Boris Handal

His twenty-five year teaching career includes teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students in the fields of engineering mathematics, primary and secondary mathematics education methods and eLearning units at the University of Technology Sydney, University of Newcastle and University of Western Sydney as well as acting as course coordinator for various subjects. Boris has also worked as a head teacher mathematics at Cumberland High School  and the School of the Nations of Macau (Asia) and as a classroom teacher in various secondary schools in New South Wales and Latin America.

As a senior learning design officer at the Centre for Learning Innovation, part of the NSW Department of Education and Training, Boris was engaged in the production of web-based multimedia resources in mathematics and sciences and providing strategic advice at the state level for implementing information and communication technologies in schools. At the Faculty of Dentistry of Sydney University he implemented a comprehensive eLearning program as well as staff professional development initiatives and quality assurance mechanisms of learning and teaching in his role as Learning Development and Evaluations Coordinator. Boris is currently the Director of Learning and Teaching at the Faculty of Business and  Economics of Macquarie University managing various technology and professional learning initiatives including the Teaching Induction Program (TIP).  

He currently teaches FBE204: Learning and Teaching in Business. Previous subjects taught include:

• 013059 Mathematics Teaching Methods 2 (University of Technology Sydney)
• 013071 Mathematics Teaching Methods 4 (University of Technology Sydney)
• 023124 ICT in Education (e-Learning) (University of Technology Sydney)
• 100633 Mathematical Patterns & Relationships (University of Western Sydney)
• 1001350 Secondary Mathematics Method 2A (University of Western Sydney)
• 1001351 Secondary Mathematics Method 2B (University of Western Sydney)
• 023135 Learning in Mathematics I (University of Technology Sydney)
• 023136 Learning in Mathematics II (University of Technology Sydney)
• 023120 Professional Learning in Mathematics I (University of Technology Sydney)
• 023120 Professional Learning in Mathematics II (University of Technology Sydney)
• 14505 Engineering Mathematics 1 (University of Western Sydney)
• EDUC6102: Mathematics Curriculum Studies 1 (University of Newcastle)

Boris has widely published on various educational issues in academic journals and conference proceedings in the USA, Europe, Australia, Latin America, Africa, Middle East and Southeast Asia. Research topics included curriculum development, implementation and evaluation in mathematics education, teaching and learning, instructional design and online learning technologies in school and higher education. He has also authored the book Classroom Management in Action published by Dominie and other works on 19th century Persian history and culture. Boris' current research aims at exploring students' insights on teaching and learning in higher education as well as on designing academic induction programs. He is also undertaking research on using Google calendar, email and SMS technology to support student study skills in higher education. Record of publications.

Boris has served for many years on the editorial board of Reflections, the professional journal of the Mathematical Association of New South Wales. Likewise, he has been a reviewer of conference proceedings of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA), the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers (AAMT), the NSW Mathematical Association (MANSW) and the East Asia Regional Conference on Mathematics Education (EARCOME). 

Boris is a recipient of the Minister's Excellence in the Integration of Information and Communication Technologies Award 2005. He was also selected to participate in the 2005 Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) Mentorship DET ICT Teachers Awards Program. A recipient of the 1997 Commonwealth Postgraduate Research Award to undertake doctoral studies. His Maths Internet Guide, an online database of interactive mathematics resources, has been granted several awards and recognitions by various educational institutions.

Grants:

• Boris Handal, Catherine Groenlund, Tania Gerzina –TIES Large Grant ($46 000)
  Project: Professional development of Sessional Staff
  The University of Sydney
• Boris Handal, Catherine Groenlund, Chris Peck - TIES Grant ($10 000)
  Project: Investigating Graduate Choices for Rural Work Destinations
  The University of Sydney.
• Ayman Ellakwan, Boris Handal, Iven Klineberg – TIES Grant ($20,000).
  Project: Producing video resources for teaching and learning of dental undergraduate students
  The University of Sydney
• Boris Handal – Competitive Grant ($9,110)
  Project: Learning and Teaching Online Modules for Sessional Staff
  Macquarie University
• Boris Handal – Teaching Equipment Grant  ($15,768)
  Project: Camtasia™ Studio software (250 academic licenses)
  Macquarie University
• Boris Handal, Paul Taylor - Learning Development Grant ($1,500)
  Project: Teacher Training Program for Sessional staff
  Macquarie University
• Boris Handal - Learning Development Grant ($1,500)
  Project: Teaching Students from Non-English Speaking Background
  Macquarie University

• Mathematical Association of New South Wales
• Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers
• Centre for Research in Mathematics and Science Education (CRiMSE)
• The Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia
• FBE Learning and Teaching Research Group

University Committees:

• Sessional Staff: Consolidating curriculum renewal and curriculum alignment project
• Learning Technologies QA/QE Working Group
• FBE Learning and Teaching Committee

His outreach activities include running teacher training seminars for non-profit organisations in Cameroon, India and NSW as well as developing numeracy resources for rural primary schools (FAS India). In the South American Andes Boris worked as managing director of an educational radio station serving Quechua and Aymara rural indigenous communities. He was also involved in a home mentoring program at the former NSW Aboriginal Education Unit. 

In his other life, Boris is an active member of the Wanderers Bushwalking Club.