DrJames Gong

Dr James Gong (Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, FHEA) is known for designing authentic and practice-oriented learning experiences. His teaching prepares engineering students for real-world challenges. He focuses on connecting theory with application, especially in water engineering. He uses project-based and design-led learning to build practical skills. He has led major curriculum improvements in core units. These changes align learning with Australian industry standards and support both on-campus and online students.

His teaching approach is grounded in active and student-centred learning. He combines flipped classrooms, collaborative problem-solving, and scaffolded learning to support diverse student cohorts. He creates structured but flexible learning environments. Students work on real engineering problems and build confidence through practice. This helps them move from understanding concepts to applying and evaluating solutions.

James' teaching has had a clear impact on student learning and curriculum practice. His redesign of teaching materials and assessments has improved student engagement, clarity, and performance, particularly for online learners. His use of authentic assessment and feedback-as-learning approaches has strengthened student outcomes and received consistently positive feedback. His work has been shared across the university at Deakin's teaching and learning conferences, contributing to broader improvements in engineering education.