Dr Brian Wattchow - Researcher Profile

Biography

Brian’s research focus for the last decade has been about land, identity and place-responsive education. Place refers to a participatory and experiential phenomenon. Places change us as we change them. Our experience of a place is always a combination of a specific physical location, our embodied encounter and the cultural ideas that influence the interpretations we make of the experience. This provides rich potential for educators who are well positioned to reflect upon how their communities need adapt to the social and environmental challenges they face. The major publication that arose from this research has been a co-authored book, A Pedagogy of Place: Outdoor Education for a Changing World (2011, Monash University Press: http://www.publishing.monash.edu/books/pp.html), written with Mike Brown. This research encompasses many of my additional interests in land, culture and identity, wilderness and experiential education pedagogies. Methodologically, I adopt a phenomenological approach which draws from interdisciplinary areas including human geography, philosophy, literary and cultural studies. Brian has also researched how human experiences of place are represented through image and text, and how this process is pivotal in outdoor and experiential education. In 2010 he published The Song of the Wounded River (Ginninderra Press) a narrative and poetic representation of a 2,500km canoe journey along Australia's longest river, the Murray. Collectively, Brian has published 2 books (plus another forthcoming on socio-ecological education), 9 refereed journal papers, 7 book chapters, 14 additional papers (in non-refereed journals and conference proceedings), and has a number of articles in popular publications. Much of this work is about land, river and education. In a recent shift he has returned his attention to the sea and the coast, and is currently writing a book about a series of journeys on the south coast of Australia, that chart its personal, familial, cultural and ecological meaning.

Research & Supervision Interests

My research interests centre around the following topic areas.

• sense of place and place responsive pedagogy
• outdoor and experiential education
• wilderness and expedition experiences
• land, culture and identity (in particular in river and coastal landscapes)
• phenomenology and human geography
• representation of experience
• emergent methodologies (such as creative fiction and non-fiction; poetic representation; narrative inquiry)

Keywords

place and outdoor education, land, culture and identity, outdoor leadership

Qualifications

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Institution: Monash University

Year awarded: 2006

MASTER OF EDUCATION

Institution: The University of Colgary

Year awarded: 1989

BACHELOR OF EDUCATION

Institution: South Australian College of Advanced Educati

Year awarded: 1983

Publications

Books

Wattchow, B., Brown, M., 2011, A Pedagogy of Place: Outdoor Education for a Changing World, Monash University Publishing, Clayton Vic Australia.

Book Chapters

Wattchow, B., Higgins, P., 2010, Words for water: Pedagogy on Scotland's River Spey, in Water - Space for Experiences. Youth and Outdoor Education in Europe, eds Peter Becker, Jochem Schirp and Christine Weber, bsj Marburg, Germany, pp. 129-150.

Wattchow, B., 2008, River songs: A poetic response to Australia's wounded rivers, in Making Sense of Place: Exploring Concepts and Expressions of Place through Different Senses and Lenses, eds Vanclay, F, Higgins, M, and Blackshaw, A, National Museum of Australia, Canberra, pp. 47-55.

Wattchow, B., 2008, Speech, silence & the embodied experience of place, in Theory & Practice of Experiential Education, eds Karen Warren, Denise Mitten and TA Loeffler, Association for Experiential Education, US, pp. 60-74.

Wattchow, B., 2007, Experience of place: lessons on teaching cultural attachment to place, in Nature First: Outdoor Life the Friluftsliv Way, eds Bob Henderson and Nils Vikander, Natural Heritage Books, Toronto Canada, pp. 235-245.

Wattchow, B., 2005, 'Belonging to proper country': Australian outdoor education as experiencing relationships in place, in Outdoor and Experiential Learning: View From The Top, eds Dickson, Tracey J.; Gray, Tonia; Hallyar, Bruce, Otago University Print, Dunedin New Zealand, pp. 13-27.

Wattchow, B., 1988, Antarctica: Protect or plunder, in New Wave Geography, eds R. Sowell and L. Bently, The Geography Teachers Association of Victoria: Jacaranda Press.

Journal Articles

Wattchow, B., 2012, Book Review of "Learning outside the classroom: Theory and guidelines for practice" (London: Routledge), Australian Journal of Outdoor Education [P], vol 16, issue 1, Australian Outdoor Education Council, Australia, pp. 53-55.

Wattchow, B., 2012, Ecopoetic practice: Writing the wounded land, Cultural Studies <-> Critical Methodologies [P], vol 12, issue 1, Sage Publications, United States, pp. 15-21.

