Dr Sam Fowler

Lecturer and Educational Researcher
Sam.Fowler@unisa.edu.au
Staff member headshot

Sam works with schools and education systems to drive meaningful and sustainable change. With over 20 years of practical experience, he brings a deep understanding of how learning can be strengthened through self-regulation, metacognition and motivation. Sam has extensive knowledge of how teachers’ beliefs and ways of thinking about knowledge shape their pedagogical decisions, and he uses this to support professional growth and reflection. His work focuses on translating educational theory and research into practical, usable strategies that help teachers and leaders build complex capabilities in their students, while deepening their own understanding of effective teaching and learning.

Open Access Research Outputs:

Brinkman, S, Lam, B, Dawson, S, Marrone, R, Schunk, D, Winkel, K, Hermes, H, Gabriel, F, Fowler, S & Engelhardt, D 2025, ‘Pragmatic clustered randomised control trial to evaluate a self-regulated learning intervention to be implemented in South Australian primary schools-study protocol’, Trials, vol. 26, no. 1, article no. 120, pp. 1-12.

Gabriel, F, Fowler, S & Brinkman, S 2025, Motivation for learning review, University of South Australia, Australia.

Gabriel, F, Marrone, R, Fowler, S & Brinkman, S 2025, Implementing self-regulated learning in South Australian primary schools: a qualitative study of teacher and leader perspectives, University of South Australia, Australia.

Fowler, S, Gabriel, F & Leonard, SN 2025, ‘Exploring the effect of teacher ontological and epistemic cognition on engagement with professional development’, Professional Development in Education, vol. 51, no. 2, pp. 319-335.

Fowler, S & Leonard, SN 2024, ‘Using design based research to shift perspectives: a model for sustainable professional development for the innovative use of digital tools’, Professional Development in Education, vol. 50, no. 1, pp. 1-13.

Leonard, SN, Devis, D, MacGill, B, Unsworth, P, Colton, J & Fowler, S 2024, ‘Enhancing empathy for justice: a methodology for expansive teacher professional development through creative body-based learning’, Sustainability, vol. 16, no. 95, pp. 1-16.

Devis, D, Fowler, S, Vieira, M, Giannoni, K, Gabriel, F, Kennedy, J & Leonard, S 2023, From insight to action: strategies for cultivating equity and empowering women in industry, University of South Australia, Australia.

Fowler, S, Gabriel, F & Leonard, SN 2023, Co-designing the translation of the science of learning (Catalyst report #10), University of South Australia, Australia.

Fowler, S, Cutting, C, Fiedler, SHD & Leonard, SN 2023, ‘Design-based research in mathematics education: trends, challenges and potential’, Mathematics Education Research Journal, vol. 35, pp. 635-658.

Fowler, S, Leonard, SN & Gabriel, F 2023, ‘Empowering mathematics teachers to meet evolving educational goals: the role of ‘epistemic objects’ in developing actionable practice knowledge in tumultuous times’, Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, vol. 51, no. 1, pp. 45-57.

Inwood, K, Fowler, S, Devis, D & Leonard, S 2023, Improving music teacher self-efficacy (Catalyst Report #13), Univeristy of South Australia, Australia.

Smith, L, Fowler, S, Gabriel, F & Brinkman, S 2023, Measuring metacognition in children and adolescents, University of South Australia, Australia.

Smith, L, Gabriel, F, Terauds, V, Fowler, S & Brinkman, S 2023, Interventions to improve metacognition for children and adolescents, University of South Australia, Australia.