ACU Researcher

Dr Jennifer Asha

Lecturer
School of Education, Faculty of Education and Arts

Areas of expertise: English literacy; children's literature; multimodal literacy; social semiotics

Email: [email protected]

Location: ACU Strathfield Campus

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-7662-7094

Jennifer Asha is a literacy educator with a passion for helping students become literate in technologically and visually rich environments. She has been involved in several publications and research projects in these areas. Jennifer’s belief in the power of quality literature in print-based and visually rich modes underpins her work in school and university settings.

Select publications

• Asha, J. & McDonald, L. (2026). Literacy Learning: The Middle Years, 34(1), 16-30.
• Asha, J. (2025). Meaning construction with multimodal persuasive texts. ACU. https://doi.org/10.26199/acu/1213
• Asha, J. (2023). Making sense of the models: Teaching reading knowledge, skills and dispositions. Paper 230. PETAA
• Asha, J. (2022).The potential of the visual: Teaching literacy with multimodal texts. PETAA
• Asha, J. (2021). A framework for assessing multimodal comprehension. Scan, 40(3)
• Asha, J. (2020). Examining persuasive techniques using visual and digital texts. Scan, 39(1) most read article in SCAN 2020
• Asha, J. (2020). Constructing meaning with persuasive online advertisements. Scan, 39(2) 2nd most read article in SCAN 2020
• Asha, J. (2019). Explicit teaching of the alphabetic principle: snapshots of best practice. Primary English Teaching Association Australia
• Asha, J. (2018). Teaching visual grammar in the context of digital texts. Scan, 37(7).
• Asha, J. (2009). Teaching with visual texts. Practically primary. Vol. 14 (1). p.38+

Collaborations

• Simpson, A., Day, C., Goulding, J. & Asha, J. (2022). Teachers' perceptions of effectiveness: Professionalism in Australian schools. Teaching and teacher education.
• Walsh, M. Asha, J. and Sprainger, N. (2007). Reading digital texts. The Australian journal of language and literacy. Vol. 30.1.
• Unsworth, L., Thomas, A., Simpson, A., & Asha, J. (2005). Children's literature and computer based teaching. Open University Press. 

Projects

• Understanding microteaching in literacy education: Refocusing Initial Teacher Education (Primary) in the AI era. Collaboration with Dr Katrina Kemp and Dr Thu Ngo from UNSW. 2026
• Use of AI to promote reflective responsibility and autonomy: Using professional language to ‘encode expertise’ and support novice teachers’ reflection on practice. Collaboration with Griffith University, Penrose Education UK and Ss Cyril and Methodius University, North Macedonia. 2026

Awards

• Excellence in Teaching Award 2026
• Anne Dacey Staff Award 2025

International journal review panels

• Reviewer Elementary Education in Theory and Practice journal, 2024
• Reviewer Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, 2025

Appointments and affiliations

• Primary English Association Australia member, author and presenter.
• Language & Literacy in Education Network, Professional Learning and Materials Publication Consortium member.

Public engagement activities

• Exploring Climate Fiction webinar, The sunshine project Language and literature foundation's Literature Symposium, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4TAV-CozYQ&list=PLyfKxSNJdMBC9fZjl9a6W6UxTawjYa2g4&index=5
• Exploring key texts from the 2022 CBCA notables and shortlist https://www.petaa.edu.au/w/Blog/Latest_blog/2022_cbca_video.aspx
• Contributor to the PETAA literacy resources portal for early career teachers https://petaa.edu.au/litportal/litportal/Default.aspx
• Teacher Librarian Professional Community, 2021 conference key note speaker - Using rich literature to teach critical literacy
• Guest speaker on ABC 702 national afternoon radio show, speaking to James Valentine about how parents can support children during remote learning due to COVID-19 school closures.