Payne, P.G., Wattchow, B., 2009, Phenomenological deconstruction, slow pedagogy and the corporeal turn in wild environmental/outdoor education, Canadian Journal of Environmental Education [P], vol 14, Lakehead University, Canada, pp. 15-32.

Wattchow, B., 2008, Moving on an effortless journey: Paddling, river places and outdooor education, Australian Journal of Outdoor Education, vol 12, issue 2, Outdoor Council of Australia, Bendigo, Victoria, pp. 12-23.

Payne, P.G., Wattchow, B., 2008, Slow pedagogy and placing education in post-traditional outdoor education, Australian Journal of Outdoor Education [P], issue 1, Outdoor Council of Australia, QLD, pp. 25-38.

Wattchow, B., 2007, Outdoor leadership: Theory and practice ? A Book Review, Australian Journal of Outdoor Education, vol 11, issue 1, pp. 50-52.

Wattchow, B., 2007, Playing with an unstoppable force: paddling, river-places and outdoor education, Auustralian Journal of Outdoor Education, vol 11, issue 1, Outdoor Council of Australia, Bendigo, Victoria, pp. 10-20.

Wattchow, B., 2004, Many voices speak the river: Education in an adventure-river-landscape, Educational Insights, vol 9, issue 1, University of British Columbia, Faculty of Education, Canada, pp. 1-14.

Wattchow, B., 2001, A pedagogy of production: craft, technology and outdoor education, Australian Journal of Outdoor Education, vol 5, issue 2, Australian Outdoor Education Council Inc., Australia, pp. 19-27.

Wattchow, B., 2001, Pedagogy of production: craft, technology and outdoor education, Australian Journal of Outdoor Education, vol 5, issue 2.

Wattchow, B., 1999, A Feeling for Water: the Body and the Paddle, Journeys, vol 4, issue 2, Victorian Outdoor Education Association, Richmond Vic Australia, pp. 26-32.

Wattchow, B., 1999, A feeling for water: The body and the paddle, Journeys: The Journal of the Victorian Association of Outdoor Education, vol 4, issue 2, pp. 26-32.

Wattchow, B., 1998, River... I follow river, Journeys: The Journal of the Victorian Association of Outdoor Education, vol 3, issue 2, pp. 20-24.

Wattchow, B., 1993, Programming solo experiences in outdoor education, The Outdoor Educator, vol September.

March, W., Wattchow, B., 1990, Importance of the expedition in adventure education, The Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Leadership, vol 8, issue 2, pp. 4-5.

Conference Proceedings

Mullins, M., Wattchow, B., 2009, Re-telling the Snowy River: Exploring connections between guides, the experience of place, and outdoor education, The Fourth International Outdoor Education Research Conference, LaTrobe University, Bendigo, Victoria, pp. 1-19.

Wattchow, B., Higgins, P., 2009, Words for water: Pedogogy on Scotland's River Spey, Water-space for experiences: Youth and Outdoor education in Eurpoe, European Institute for Outdoor Adventure Education and Experiential Learning (EOE), 23 September 2009 - 26 September 2009, European Institute for Outdoor Adventure Education and Experiential Learning, Germany, pp. 1-10.

Wattchow, B., Burke, G., Cutter-Mackenzie, A.N., 2008, Environment, place and social ecology in educational practice, The social ecology of movement, environment and community, 30 November - 4 December, Monash University, Melbourne, pp. 18-35.

Wattchow, B., 2007, A sense of place and adventure programming: Denial and possibility in a changing landscape, Oct 23-26.

Payne, P.G., Wattchow, B., 2007, Slow pedagogy and experiencing place, 20-23 September.

Wattchow, B., 2007, Song of the wounded river, 20-23 September.

Wattchow, B., 2006, Journeys with the river: Experience, reflection and a sense of place, Walk the Talk: Making it happen, Outdoor Recreation Industry Council 2006 Conference, August 12-13, Outdoor Recreation Industry Council.

Wattchow, B., 2006, Life and death in the house of the river: Space, place and poetic representation, July 21.

Wattchow, B., 2006, River songs: A poetic response to Australia?s wounded rivers, April 6-8, University of Tasmania/National Museum of Australia.

Wattchow, B., 2004, Lived experience in outdoor education, July.

Wattchow, B., 2004, Lived-experience in outdoor education: explorations for the educational practitioner / researcher, Connections and Disconnections: International Outdoor Education Research Conference, 06/07/04 to 09/07/04, La Trobe University, http://www.latrobe.edu.au/oent/C_D_conference_2004/Conference%20CD/papers.html, pp. 1-22.

