Majeda Awawdeh

Dr Majeda Awawdeh is an Australian Educator and Author. She is best known for her research alongside John Sweller for studying an influential theory of Cognitive Load. Fluent in three languages: Arabic, Hebrew and English. She is one of the 1.6 million Palestinians who hold an Israeli citizenship.

She completed a degree in Mathematics & Computer Sciences and Education in 1992 from the University of Haifa and then went on to complete a master's degree in Mathematics Education in 2002 from the University of Haifa. After receiving a scholarship for outstanding research in her field, she received her Ph.D from the University of New South Wales in 2008 - her thesis titled Cognitive Load Theory & Mathematics education.

Dr Majeda now runs a learning centre Global Education Academy where she focuses on teaching children Mathematics and English that covers the Australian curriculum based on her research into Cognitive Load.

Dr Majeda was born in 1970 in Canna of Galilee, near Nazareth in Israel. She developed a love for mathematics at an early age, regularly problem solving various mathematics equations autonomously. In 1992, she received a Mathematics & Computer Sciences and Education degree from University of Haifa. She returned to the University of Haifa in 1999 to complete a master's degree in Mathematics Education.

Education

After receiving a scholarship for research in her field, she moved from Israel to Australia and in 2005 and then went on to receive her Ph.D in Mathematics Education from the University of New South Wales in 2008 - her thesis titled Cognitive Load Theory & Mathematics Education.

Dr Majeda also holds a number of qualifications and accreditation's from various institutes across Israel and Australia. These are:

• Minister of Education Award, Public Education Foundation, 2003
• High value thesis in Mathematics Education, University of Haifa Award, 2002
• EIPRS Award, University of New South Wales, 2005
• Award, The centre for Multiculturalism and Educational Research, 2005
• Diploma, Front-line Management, 2011
• Local Business Awards, 2016
• Australian Small Business Champion Awards – Best Educational Services 2017
• Business person of the Year, Local Business Awards, 2017

Dr Majeda worked as a high school Mathematics teacher in Israel for 15 years before migrating to Australia. While completing her degree in Australia, she worked in translation, teaching and tutoring at the University of New South Wales. She regularly worked two to three jobs consecutively as she was the sole provider for herself and her three children.

Upon completing her degree, she was offered a job at Educational Assessment Australia (EAA) which is one of the business arms of UNSW, as a project manager. She managed and developed the Mathematics ICAS papers (International Competition and Assessment for Schools) for 5 years. She developed a curriculum for both Mathematics and English that covers all the outcomes of the Australian curriculum from Year 2 to Year 10.

Following her passion for teaching and business, Majeda established Global Education Academy in 2011 where she could use her expertise and research findings to teach mathematics and English in line with the human brain structure.A few years later she also established Global Education Academy Junior for children from 3.5 to 7 years old. For these grades, Majeda developed a special curriculum that is play-and-learn-based. Global Education Academy is also known for their unique programme preparing students for sitting the Selective School Test and scholarship tests offered by private schools.

• Awawdeh, M. (2019). Who Cares about Maths, Anyway?- a book in layout stage to be released soon
• Awawdeh, M (2008). Cognitive Load Theory and Mathematics Education. (PhD) University Of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.   
• Khateeb, M. (2002). The development of fraction concept in different instructional methods. (Master's), University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
• Khateeb, M., & Sweller, J. (2008), Contextual effects in learning mathematics: A cognitive load theory perspective. A paper presented in the American Educational Research Association (AERA) annual meeting. , March, 2008.
• Khateeb, M., Ayers, P., & Sweller, J. (2007) Reducing cognitive load by using worked-examples in real-lifecontexts. Paper presented in the annual Cognitive Load TheoryConference. NSW, .
• Khateeb, M.(2008). Contextual effects in teaching mathematics: A cognitive load perspective.