Exploring how future teachers can apply financial literacy education in their mathematics education classes is the focus of a new Griffith PhD thesis topic.
School of Education and Professional Studies PhD Candidate Levon Blue is using a case study to explore the financial literacy education practices in a First Nation community in Canada, of which she is a member.
Financial literacy education aims to develop skills in young people on how to manage money and make informed financial decisions.
Levon says she chose Griffith University because of the facilities available to her, and the important research her supervisors were conducting in and around her key area of interest.
“I’ve increased my research and teaching skills through workshops offered to HDR students at Griffith, and have taken on sessional tutoring opportunities and research assistant roles,” she says.
“I’ve also attended and presented at a number of domestic and international conferences, and currently have eight published articles as a result of the opportunities here at Griffith.”
Prior to commencing her PhD, Levon worked for both the Canadian and Australian governments in senior finance roles, consulting on projects and training managers, Principals and School Executive Officers about school budgets.
“It was during my Masters degree in Training and Development, specialising in professional development, that I began to focus on financial literacy education,” she says.
“I realised that more research was needed to properly guide the process of financial literacy training in higher education for pre-service teachers, and to help direct government policy.”
Following the submission of her PhD thesis in early 2016, Levon intends to continue working in academia in a dual teaching and research capacity.
Levon is supervised by Associate Professor Peter Grootenboer from the School of Education and Professional Studies and Associate Professor Mark Brimble from the Griffith Business School.
If you are interested in pursuing a research degree, the School of Education and Professional Studies offers a range of higher degree research programs and a broad range of supervisory expertise covering all aspects of education.