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Position

Lecturer - Teacher Education

Contact details

E: Ryan.Elwell@canberra.edu.au
T: N/A
L: Building 6 Room D26

Biography

Ryan (he/him) is a lecturer, unit convenor, and PhD Candidate in the Faculty of Education at the Â鶹´«Ã½, bringing two decades of deep experience in educational leadership, curriculum design, and the effective integration of emerging technologies. Following 20 years in the classroom, Ryan moved to a system-wide STEM support role, followed by five years as the Director of Digital Education: Digital Pedagogies and Online Safety Education, at the ACT Education Directorate, before accepting his role at UC. His professional focus centres on digital pedagogies and empowering educators to leverage digital tools, including Artificial Intelligence, to amplify teaching and learning impact.

Ryan holds a B.S. in Physics and Secondary Education from Saint Vincent College and a M.S. in Earth and Space Science Education from Johns Hopkins University, and is currently a PhD Candidate, with his doctoral research focused on the design and efficacy of informal, self-directed professional learning for teachers. This research directly informs his approach to creating high-impact, actionable content for adult learners.

As a nationally recognised Google Trainer and Innovator, Ryan has extensive experience designing and delivering professional learning through individual coaching and mentoring, faculty and school-wide sessions, system-level uplift, and delivering national and international keynotes and conference talks. This experience supported his work supporting teachers, schools, and the ACT Education Directorate through periods of remote learning and the digital transformation into AI-supported teaching and learning.

A firm believer that technology should enhance rather than overshadow human expertise, Ryan emphasises that it’s people who are the real “rock stars” of education. Technology, he believes, serves best as a tool to amplify teachers' skills and bring out the best in students. By listening to educators and developing personalised support, Ryan ensures that edtech aligns with the genuine needs of schools and classrooms.

Ryan’s goal is to continually refine his work and contribute to a more supportive, human-centred education environment, encouraging individuals to shine with or without technology.