Joint-Co).

Student:

O'Connor, D.

Program of Study:

NOT WAVING, DROWNING ? Exploring perception of AUSTSWIM teachers of swimming and water safety. (Masters) 2008.

Supervisors:

Osborn, M (Joint), Plunkett, M (Joint-Co).

Student:

Sahingoz, S.

Program of Study:

Achievement and attitudes towards school and learning in a culturally diverse secondary educational setting: The student perspective. (Masters) 2011.

Supervisors:

Kronborg, L (Joint), Plunkett, M (Joint-Co).

Student:

Shiels, M.

Program of Study:

Assessment: The Movie. The Alignment of Assessment with 21st Century Classroom Teaching and Learning Practices. (Masters) 2012.

Supervisors:

Plunkett, M (Main), Osborn, M (Associate).

Student:

Theodore, C.

Program of Study:

In what ways and by what means does a regional leadership program contribute to the social capital of a region? A case study of Gippsland. (PHD) 2010.

Supervisors:

Cairns, L (Joint-Co), Plunkett, M (Joint).