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About Professor Michael Anderson

Dr Michael Anderson is Professor in the Faculty of Education and Social Work at The University of Sydney. His research and teaching concentrates the role of creativity, the arts (particularly drama) and play have on learning. This work has evolved into a program of research and publication that engages with arts classrooms directly.


Research interests
Creative Arts Education

  • Learning technologies and new media
  • Teacher Development and Training
  • Creativity Education
Applied Theatre
  • Methodological innovation
  • Wellbeing
  • Partnerships
Research on teaching and learning
  • Creative and performing arts
  • Methodological innovation
Keywords: drama, arts, teachers, technology, students film, youth culture


View Michael's academic profile here

Selected publications

  • Burns, E., Martin, A., Mansour, M., Anderson, M., Gibson, R., Liem, G. (2019). Motivational processes that support arts participation: An examination of goal orientations and aspirations. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, Online first. [More Information]
  • Anderson, M., Jefferson, M. (2019). Transforming organizations: Engaging the 4Cs for powerful organizational learning and change. London: Bloomsbury.
  • Freebody, K., Balfour, M., Finneran, M., Anderson, M. (2018). Applied theatre: Understanding change. Cham: Springer. [More Information]
  • Buchanan, J., Ryan, R., Anderson, M., Calvo, R., Glozier, N., Peter, S. (2018). Future Frontiers Analytical Report: Preparing for the best and worst of times, (pp. 1 - 62). Sydney, Australia: NSW Department of Education. [More Information]
  • Gardiner, P., Anderson, M. (2018). Structured creative processes in learning playwriting: Invoking imaginative pedagogies. Cambridge Journal of Education, 48(2), 177-196. [More Information]
  • Freebody, K., Finneran, M., Balfour, M., Anderson, M. (2018). What is applied theatre good for? Exploring the notions of success, intent and impact. In K. Freebody, M. Balfour, M. Finneran, M. Anderson (Eds.), Applied theatre: Understanding change, (pp. 1-17). Cham: Springer. [More Information]
  • Mansour, M., Martin, A., Anderson, M., Gibson, R., Liem, G., Sudmalis, D. (2018). Young people's creative and performing arts participation and arts self-concept: A longitudinal study of reciprocal effects. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 52(3), 240-255. [More Information]