Lynn Sheridan

Lynn’s research focuses on the role of personal attributes of teachers concerning teaching success, retention, identity, and career satisfaction. Her involvement in this international research is contributing to more nuance understandings on the role of personal attributes (e.g., resilience, adaptability, self-efficacy, job engagement & emotional management) in the everyday work of professionals. Lynn’s research is contributing to a nuance understanding on how to enhance the personal attributes of teachers using context rich classroom scenarios (i.e., situational judgment tests (SJTs) and scenario-based learning (SBL). Recent trials of feedback loops and reflection are being used to assist in the development (‘teacher readiness’) of initial teacher candidates.

This research is important as it is contributing to the development of research-based methodologies to assist in the support and development of teachers. Other empirical research in this area is focusing on extending theory on the phenomenon of resilience and adaptability of professions within local contexts. Recent local work (University of Wollongong) is focusing on expanding understanding of how individuals (nurses & teachers) and organisations (hospitals & schools) enact resilience and adaptability during every day and crisis (COVID-19) challenges.

This work is being extended to include cross-cultural comparisons in range of country locations (New Zealand, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Hong Kong). The aim is to benefit the well-being of professional, which is closely tied to their ability to adapt to workplace challenges. Currently, this work is being expanded to focus on teachers’ job engagement in challenging schools across different cultural contexts. This qualitative work will build a more nuance understanding of teachers’ personal resources (personal attributes), by exploring how teachers draw on, enact and utilise personal resources to enhance their job engagement.