Professor Stephen Billett

Stephen-Billett1PHD, M Education, B Arts, Dip Teaching (TAFE)

Professor of Adult and Vocational Education, School of Education and Professional Studies

Contact Details for Professor Stephen Billett

For more information please go to Professional page

Research expertise

Learning and work

  • Historical, cultural, situational and individual contributions to thinking and acting.
  • Development of vocational expertise in the workplace.
  • Authenticity in learning activities and settings.
  • Interaction between social and personal contributions to human development and societal change.

Vocational education

  • Policy and practice issues

Work and vocations

  • Historical, cultural, situational and individual contributions to work and vocations

Current research grants

Current teaching grants

  • Carrick Associate Fellowship - Developing agentic professional through practice-based pedagogies (2008).

Current teaching areas

  • Theories of learning and development
  • Workplace Learning
  • Lifelong and Worklife Learning
  • Changing nature of work and worklife learning
  • Contemporary Issues in VET
  • Curriculum Development in AVE
  • Instructional Design
  • VET in schools

Publications

To access all publications by Stephen Billet please go to http://www.griffith.edu.au/researchonline/

Books

  • Billett, S., Harties, C., & Etelpelto, A. (Eds). (2008). Emerging Perspectives of Learning through work. Sense Publishing, BV, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
  • Billett, S. (2008 in preparation). Vocational Education: Springer; Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
  • Billett, S. (2008 in press) (ed). Section 11 The TVET Professional. In International Handbook of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (Editors R. McLean & D Wilson), UNEVOC-UNESCO and Springer International; Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
  • Billett, S., Fenwick, T., & Somerville. (eds) (2006). Work, Subjectivity and Learning, Springer; Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
  • Billett, S. (2006). Work, change and workers. Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
  • Billett, S. (2001), Learning in the workplace: Strategies for effective practice. Allen & Unwin, Sydney.

Book chapters

  • Billett, S. (2008). Constituting the Workplace Curriculum. In P.C. Murphy & R. McCormack (Eds) Knowledge and Practice: Presentations and Identities. Sage Publications Ltd, Open University, London.
  • Vhsantanen, K., & Billett, S. (2008). Negotiating professional identity: vocational teachers' personal strategies in a reform context. In S Billett, C Harteis & A Etelpelto, (Eds) Emerging perspectives of learning through work. Sense Publishing, BV, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
  • Billett, S. (2008). Emerging perspectives on workplace learning. In S. Billett, C. Harteis & A. Etelpelto, (Eds) Emerging perspectives of learning through work. Sense Publishing, BV, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
  • Billett, S. (2008). Adult Education - adult learning, instruction and program planning: Workplace learning frameworks. In E. Baker, B. McGaw & P. Peterson (Eds) International Encyclopaedia of Education, 3rd Edition, Elsevier: Oxford.
  • Billett, S. (2008). Changing conceptions of work and work practice. In R. McClean & D N Wilson & C Chinien (Eds.) International Handbook on Education for the World of Work, Springer Academic Publication, Dordecht, The Netherlands.
  • Billett, S. (2008). Integrating contributions of workplace and college experiences in developing vocational knowledge. In R McClean, D. N. Wilson & C Chinien (Eds) International Handbook on Education for the World of Work, Springer Academic Publication, Dordecht, The Netherlands.
