Mark Sheehan

Mark is the Secondary Programme Director in the Faculty of Education where he teaches courses on teaching and learning history/social studies at Diploma and Masters level. He has been involved in history education for almost 40 years as a teacher, lecturer, textbook writer, researcher, museum educator and curriculum designer. He has also acted as an independent consultant to the Ministry of Education on a range of curriculum related matters and is currently acting as a consultant to the Ministry of Education on the Maori history initiative.

Mark’s research interests include critical/historical thinking, NCEA/secondary assessment and curriculum theory as well as the role of history in reconciliation (especially in regards to memory, remembrance and indigenous epistemologies). He also conducts research in boys’ education and the place of knowledge in 21st century curricula. He has published both in the international arena and in New Zealand on these areas as well as presenting at conferences in New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom and North America. He has experience in a range of research methodologies including focus groups, interviews, questionnaires, elicitation tasks and documentary analysis.