Spotlight on CSER - Driving national impact in STEM education
The Computer Science Education Research (CSER) Group, based within the College of Computer Science & IT at Adelaide University, has been a leading force in strengthening STEM education and uplifting teacher capability across Australia for more than a decade. Established in 2011 by Professor Katrina Falkner, CSER has grown from a small research team into a nationally recognised provider of large-scale programs that support schools, educators and communities, particularly those in regional, remote and low‑SES contexts.
Growing National Reach and Lasting Impact
Under the leadership of Professor Katrina Falkner and Dr Rebecca Vivian (as Project Lead since 2020), and supported by Project Manager Susie Barber, CSER has continued to expand both its research and service delivery. Since 2014, the team has secured over $22.5 million in funding through research and industry grants. CSER have collaborated extensively across the STEM education ecosystem, with industry, education organisations, international research groups, Australian teacher associations and government.
In 2025, the group celebrated a significant milestone: Over 60,000 educators were engaged across our programs nationwide.
CSER has also strengthened partnerships with First Nations educators and organisations to incorporate culturally responsive pedagogies throughout its programs.
National Digital Technologies & Lending Library Programs
A cornerstone of CSER’s work is CSER's National Lending Library Program and Digital Technologies MOOCs funded by the Australian Government Department of Education.
The program includes:
- A national Lending Library offering free loans of robotics, VR/AR, AI and other digital technologies to schools across Australia
- 200+ curriculum‑aligned lesson plans developed since 2016
- Six free online curriculum-aligned professional learning courses (MOOCs) covering AI, Digital Technologies and Cyber Security
- Online and in-person workshops, events and conference engagement across all states and territories
To date, CSER has shipped more than 3,100 technology kit loans to Australian schools. Additional funding in 2026 will provide a further 350+ kits, strengthening opportunities for schools to experiment, explore and integrate cutting‑edge technologies.
Impact in 2025:
- 238 technology kits sent to schools
- 64% of kits were delivered to high-priority schools (low‑SES and remote/regional schools and schools with high First Nations enrolments)
- 1,882 teacher enrolments in CSER’s free Digital Technologies MOOCs across
The Australian Government Department of Education and Google have continuously supported these programs, reaffirming their value and importance among the Australian education community. Over the years, our courses have undergone a number of updates, with the latest courses aligned to V9.0 of the Australian Curriculum.
CSER have been working with Jesse King to incorporate culturally responsive pedagogy and to highlight First Nations Australian innovations across the Digital Technologies courses and lesson plans.
Maths in Schools National Program
Since 2020, CSER has also delivered the national Maths in Schools Professional Learning Program in partnership with Education Services Australia (ESA) and funded by the Australian Government Department of Education.
Program highlights include:
- Three free online courses available for educators, aligned to V9.0 Australian Curriculum: Mathematics
- Over 9,000 educators upskilled
- 200+ online and face-to-face professional learning events delivered across Australia
CSER’s professional learning team works across Australian states and territories, enabling broad reach and local engagement with schools and networks.
CSER are fortunate to have consulted with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mathematics Alliance (ATSIMA) on the development of culturally responsive pedagogies and the incorporation of learning content that demonstrates how First Nations people have been leading and innovating with Mathematics for over 60,000 years. Culturally responsive content, presented across our three Mathematics courses and professional learning events, supports teachers to create engaging and responsive mathematics learning for all students.
If you would like to engage with one of our project officers to organise an event in your jurisdiction, please contact our team at mathsinschools@adelaide.edu.au
Research Driving Policy and Practice
CSER continues to contribute to national STEM education research, with work influencing policy, curriculum development, and the broader STEM education landscape.
Current and upcoming projects include:
- Diversity in STEM research project with Education Services Australia (2026–2027)
- Planned collaborations with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mathematics Alliance (ATSIMA) and the Australian Data Science Institute
- Ongoing impact analysis of the Lending Library and MOOC programs
In 2026, CSER welcomes Jackie Steffan (Research Assistant) and Toni Falusi (Project Officer) to the research team as the program continues to grow.
What’s Coming Next
A 30-minute online information session will be held in the coming months to showcase CSER’s national programs, including how the programs and resources can support school engagement activities across jurisdictions. This session is open for anyone, but would particularly be of interest to researchers, teachers and those in a leadership role (in schools, industry or organisations).
CSER also has a new global initiative on the horizon in the area of AI education, with details to be announced soon.
If you would like more information about CSER’s programs and to learn about our information session and upcoming announcement, please follow us on our socials or subscribe to our eNewsletter.