Ms Karin Thiele Watson
Senior Lecturer

Ms Karin Thiele Watson

Arts,Design & Architecture
School of Art & Design

I am a Senior Lecturer, Scientia Education Academy Fellow and Education Focussed Champion at UNSW Sydney with a background in Architecture and Design. I am also the Deputy Director of UNSW Education Focussed Programs with the PVCESE, and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK).

My expertise focuses on student experience, particularly how innovative teaching practice, curriculum development and the integration of research informed technology can respond to the rapidly changing contemporary learning and work environments that students engage with. I have worked and studied in London, Cape Town and Sydney and received several international and national awards, citations, accreditation and fellowships for teaching and education excellence. 

I have also developed Professional Development programs such as the Learning to Teach Online Project, created Art & Design studio focused Open Educational Resources (OER) and initiatives, and have led or project managed several competitive grants and multi-institutional projects such OnTask.
E-mail
karin@unsw.edu.au
Location
Room F217E UNSW Australia | Art & Design Greens Road, Paddington Sydney, NSW 2021 Australia

Publications

  • Book Chapters | 2015
    Ms Karin Thiele Watson
    McIntyre SD; Watson K; Mirriahi N, 2015, 'Learning to Teach Online - Evolving approaches to professional development for global reach and impact', in Remenyi D (ed.), e-Learning Excellence Awards 2015: An anthology of case histories, Academic Conferences and Publishing International Limited, Reading, UK, pp. 128 - 140, http://www.academic-bookshop.com/ourshop/prod_4166018-eLearning-Excellence-Awards-2015-An-Anthology-of-Case-Histories.html
    Book Chapters | 2015
    Ms Karin Thiele Watson
    Watson K; McIntyre SD; Bennett R, 2015, 'Maintaining Quality And Relevance In Cross-Disciplinary Art And Design Online Education.', in Hoey IV JJ; Ferguson JL (ed.), Reframing Quality Assurance in Creative Disciplines: Evidence from Practice, Common Ground Publishing LLC, Champaign, Illinois, USA, pp. 86 - 106, http://theartsinsociety.cgpublisher.com/product/pub.192/prod.20
    Books | 2009
    Ms Karin Thiele Watson
    Zehner RB; Forsyth G; Musgrave E; Neale D; de la Harpe B; Frankham N; Peterson F; Watson K; Wilson SE, 2009, Curriculum Development in Studio Teaching, Volume One STP Final Report, 1, UNSW Studio Teaching Project, Kensington, http://www.studioteaching.org/?page=reports
  • Journal articles | 2009
    Ms Karin Thiele Watson
    Watson K; Mcintyre SD; Mcarthur IW, 2009, 'Trust and relationship building: Critical skills for the future of design education in online contexts', Iridescent: Icograda Journal of Design Research, vol. 1, pp. 22 - 29, http://iridescent.icograda.org/about/volume_i:_2009-2011.php
  • Conference Posters | 2018
    Ms Karin Thiele Watson
    Lutze-Mann L; Amberer M; Bilbao J; Binder T; Carlon S; Chen Z; Davis S; Dedova I; Eaton R; Holdom R; Jones P; Kanapathipillai K; Lapere K; Liu K; Mak C; Neal P; Oliver C; Pather N; Smith F; Sulway S; Taylor S; Velan G; Watson K, 2018, 'Digital assessment: empowering students and supporting teachers through innovative student-oriented educational practices', UNSW Sydney, presented at 2018 UNSW Learning and Teaching Forum — Partners in Learning: Connecting Communities, UNSW Sydney, 26 October 2018
    Conference Papers | 2012
    Ms Karin Thiele Watson
    Watson K; Mcintyre SD, 2012, 'Too hard, too busy. A case study in overcoming these barriers to online teaching', in Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on e-Learning, Academic Publishing International, Reading, UK, pp. 453 - 460, presented at ICEL 2012 - 7th International Conference on E-Learning, Hong Kong, 21 June 2012 - 22 June 2012
    Conference Papers | 2010
    Ms Karin Thiele Watson
    Zehner RB; Forsyth G; Frankham N; Musgrave E; Neale D; Peterson F; Watson K; Wilson SE; de la Harpe B, 2010, 'Optimising Studio Outcomes: Guidelines for Curriculum Development from the Australian Studio Teaching Project', in ConnectED 2010: proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Design Education, University of New South Wales, Sydney, pp. 1 - 5, presented at CONNECTED2010 International Conference on Design Education, Sydney, 28 June 2010 - 01 July 2010, http://connected2010.eproceedings.com.au/papers/p436.pdf
    Conference Papers | 2009
    Ms Karin Thiele Watson
    Watson K; Mcintyre SD; Mcarthur IW, 2009, 'Trust and relationship building: critical skills for the future of design education in online contexts', in Proceedings of the 2009 Icograda Education Network World Design Congress Education Conference, Icograda, Beijing, China, presented at 2009 Icograda Education Network World Design Congress Education Conference, Beijing, China, 24 October 2009 - 30 October 2009
    Conference Papers | 2009
    Ms Karin Thiele Watson
    Mcintyre SD; Watson K; Laren S, 2009, 'Strategies for large scale blended learning initiatives: Training, teaching and management', in Proceedings of the Fourth International Blended Learning Conference, University of Hertfordshire Press, Hertfordshire UK, pp. 295 - 308, presented at 4th International Blended Learning Conference, Hertfordshire United Kingdom, 17 June 2009 - 18 June 2009, http://www.unsworks.unsw.edu.au/primo_library/libweb/action/dlDisplay.do?vid=UNSWORKS&docId=unsworks_7750
    Conference Papers | 2007
    Ms Karin Thiele Watson
    Watson K; Corkery LF, 2007, 'Designing `in person` - locally and globally', in Flux: Design Education in a changing World, 5th DEFSA International Conference, Flux: Design Education in a changing World, 5th DEFSA International Conference, Cape Town, South Africa, presented at Flux: Design Education in a changing World, 5th DEFSA International Conference, Cape Town, South Africa, 03 October 2007 - 05 October 2007
    Conference Papers | 2007
    Ms Karin Thiele Watson
    Corkery LF; Roche B; Watson K; Zehner RB, 2007, 'Transforming Design Studio Learning and Teaching Through Real World, Interdisciplinary Projects', in ConnecED 2007 International Conference on Design Education, Sydney, University of New South Wales, presented at ConnectED 2007 International Conference on Design Education, Sydney, 09 July 2007 - 12 July 2007
    Conference Papers | 2007
    Ms Karin Thiele Watson
    Mcarthur IW; Mcintyre SD; Watson K, 2007, 'Preparing Students for the Global Workplace `An Examination of Collaborative Online Learning Approaches`', in ConnecED 2007 International Conference on Design Education, Sydney, University of New South Wales, presented at ConnectED 2007 International Conference on Design Education, Sydney, 09 July 2007 - 12 July 2007

