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PhD research project: A netnographic exploration of self-perceptions of success among out-of-field teachers of mathematics and science

Thanks for visiting!

I’m Margaret Jakovac, a PhD student based in Werribee (on Bunurong and Wadawurrung Country) in Melbourne (on Narrm, Wurrundjeri Country), Australia.

As a primary-trained teacher having mostly taught out of field in NSW high schools on and off since 2011, I understand that teaching outside of your subject areas can be both challenging and rewarding.

Quick Questions

  • Are you a proficient/experienced teacher?
  • Do you teach or have you recently taught maths or science outside your trained subject area in an Australian high school (any sector)?
  • Do you wonder what success really looks or feels like for YOU in that space?
  • Would you like to share your experiences to help other teachers and school leaders – and perhaps influence the system?

If so, I’d love to hear from you.

What’s this research about?

I’m interviewing up to 10 experienced teachers to explore how they perceive their own success while teaching mathematics and/or science out of field in Australian high schools.

Separately, I also plan to analyse education policies, professional teaching standards, subject standards, public Reddit discussions, and online media coverage to understand how out-of-field teaching success is represented more broadly.

This research takes a netnographic approach – an adaptation of ethnography for studying online spaces – to better understand how teachers’ experiences and perceptions are shaped both in and beyond the classroom.

Your insights will play a key role in shaping how we understand and support out-of-field teachers, both in Australia and potentially beyond.

What’s involved?

✅ A 30-minute individual Zoom interview, scheduled at your convenience.

Ready to Take Part?

👉 Complete the Online Consent Form Here

Want more information?

Access the full Plain Langugage Statement Consent Form HERE.

About the Project

Title: A Netnographic Exploration of Self-Perceptions of Success of Out-of-Field Teachers of Mathematics and Science
Principal Investigator: Professor Linda Hobbs, Deakin University
Supervisors: Professor Linda Hobbs, Associate Professor Emma Rowe
Student Researcher: Margaret Jakovac, PhD candidate, Deakin University

Why Participate?

  • Share your story — reflect on your own experience of success.
  • Shape better support — your voice will help indirectly inform policies and leadership practices.

Key Information

  • Participation is voluntary and unpaid. You’re free to withdraw at any time.
  • Your identity will be protected. I won’t collect your real name and school name. I’ll use pseudonyms in all my research outputs to minimise the risk of identification.
  • Your data will be stored securely in line with Deakin’s Research Data Management Policy.

Questions?

You’re welcome to contact the project team:
📧 Principal Investigator: Professor Linda Hobbs – l.hobbs@deakin.edu.au
📧 Student Researcher: Margaret Jakovac – mjakovac@deakin.edu.au | 📞 0417 423 812

Ethical Approval

This research has been approved by the Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee:
Reference Number: 2025/HE001215

Complaints

If you have any complaints about any aspect of the project, the way it is being conducted, or any questions about your rights as a research participant, then you may contact the Human Research Ethics Office, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood Victoria 3125, Telephone: 03 9251 7129, research-ethics@deakin.edu.au. Please quote project number 2025/HE001215.

Final Step

👉 Complete the Online Consent Form Here

Thank you for considering taking part!

Yours sincerely,

on behalf of the research team

Margaret Jakovac

Graduate Researcher

School of Education | Faculty of Arts and Education

Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia

mjakovac@deakin.edu.au   |   0417 423 812

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