  • Billett, S. (2008). Transforming Teachers' Practice Through Action Learning. In R McClean & D N Wilson & C Chinien (Eds) International Handbook on Education for the World of Work, Springer Academic Publication, Dordecht, The Netherlands.
  • Billett, S. (2008). Rich vocational learning: Effectively utilising workplace settings and integrating them with intentional educational experiences. In Athanasou, J (Ed) Adult Education and Training, David Barlow Publishing, Sydney NSW (pp.175-186).
  • Billett, S. (2008). Participation and learning in turbulent times: Negotiations between community and the personal. In K Church, N Bascia & E Shragge (Eds) Out of Bounds: Participatory Practices for Learning through Community, (21-36). Springer Academic Publication, Dordecht, The Netherlands. ISBN 978-1-4020-6653-5.
  • Billett, S. (2007). Including the missing subject: Placing the personal within the community. In Hughes, J Jewson, N & Unwin, L (Eds) Communities of practice: Critical perspectives, (55-67), Routledge: London 10:0-415-3674-4.
  • Billett, S. (2007). Negotiating self through changing work. In T. Fenwick & L. Farrell, Educating the Global Workforce: knowledge, knowledge work and knowledge workers, (pp. 189-199), Routledge: London. ISBN 10 0-415 41603 -5.
  • Billett, S. (2007). Exercising self through working life: Learning, work and identity. In A Brown, S Kirpal & F. Raumer (Eds), Identities at work, (pp.183-210). Springer, Dordecht, The Netherlands, ISBN 140204988-9.
  • Billett, S., Barker, M., & Smith, R. (2006). Relational interdependence as means to examine work, learning and the remaking of cultural practices. In Wim J. Nijhofandand Loek F.M. Nieuwenhuis (Eds), The learning potential of the workplace, Sense Publishers: Dordecht, The Netherlands.
  • Billett, S. (2006). Learning at work: Organisational readiness and individual engagement. In G Castleton, R. Gerber, & H Pillay (Eds.) Improving Workplace Learning: Emerging International Perspectives, (pp. 3-20). Nova Science Publishers, Hauppauge NY ISBN 1-59454 566 9.
  • Billett, S., & van Woerkom, M. (2006). Older workers and learning through work. In T Tikkanen (Ed) Older workers and lifelong learning, (pp. 177-189). CEDEFOP, Thessalonica.
  • Billett, S. (2005). Being competent: the relational interdependence between individual and social agency in working life. In Gruber, H., Harteis, C., Mulder, R., & Rehrl, M. (Eds.). Bridging individual, organisational, and cultural perspectives on professional learning, (pp.113-132). Regensburg: Germany Roderer. ISBN 3-89783-487-1.
  • Billett, S., & Smith, A.(2005). Getting employers to spend more on training: and lessons from overseas. In K. Ball (Ed) Funding and Financing Vocational Education and Training: Research Readings, (pp. 98-118) NCVER, Adelaide.
  • Billett, S. (2004). Learning in the workplace: Reappraisals and reconceptions. In G Hayward & S James (Eds) Skills, Knowledge and Organisational Performance, (pp.149-170) Policy Press, Bristol.
  • Billett, S. (2004). Learning through work: Workplace participatory practices. In H. Rainbow, A Fuller & A Munroe, Workplace learning in context, (pp.109-125), Routledge, London (ISBN 415-31630-8).
  • Billett, S. (2003). Guiding vocational learning. In J. Stevenson (Ed.) Developing vocational expertise, (pp. 226-246) Allen & Unwin, Sydney.
  • Billett, S. (2002). Workplaces, communities and pedagogies: An activity theory view. In M R Lea & K Nicholl (Eds.) Distributed Learning: Social and cultural approaches to practice. (pp.83-97) Routledge-Falmer, London.

