Education:

PhD, 2016 University of Tasmania, Australia, Emeritus Professor Ian Hay

Reading Between the Lines: An intervention concerning Reading Comprehension, Students with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder, and the design of educational software for Mobile Technologies

Graduate Certificate Research 2014 – University of Tasmania, Australia

 Bed (Honours), 2011, University of Tasmania, Australia, Associate Professor Ruth Fielding-Barnsley

It's not what you say but how you say it: An investigation into the relationship between phonological and visual-spacial processing in children diagnosed with Autism

Courses taught at GSE:

• EDSE651 Perspectives on Inclusive Education
• EDUC600 Research Methods
• EDIE610 Applying Inclusive Education Leadership to the Kazakhstani context
• EDUC651 Policy and Inclusive Education
• EDIE609 Leadership and Inclusive Education

Thematic areas of research specialization:

 Inclusive education

Other cross-sectional issues in education

Research subthemes:

Inclusion and instruction, information technology, digital teaching and learning, neuro-diversity and teaching and learning

Geographic areas of research specialization (countries): 

Kazakhstan, Australia, Tasmania

Publications and presentations:

Articles

•  Somerton, M. (2018). Developing an educational App for students with High Functioning Autism: Synthesising pedagogy and content with technology. Educational Technology Research and Development. (In revision).
• Vleck, S., Somerton, M., & Rayner, C. (2018). Collaboration: teachers, parents, and allied health professionals supporting students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The International Journal of Inclusive Education. (submitted)
• Somerton, M. (2015). Who is Billy possum? The Journal of Digital Learning and Teaching Victoria, 2(2), 45-47.

Book Chapters

• Makoelle, M., & Somerton, M. (2018). Facilitating Inclusive Teaching and Learning Spaces Through Digital Education Technology. Teaching and Learning Though Digital Technology. IGI Global (awaiting publication)
• Somerton, M. (Under Contract). Barriers to inclusion. In M. Makoelle & D.H. Toranno (Eds.). Inclusive Education in Kazakhstan: Evolving policies, practices and opportunities, Rotterdam, Netherlands: Sense Publishing.
• Somerton, M. (Under Contract). Teacher attitudes towards inclusive education in Kazakhstan. In M. Makoelle & D.H. Toranno (Eds.). Inclusive Education in Kazakhstan: Evolving policies, practices and opportunities, Rotterdam, Netherlands: Sense Publishing.
• Somerton, M. (Under Contract). Role of stakeholders: Non-government organisations. In M. Makoelle & D.H. Toranno (Eds.). Inclusive Education in Kazakhstan: Evolving policies, practices and opportunities, Rotterdam, Netherlands: Sense Publishing.

 Software

Somerton, M. (2014). Billy possum’s interactive comprehension (v1.1.2) [mobile application software]. Retrieved from the iTunes store.

Conference Papers

• Somerton, M. (2017). Re-conceptualising Inclusive Education: school principals' perspectives in post-soviet Kazakhstan. Paper presented at the 2017 Inclusive Education Summit, Adelaide, Australia.
• Somerton, M., Fielding-Barnsley, R., Rayner, C., & Hay, I. (2015). Embedding Teaching Strategies into iPad Technology to improve Reading Comprehension in students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Paper presented at the 2014 International Society of Technology and Education Conference. Atlanta, US.
• Somerton, M. (2015). Educational Software Design for Mobile Technologies – Research and Development of a Literacy App. Paper presented at Conversations on Knowledge for Teaching, Launceston, Australia.