I graduated from the Townsville Teachers College with a Diploma of Teaching in 1974. I taught in a number of schools in North Queensland teaching all of the primary grades one through seven. During this time I completed studies in a Bachelor of Education and Master of Education (Special Education). In 1982 I began work in the special education sector of Education Queensland working with students with learning difficulties in regular schools, gifted and talented students, the hearing impaired and with students with moderate and severe intellectual disabilities in segregated special schools. During this period I began studies for a Doctor of Philosophy degree.

After 15 years as a practitioner in primary and special education settings, I was appointed as a lecturer in special education at the University of New England in 1989. In 1992 I was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy degree and in 1994 promoted to Senior Lecturer. Also during this time I was invited to the University of Alberta (twice) to teach summer schools to graduate students on the psychology and needs of students with special needs.

In July 1998, I was appointed to the Faculty of Education and Creative Arts of Central Queensland University, Mackay Campus as a Senior Lecturer in education. In 2001 I was promoted to Associate Professor and in 2007 appointed Professor. At CQU, my roles have included teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students, administration, research and community work. I was appointed the Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Education & Creative Arts from 2003 to 2008, and from 2009-2010 the Deputy Associate Dean (Research & Innovation) of the Faculty of Arts, Business, Informatics & Education containing Schools of Arts, Business, Law, Creative and Performing Arts, ICT, and Education. I am currently the Professor of Education in the School of Education and at present teach nine part-time doctoral candidates. I am also an active member of the Learning and Teaching Education Research Centre (LTERC), a designated strategic education research flagship of the university, participating in research activities and mentoring junior academics.

      

James Cook University

University of New England

University of New England

Central Queensland University

Fellow, International Academy of Research in Learning Disabilities

Professor Knight has extensive teaching experience in primary and special education  and University settings and has been involved in identifying, programming for and teaching students with special needs (including gifted students) as well as conducting workshops and seminars for teachers and parents. He has authored/coauthored 22 books and written more than 150 papers in scholarly journals. He is a trained facilitator and Australasian coordinator of the Strategies Program for Effective Learning and Thinking (SPELT), a thinking skills package applicable to all students from prep through to year twelve. His current research interests include students' use of metacognitive strategies in developing literacy skills, the role of vision in reading and comprehension, the inclusion of students with special needs in regular classrooms and catering for students with literacy learning difficulties.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Reading difficulties, special education, teacher education, leadership, change management.