Awards

2019 The KPMG Inspiring Teacher Award in a First Year Undergraduate Program - nomination (Watson, K)

The award celebrates teachers who create rich learning environments and provide a consistently excellent educational experience for students. All 2019 UNSW students enrolled in a first year undergraduate program were invited to nominate and vote to determine the recipient of the award.

2019 UNSW President's Award - nomination for 'Driving Innovation' (Watson, K)

The President's Award is a peer nominated award for staff to recognise and celebrate those who light up UNSW by actively demonstrating the UNSW 'Values in Action'. Nominees are recognised not only for what they do but how they approach their work; and their ability to energise colleagues and be supportive. 

2018 Senior Fellow Higher Education Academy UK (now Advance HE) (Watson, K)

Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) constitutes internationally accredited and quality-assured professional recognition that I have successfully evidenced "a thorough understanding of effective approaches to teaching and learning support as a key contribution to high quality student learning", including successful peer engagement, influence and leadership. 

2017 UNSW Scientia Education Academy Fellow (Watson, K)

Appointed as one of 35 members of the UNSW Scientia Education Academy. The Academy comprises outstanding UNSW educators who have achieved recognition at the University, national or international level through significant learning and teaching activities, grants, awards, fellowships, major national or international projects or professional society recognition.

2015 International Wharton-QS Stars Reimagine Education Awards: 3 Awards for The Learning to Teach Online Programs (McIntyre, S. Watson, K. & Mirriahi, N.)

  • Regional Oceania (2nd place): 
  • Arts And Humanities (2nd Place) 
  • Nurturing Employability (Joint 3rd) 
  • The Wharton-QS Stars Awards are a global competition awarding the best educational innovations worldwide. 22 awards were issued in 2015, judged by a panel of 40 international experts. 520 universities and enterprises from 50 countries entered the competition. 

2015 ACPI: The E-Learning Excellence Award - The Learning to Teach Online Programs (McIntyre, S. Watson, K. & Mirriahi, N.) 

  • Finalist: The e-Learning Excellence Awards highlight best examples of e-Learning use through case histories provided by academics, teachers, business professionals or students

2012 MERLOT Award for Exemplary Online Learning Resources – MERLOT Classics (USA) Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Teaching (McIntyre, S., & Watson, K.)

2011 ASCILITE Innovation and Excellence Award. Australian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (McIntyre, S., & Watson, K.)

2010 DEAN'S AWARD For Outstanding Teaching Innovations - COFA (Watson, K)

  • 'For Outstanding Teaching Innovations '

2008 Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) Citation (Corkery, L. Quinlan, A. Roche, B and Watson, K)

  • Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning 'For commitment to a service-oriented approach to collaborative built environment design learning that connects community, students and university in mutually beneficial relationships.'

Grants

Media