Dr Carolyne Obonyo BEd, MA, PhD

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Lecturer in Education and Research

Institute of Education and Humanities


Tel: +44 (0) 1792 481000 
Email: c.obonyo@uwtsd.ac.uk

Role in the University

Background

I have a PhD in Education from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. My research project explored teacher educators’ pedagogies and the use of mobile technologies in initial teacher education courses in New Zealand. I gained practical experience using mobile technologies to enhance teaching and learning as a result of my study. Between 2016 and 2020, I also worked as a Research Assistant at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, supporting the Exemplary ITE Programme Initiative: Masters of Teaching and Learning.

I have a unique blend of experiences. I earned a Master of Arts in Education with a specialization in Instructional Technology from California State University, San Bernardino in 2015. In addition, I earned a Certificate in e-Learning. For one and a half years, I worked as a Teaching/ Graduate Research Assistant at California State University, San Bernardino, after previously working as a Part-time Lecturer at Technical University of Mombasa in Kenya.

With over 16 years’ working experience in Kenya, USA, New Zealand and UK, my professional work, research focus, and personal experiences at schools and universities have enabled me to be knowledge-oriented, research-based, digitally competent, and culturally sensitive. I have had the pleasure and honour of teaching at both the high school and higher education (at the national and international levels). I work hard to effectively enhance all students’ learning experiences.

Member Of

  • Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education (SITE), USA: Professional Organisation (2015 – Present)
  • Flexible Learning Association of New Zealand (FLANZ): Professional Organisation (2018 – Present)
  • Teaching Council of New Zealand: Professional Organisation (2017 – 2021)
  • e-Learning Research Lab, University of Canterbury, New Zealand: Professional Organisation (2016 – 2019)
  • Golden Key International Honour Society, USA: Professional Organisation (2014 – 2015)

Academic Interests

Teaching areas:

  • Education research
  • Technology integration
  • Digital pedagogies and leadership
  • Mobile learning, distance education, online learning

Modules taught include:

  • ECDE70002: Introduction to Research Methods in Education (EdD full-time pathway)
  • ECDE7015: Exploring Contemporary Issues in Education 1: Policy Review and Critical Analysis (EdD full-time pathway)
  • ECDE7012: Research Design and Management in Education (EdD part-time pathway)
  • ECGE7005P: The Philosophy and Practice of Social Research (MA)
  • MA, EdD, and PhD Thesis Supervisor

Research Interests

My current research interests are centred around four areas within higher education, all related to my passion in the use of technology to enhance teaching and learning:

  • Improving pedagogical practices using digital technologies
  • Teaching and learning with technology
  • Professional learning of preservice teachers
  • Inclusion and equity

A major research project I was involved in as a Graduate Research Assistant was a Collaborative International Research Project involving seven countries (New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Poland, and England) to investigate partnership and collaboration between parents and Early Childhood Centres.

I am currently writing a book chapter titled: “re-examining online learning practices now and beyond.” The chapter aims to add to the body of knowledge on online learning by offering a nuanced understanding of the design principles and practices that promote diversity, equity, inclusivity, and accessibility in online environments.

Publications

Book Chapters

Obonyo, C. N. (2023). Digital tools for meaningful learning of preservice teachers. In J. Keengwe (Ed.). Innovative Digital Practices and Globalization in Higher Education (pp. 36-54). Hershey, PA: IGI Global..

Obonyo, C. N. (2023). Collaborative learning with mobile technologies in teacher education. In J. Keengwe (Ed.). Handbook of Research on Facilitating Collaborative Learning through Digital Content and Learning Technologies (pp. 62-83). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. 

Obonyo, C. N. (2019). Preparing preservice teachers to use mobile technologies. In A. Forkosh Baruch, & H. Meishar Tal (Eds.). Mobile Technologies in Educational Organizations (pp. 42-62). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. 

Doctoral Thesis

Obonyo, C. N. (2020). Preparing Student Teachers To Use Mobile Technologies In Teaching And Learning: A Single Site Case Study. University of Canterbury, New Zealand. (Unpublished)

Conference Contributions

Obonyo, C., Davis, N. & Fickel, L. (2020). Teacher educators’ practices with m-learning: A case study of ‘far transfer’ into schools of practices learned during preservice teacher education. In E. Langran (Ed.), Proceedings of SITE Interactive 2020 Online Conference (pp. 725-730). Online: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). (Published Paper)

Obonyo, C., Fickel, L. & Davis, N. (July, 2018). Thriving through uncertainty: Teacher educators responding to ‘future-focused’ principles. In ATEA and TEFANZ Conference Booklet (pp. 29-30). Melbourne, Australia. (Published Abstract)

Obonyo, C., Davis, N. & Fickel, L. (2018). Mobile learning practices in initial teacher education: Illustrations from three teacher educators. In E. Langran & J. Borup (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education (SITE) International Conference (pp. 2424-2429). Washington, D.C., United States: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). (Published Paper)

Obonyo C., Davis N., & Fickel, L. (2018). New forms of teaching and learning: Examples from one teacher educators’ mobile pedagogical practices. In Flexible Learning Association of New Zealand (Ed.), (FLANZ) Conference Handbook (pp. 127-131). Palmerston North, New Zealand. (Published Paper)

Obonyo C., Davis, N., & Fickel, L. H. (2017). Mobile learning practices in initial teacher education: Preparing future teachers. In Literacy and Learning Research Symposium Booklet (p. 16). Canterbury University, Christchurch, New Zealand. (Oral presentation)

Obonyo C., Davis N., & Fickel, L. (2017). Mobile learning in initial teacher education. In F. Y. Yu et al. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 25th International Conference on Computers in Education (ICCE). (pp. 9-12). Doctoral Student Consortia. Christchurch, New Zealand. (Published Paper)

Obonyo C., Davis N., & Fickel, L. (2017). Mobile learning practices in initial teacher education. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand: Postgraduate Showcase - College of Education, 1 Sep 2017. (Oral presentation).

Obonyo C. and Leh ASC. (2015). Facilitating action research in higher education using flipped classroom approach. In D. Rutledge & D. Slykhuis (Eds.), Proceedings of SITE 2015—Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference (pp. 1011-1014). Las Vegas, NV, United States: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). (Published Paper)

Obonyo C. and Leh ASC. (2015). Flipped Classrooms for International Students. Phi Beta Delta 29th Annual International Conference, 23-24 Apr 2015. Riverside, CA, United States. (Oral presentation).

Additional Information

  • Oct 2016–Present: Serving on the review boards of the following Journals: 
    International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning (IRRODL). 
    Journal of Open, Flexible, and Distance Learning (JOFDL).
  • 2018–2019: Member of Educational Research Human Ethics Committee (ERHEC), University of Canterbury, New Zealand.
  • Aug 2018: I reviewed for IEEE International Conference on Teaching, Assessment and
  • Learning for Engineering (TALE).
  • May 2018: I collaborated with Distinguished Professor Niki Davis to review a book proposal. Currently published: Kearney, M., Burden, K., & Schuck, S. (2020). Theorising and implementing mobile learning: Using the iPAC framework to inform research and teaching practice. Springer Nature.
  • 2014–2015: Mentored and guided in-service teachers to enhance their instruction by integrating digital technologies into their Spanish classes – World Languages and Literature Project at California State University, San Bernardino.
  • July–Sept 2014: Graduate Research Assistant; Project COPE (Caring for Others as a Positive Experience): a Research Project at California State University, San Bernardino, USA. Funded by National Institutes of Health.