There is one thing that I have always known and that is I have wanted to teach. Even before starting school I would sit my stuffed panda and other toys in front of the blackboard my father had made for me and teach my class. After starting primary school/elementary school my students included my sister and cousins especially during the school holidays. In high school due to my Biology teacher’s compassion I knew that I wanted to teach Biology. My work experience has included teaching Physics and Chemistry and I have enjoyed teaching in these disciplines as much as I have in Biology. I therefore view myself as an inter-disciplinary science teacher. I have a passion for science teaching now that isn’t restricted to a single discipline. My career choices and the decisions I have made have shaped me as a science educator and contributed to the passion I have for science education.

I was the first member of my family to go to university/college and my goal was to study and become a teacher despite the discouragement of father who said “You’ll never make money as a teacher!” I graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand with a Bachelor of Science in 1993. After working in the field of science education for sixteen years, and while teaching I completed my graduate studies part-time. I was awarded a Bachelor of Science Honors degree in Science Education in 2012 and completed with distinction a Master of Science degree in Science Education from the University of the Witwatersrand. Instead of graduating I elected to upgrade the Master’s degree to complete my Doctorate in April 2015. I submitted my doctoral thesis in February 2018 and graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand with a PhD in July 2018.

I began teaching in 1994 and have taught across the spectrum from Primary Science at the beginning of my career to graduate Science Teaching courses after completing my PhD. I have also taught high school Biology and Physical Science (Physics and Chemistry), tutored high school students in Science, developed Adult and Distance Education courses for Science and Science learning and teaching. More recently I have taught undergraduate Physics,  Biology and Science Teaching Methodology courses to pre-service Science teachers and graduate courses in Science Education. Through my work experience I have developed skills as a trainer and facilitator, materials developer, assessor and moderator..