Professor Boud is interested in how people learn and what can be done to foster their learning. This has taken him to a variety of settings in adult, higher and professional education and prompted an examination of many practices and processes. This has ranged from new forms of curriculum design (problem-based learning, negotiated learning and work-based learning) to learning practices (use of reflection, reciprocal peer learning) and assessment (self-assessment, sustainable assessment). A continuing theme of these explorations has been the role of the learner and how learning might be fostered. This has taken Professor Boud to developing models for learning from experience and the role of reflection in learning, and to examining the role of those who intervene in learning whether or not they are identified as teachers.

Currently, Professor Boud is interested in the challenges faced by formal education from new modes of knowledge production, learning in organizations, new practices in doctoral education and the role of assessment for long-term learning.

Grants
Australian Research Council (opens an external site) (SPIRT) Grant (with Nicky Solomon):

“Uncovering Learning in the Workplace” 2001-2003

Australian Research Council (opens an external site) Discovery Grant (with Carl Rhodes, Nicky Solomon, Clive Chappell and Hermine Scheeres) “Beyond training and learning: Integrated development practices in organizations” 2006-2008

National Teaching Development Grants (with various others):

Improving the use of learning contracts, Effective peer teaching and learning, Reciprocal peer learning.

Most of Professor Boud's teaching has been in the postgraduate area. It has included:

Experience-based learning, Adult learning and program development, Researching educational practice, Analysing professional practice, Dissertation design and development. He has also supervised many research students.