Gillian not only teaches primary and secondary curriculum methods courses in the School of Science, Mathematics and Technology she also works in the postgraduate studies area of the Faculty as the Associate Dean (Postgraduate).

Prior to working at the university Gillian taught in coeducational and single sex secondary schools in New Zealand. Gillian has been a head of department (chemistry) and a dean across all levels of the secondary school. She has been involved in moderation and marking of external exams.
 

Qualifications

Gillian has a Doctorate of Science Education. Her thesis focused on how New Zealand early career teachers, who teach in secondary school science departments, perceive their actual and preferred working environments. In addition, the thesis examines early career teachers' career aspirations and how the department work environment may influence these aspirations. A mixed method research design was used.

Gillian also has an MEd (EdAdmin) Hons as well as a BSc including papers in biochemistry, chemistry, biology and mathematics.
 

Research interests

• The work lives of early career teachers in secondary schools
• Practicum and teacher education with a science education focus
• Secondary education
• Mixed Methods approaches (both qualitative and quantitative approaches within a study)
   

Gillian has published papers and/or presented at conferences in these areas. She has also written a text suitable for secondary school chemistry students. Selected publications are listed below.

• Ward, G. NCEA Level 2 Year 12 Chemistry Workbook (4^rd edition). Auckland, ESA Publications (NZ) Ltd, pp 1-185, 2007.
• Ward, G. Retention of early career secondary school science teachers in New Zealand. Paper presented at the Asia-Pacific Educational Research Association (APERA) Conference, Hong Kong 28-30 November, 2006.
• France, B., Haigh, M., Ward, G. & Burchill, D. ‘Exemplars or examples?’ New Zealand Science Teachers’ Journal, 110, pp 29-34, 2005.
• Haigh, M., & Ward, G. ‘Problematising Practicum Relationships: Questioning the "Taken-for-granted". Australian Journal of Education, 48 (2), pp 134-148, 2004.
• Haigh, M., Ward, G. & Jongejan, J. ‘Developing Meaningful Practicums for LATs Enrolled in Teacher Education Programmes.’ Paper presented at Charting the Future: The Way Forward for Secondary Education (PPTA) Conference, Wellington 18-20 April, 2004. http://www.ppta.org.nz/cms/imagelibrary/100594.doc.