Rate My Professor Nicole Leggett

Dr. Nicole Leggett is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at the University of Newcastle. Her academic background includes a PhD in Education from the University of Newcastle, completed in 2014, a Master’s degree in Early Childhood and a Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood) from Macquarie University obtained via correspondence study, and a CCCS equivalent to a Diploma. She began her professional career in 1987 as an untrained assistant in a community-based childcare centre and progressed to Early Childhood Teacher and Director roles for more than 20 years. Joining the University of Newcastle as a casual academic in 2008, she transitioned to full-time employment following her PhD. In her current role, she coordinates and teaches key courses such as EDUC1055 Foundations in Child Development, EDUC1070 Foundations in Creative Arts for Early Childhood and Primary Teachers, EDUC2066 Professional Experience Course for Early Childhood, EDUC3066 Early Childhood Education and Care: Children’s Places, and EDUC3800 Intercultural Understandings, while leading annual international student study tours to Italy.

Nicole Leggett’s research interests center on the creative thought processes of young children within early childhood education and care settings, intentional teaching practices, play-based learning in indoor and outdoor environments, practitioner research, and the Reggio Emilia pedagogical approach. She leads international research collaborations, including the Creative Collaborations project and the La Sorella sister-centre partnerships between Australian and Italian early childhood services. Key publications include “Early Childhood Creativity: Challenging Educators in Their Role to Intentionally Develop Creative Thinking in Children” (Early Childhood Education Journal, 2017), “A Fine Balance: Understanding the Roles Educators and Children Play as Intentional Teachers and Intentional Learners within the Early Years Learning Framework” (Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 2013), “Play: Challenging Educators’ Beliefs about Play in the Indoor and Outdoor Environment” (Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 2017), and “Practitioner Research: With Intent” (European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 2019). Her contributions have been recognized with the 2017 University of Newcastle Research Advantage Early Career Researcher Scholarship, the inaugural Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Merit List Award for Teaching and Learning Excellence, the 2017 EECERA Practitioner Research Paper Award (with Linda Newman), and the 2018 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence and Contribution to Student Learning (team award).