Wattchow, B., Johnson, D.L., 2004, Their words / their voices: student's perspectives of the Camp Mallana outdoor education experience, Connections and Disconnections: International Outdoor Education Research Conference, 06/07/04 to 09/07/04, La Trobe University, http://www.latrobe.edu.au/oent/C_D_conference_2004/Conference%20CD/papers.html, pp. 1-13.

Johnson, D., Wattchow, B., 2004, Their words, their voices, July.

Boyes, M., Maxted, J., Wattchow, B., Brown, M.S., 2003, "I was Framed!": The 'invisible work' of the hidden curriculum and outdoor education, Proceedings of the 13th National Outdoor Education Conference, 14 April 2003 - 16 April 2003, Outdoor Educators Association of South Australia, Underdate SA Australia, pp. 185-204.

Wattchow, B., 2003, Many voices speak the country: an ecological listening to experience in outdoor education, Relevance: Making It Happen, 13th National Outdoor Education Conference Proceedings, 14/04/2004 to 16/04/2003, Outdoor Educators Association of South Australia, Underdale SA Australia, pp. 161-176.

Boyes, M., Brown, M.S., Maxted, J., Wattchow, B., 2003, `I Was Framed!?: The `invisible? work of the hidden curriculum in outdoor education, 14-16 April 2003.

Wattchow, B., O'Connor, J., 2003, re(Forming) the 'physical' in a curriculum/pedagogy for health: a socio-ecological perspective, Educational research, risks and dilemmas, 29/11/2003 to 03/12/2003, AARE, http://www.aare.edu.au/03pap/index.htm, pp. 1-16.

Wattchow, B., 2001, Outdoor education as the experience of place, Conference Proceedings: Education Outdoors ? Our Sense of Place, 15?18 January 2001, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria, pp. 127-147.

Wattchow, B., 2001, Place and Outdoor Education, 15-19 January.

Wattchow, B., 2000, `Friluftsliv? and outdoor leadership training in Norway, December.

Wattchow, B., 1999, The body and the paddle, July.

Other

Brown, M., Wattchow, B., 2012, Place-responcive pedagogy, Article in "Dansk Friluftsliv" (The Danish Outdoor), Danish Forum for Nature and Outdoor, Denmark.

Wattchow, B., 2010, The Song of the Wounded River, , Ginninderra Press, Port Adelaide, SA, Australia.

Wattchow, B., 2006, The experience of river places in outdoor education: A phenomenological study.

Payne, P.G., Wattchow, B., 1997, Theories and Practices of Environmental Educators.

March, W., Wattchow, B., 1989, Group Management in the Wilderness, Survival Outdoor Series, Faculty of Communications and Media, The University of Calgary, Canada.

Teaching Commitment

Postgraduate Research Supervisions

Current Supervision

Program of Study:

(MASTER'S BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Dwelling on the edge in time and place.

Supervisors:

Wattchow, B (Main), Miles, B (Associate).

Program of Study:

(MASTER'S BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

New instructors: Do their participants have more incidents and accident than more experienced instructors.

Supervisors:

Wattchow, B (Main), Shooter, W (Associate).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Reflective practice in coaching.

Supervisors:

Brown, T (Main), Wattchow, B (Associate).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

The Secret Live of the Sea Kayaker: A phenomenological study into the lived experiences of sea kayakers.

Supervisors:

Wattchow, B (Main), Alfrey, L (Associate).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

The impact of experiential learning on sports coaches self-efficacy.

Supervisors:

Jeanes, R (Joint-co), Wattchow, B (Joint).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

The role of the arts in waterway-health education for sustainability: Artful place-consciousness and the everyday.

Supervisors:

Somerville, M (Joint), Wattchow, B (Joint-co).

Completed Supervision

Student:

Hobbs, D.

Program of Study:

Extended Stay Outdoor Education School Program: An Action Research Study. (Masters) 2006.

Supervisors:

Wattchow, B (Main), O''Connor, J (Associate).

Student:

Johnson, D.

Program of Study:

Student perspectives on the impact and transfer of the Camp Mallana experience: A case study. (Masters) 2004.

Supervisors:

Wattchow, B (Main).

Student:

Mullins, M.

Program of Study:

Re-telling the Snowy River: Exploring connections between river guides, the experience of place, and outdoor education.. (Masters) 2007.

Supervisors:

Wattchow, B (Main).

Student:

Spencer, K.

Program of Study:

How the Social Construction of Gender Influences the Professional Aspirations of Female Outdoor Educators-In-Training. (Masters) 2004.

Supervisors:

Wattchow, B (Main).

Student:

Yeong, P.

Program of Study:

Fostering transformative learning: a phenomenological study into the lived experience of reflection and transformation in adventure education. (PHD) 2012.

Supervisors:

Wattchow, B (Main), Brown, T (Associate).