Refereed journals

Refereed proceedings

  • Billett, S. (2006). Work, Subjectivity and Learning. (key note presentations) Professional growth and guidance of life-wide and life-long learning, University of Jyvalaska, Finland 23rd-24th May.
  • Billett, S. (2006). 'Positioning learning within WALL'. Work and Lifelong Learning Conference, Toronto, Canada, June 3-5 2006.
  • Billett, S. (2006). Work, lifelong learning and Cooperative Education: supporting and guiding ontogenetic development. (keynote address) New Zealand Association for Cooperative Education, Queenstown, April 27-28, 2006.
  • Billett, S., Barker, M. & Smith, R. (2005). Interdependencies at work: Constituting reflection, performance, dialogicity, and reward. Researching Work and Learning 4, Sydney (11-14th December).
  • Billett, S., & Ovens, C. (2005). Co-opting school students' experience of paid part-time work. 13th Annual International conference on post-compulsory education and training. Volume One (pp.80-88), Gold Coast, Queensland (4-7th December).
  • Billett, S., Barker, M., & Smith, R. (2005). Examining work, learning and the remaking of cultural practices through the duality of affordances and engagement. 13th Annual International conference on post-compulsory education and training. Volume One (pp 89-96), Gold Coast, Queensland (4-7th December).
  • Searle, J., Billett, S., & Behrens, K. (2005). Affordances and engagement: The shaping of adults' initial experiences of higher education. 13th Annual International conference on post-compulsory education and training. Gold Coast, Queensland Volume Two (pp 163-170), (4-7th December).
  • Clemans, A., Billett, S., & Seddon, T. (2005). Initiating, developing and sustaining social partnerships through partnership work. 13th Annual International conference on post-compulsory education and training. Gold Coast, Queensland Volume One (pp 148-155) (4-7 December).
  • Billett, S., Clemans, A., C Seddon, T., & Kelly, M. (2005). Initiating, developing and sustaining social partnerships. 14th National VET Research Conference, Wodonga, Victoria (5th-8th July).
  • Clemans, A., Billett, S., & Seddon, T. (2005). Initiating, developing and sustaining social partnerships through partnership work. AVETRA Conference, Sofitel Hotel, Brisbane (14-15 April 2005).
  • Billett, S., Barker & Smith, R. (2005). Relational interdependence as means to examine work, learning and the remaking of cultural practices. Nijhof, W., Jandand Nieuwenhuis, L.F.M. (Eds), The learning potential of the workplace, (pp.59-76). 2nd Invited International Conference Twente University, The Netherlands (3-5 March 2005).
  • Billett, S. (2004). Individual and social agency in working life. University of Jyvskyl.
  • Billett, S. (2004). Transformations and continuities: Agency and intentionality at work. Workplace Learning - from the Learners Perspective', Learning Lab Denmark, Copenhagen 25-27 November.
  • Billett, S. (2004). Learning through work: Relational interdependence between individual and social agency. Workplace Learning from the Learners Perspective', Learning Lab Denmark, Copenhagen 25-27 November.
  • Billett, S. (2004). Individuals, agency and intentionality: Older workers and learning through work. VET and development of mature competence in enterprises (VADMACE), November, 22-23 Stavenger, Norway.
  • Billett, S. (2004). Being competent: the relational interdependence between individual and social agency in working life. Keynote presentation. European Association of Research on Learning and Instruction, Professional Development SIG conference, Regensburg, Germany 11-15 October.
  • Billett, S. (2003). Individualising the social - socialising the individual: and Interdependence between social and individual agency in vocational learning. Keynote presentation. 11th Annual International conference on post-compulsory education and training: Enriching learning cultures, (Vol 1 pp.55-71), 1-3 December, Gold Coast.
  • Smith, A., & Billett, S. (2003). Enhancing employer expenditure in training. 11th Annual International conference on post-compulsory education and training: Enriching learning cultures, (vol 3 pp. 99-107), 1-3 Dec, Gold Coast
  • Billett, S., & Pavlova, M. (2003). Learning through working life: individuals' agentic action, subjectivity and participation in work. 11th Annual International conference on post-compulsory education and training: Enriching learning cultures, (vol 1 pp. 72-80),and 1-3 December, Gold Coast.
  • Ehrich, L., Billett, S., & Hernon-Tinning, B. (2003). Understanding learning in Small Business: Engagement and Support. 17th Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management conference, Freemantle, December 2-5
  • Billett, S. (2003). Localised learning, new learning spaces and small business learning. European Education Research Association conference, Hamburg, Germany September 17-20.
  • Billett, S. (2003). Workplace pedagogic practices: Participatory practices and individual engagement. European Education Research Association conference, Hamburg, Germany September 17-20.
  • Smith, A., & Billett, S. (2003). Making employers pay: how do they do it overseas? The sixth Australian VET Research Association Conference "The Changing Face of VET, 9-11 April 2003 Australian Technology Park, Sydney, Australia.
  • Billett, S. (2003). Affordances, engagement, intentionality and continuity: Conceptualsiing workplaces as learning environments. Building an Inclusive Model for integrating Learning and Work. 2nd International Conference on Practice-Orientated Education, Boston, 10-12 April.
  • Billett, S. (2002). Vocational curriculum and pedagogy: An activity theory perspective. European Conference on Educational Research, Lisbon, Portugal 11-14 September.
  • Billett, S. (2002). Workplace learning as co-participation. International perspectives on learning in the workplace symposium. American Educational Research Association, Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 1-5 2002.
  • Billett, S., Ehrich, L., & Hernon-Tinning. (2002). Small business pedagogic practices 10th Annual International conference on post-compulsory education and training. Envisioning practice implementing change. Vol 1 pp131-138. Surfers Paradise Park Royal, Gold Coast, Australia, 2-4 December.
  • Billett, S., Barker, M., & Hernon-Tinning, B. (2002). Co-participatory practices at work. 10th Annual International conference on post-compulsory education and training. Envisioning practice implementing change. Vol 1 pp 139-148. Surfers Paradise Park Royal, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, 2-4 December 2002.
  • Seddon, T., Billett, S., & Vongalis, A. (2002). Building community through social partnerships around vocational education and training. 10th Annual International conference on post-compulsory education and training. Envisioning practice implementing change. Vol 3, pp. 73-81. Surfers Paradise Park Royal, Gold Coast, Australia, 2-4 December 2002.

Government reports

  • Billett, S. (2007). Making the most of Workplace Learning: A report on the 2006 VET symposium on Workplace Learning. Department of Education, Training and Arts, Brisbane.
  • Billett, S. (2003). Concepts and developments in knowledge and skills. Victorian Department of Education. Melbourne.
  • Seddon, T., Fischer, J., Clemans, A., & Billett, S. (2002). An evaluation of the Local Learning Employment Networks. Victorian Learning and Employment Skills Commission DET.

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