Study in Adult and Further Education Training in Ireland

The ‘SAFETTI’ research project represents Phase II of the WIT/TEQ longitudinal research project initiated in 2013. It extends the research focus across the island of Ireland building a clearer picture of the experience of AFE teacher professional development and the role of transformative learning in supporting their evolving ideal identity self-states. The purpose of the …
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Teacher educator professional learning: Shaping the conversation of teacher education?

The purpose of this study was to examine the professional learning of individual teacher educators scaffolded within a developing PLC.  The learning focus was the pedagogical area of communication. The researchers were interested in how this professional learning might then influence our individual pedagogical practices with pre-service teachers. Insight into both the aspects of professional …
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Pupil Interest and Enjoyment of Mathematics

The results of international large-scale assessments have revealed the emergence of gender disparities in attitudes to mathematics, with girls generally demonstrating lower levels of interest in and enjoyment of mathematics than boys. Given that attitudes to mathematics are key determinants of future STEM participation, collaborative cognitive-activation teaching strategies, which harmonise with the core tenets of …
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Pupil Interest and Enjoyment of Mathematics

The results of international large-scale assessments have revealed the emergence of gender disparities in attitudes to mathematics, with girls generally demonstrating lower levels of interest in and enjoyment of mathematics than boys. Given that attitudes to mathematics are key determinants of future STEM participation, collaborative cognitive-activation teaching strategies, which harmonise with the core tenets of …
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Teachers’ Beliefs about Education and Children’s Voice Practices in the Island of Ireland

This study, funded by SCOTENS, set out to explore the cultural orientations of primary school teachers in the Island of Ireland, and to examine how they affect their understandings and practices of children’s voice in schools. For example, in predominantly traditional cultures, children’s voice projects may be illusory, only allowing participation in marginal decisions and …
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Thresholds Concepts in Language Teacher Education

This report presents the findings of a SCoTENS funded study with practicing language teachers in Ireland, within the framework of Threshold Concepts (Meyer, Land et al. 2010), to identify the core but troublesome knowledge and practices of language teaching and the conditions that facilitate the integration of these concepts over a teaching career.  The project …
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Early Number Concepts

The aim of this research project was to develop a resource of key vocabulary and terminology for teachers in supporting their planning and teaching in early number. It will also provide teachers with a variety of teaching and learning strategies to complement the development of the key vocabulary. The project relates to the development of …
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Cyberbullying and the Law

This research project highlighted a previously unreported level of frustration on the part of school leaders in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in their struggle to deal with the growing and very complex problem of cyberbullying, especially in the absence of clear and up-to-date guidance from respective government departments.  Confusion surrounding the …
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Teacher educator professional learning: Shaping the conversation of teacher education? (TEmPLe)

This report represents a synthesis of the findings of a collaborative enquiry by physical education teacher educators North and South on the area of teacher educator professional learning. The following participants designed, implemented, researched and presented this professional development initiative:  Déirdre Ní Chróinín, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick.  Ciaran Walsh, St Mary’s University College, …
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Writing as a professional development activity in ITE.

The aim of this research project was to introduce professional writing as a professional development activity for a small group of supervisors of teaching practice in two education schools/departments, one in the Republic and one in Northern Ireland. Writing as a Professional development activity in ITE Report