Christina Chalmers

About

Christina Chalmers is a prominent education researcher whose work sits at the intersection of robotics, computational thinking, and STEM pedagogy in primary and secondary schooling. Over more than a decade, she has built a compelling body of research examining how robotic technologies — from LEGO systems to humanoid robots — can transform student learning and engagement across diverse classroom contexts. Chalmers' most influential contribution, "Robotics and computational thinking in primary school" (2018, 257 citations), established her as a leading voice on integrating coding and problem-solving into early education. Her sustained three-year investigation into humanoid robots across 10 schools and 29 teachers produced multiple landmark studies, including work demonstrating that Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students could simultaneously develop programming skills and traditional language understanding through robot-mediated learning — a particularly innovative finding with significant equity implications. Beyond student outcomes, Chalmers has examined teacher preparation and school leadership, recognising that sustainable technology integration requires systemic change. Her work on STEM outreach programs for teachers and preservice educators reflects a whole-ecosystem approach to educational reform. With a cumulative citation count exceeding 570, her research continues to shape curriculum design, teacher training, and policy conversations around meaningful, authentic technology education in schools worldwide.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Robotics and computational thinking in primary school

   257 citations · 2018
2. 2
   Humanoid robots: learning a programming language to learn a traditional language

   106 citations · 2019
3. 3
   LEGO Robotics: An authentic problem solving tool?

   86 citations · 2023
4. 4
   Effective principal leadership influencing technology innovation in the classroom

   27 citations · 2020
5. 5
   Humanoid robots go to school

   23 citations · 2022
6. 6
   Systems Thinking Approach to Robotics Curriculum in Schools

   23 citations · 2017
7. 7
   Preparing Teachers to Teach STEM through Robotics

   23 citations · 2017
8. 8
   The impact of humanoid robots on students' computational thinking

   12 citations · 2024
9. 9
   Learning with FIRST LEGO League

   10 citations · 2013
10. 10
    Preservice teachers teaching technology with robotics

    6 citations · 2012

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links