Now showing 1 - 10 of 48
  • Publication
    Unpacking the motivational variables which impact engagement in Lesson Study: Mathematics teaching self-efficacy and attitudes towards self-development
    Lesson study has received significant attention as a model of professional development among mathematics teachers. Evidence highlights its effectiveness in improving pedagogical practices and student learning, however, less is known about the predispositions which may encourage teachers’ participation in Lesson Study or the impact of participation on teachers’ attitudes. Such findings are relevant considering the voluntary context of teachers’ participation in professional development in Ireland. This research investigates the motivational variables which impact teachers’ participation in Lesson Study, specifically their self-efficacy in teaching mathematics for conceptual understanding and their attitudes towards self-development in Lesson Study. Post-primary mathematics teachers (N = 64), spanning various levels of experience in Lesson Study, completed a survey using a set of pre-validated scales. Findings indicate that teachers’ mathematics teaching self-efficacy is a significant predictor of their participation in Lesson Study. Furthermore, the research finds that teachers’ familiarity with Lesson Study impacts the likelihood of their participation in this model of teacher education. These findings build upon previous knowledge in this field and demonstrate the significance of teaching self-efficacy as a presage variable for developing a positive disposition towards Lesson Study. The paper discusses the implications of these findings for teacher education in Ireland.
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  • Publication
    What Knowledge do Teachers use in Lesson Study? A focus on Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching and Levels of Teacher Activity
    This chapter combines the frameworks of Ball, Thames, and Phelps (J Teach Educ 59:389–407, 2008) and Margolinas, Coulange, and Bessot (Educ Stud Math 59:205–234, 2005) to demonstrate the elements of subject and pedagogical content knowledge utilized at varying levels of teacher activity in a cycle of lesson study. Qualitative data generated in a mathematics-based lesson study, conducted with eight primary school teachers in Switzerland, is analyzed and visualizations of the knowledge occurring at each phase of lesson study are provided. This fine-grained analysis of the mathematical knowledge incorporated by teachers in lesson study demonstrates that all forms of Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching, at each level of teacher activity, can occur across a cycle. In addition, the paper provides evidence that phases of lesson study do not necessarily occur in succession but can rather take place in a confluence of teachers’ work across a full cycle.
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  • Publication
    Lesson Study
    (Routledge, 2022-10-13)
    In this chapter, Lesson Study (LS) is introduced as a model of professional development, which provides teachers with an opportunity to research their own practice with a view to improving students’ learning. LS is growing in prominence worldwide, particularly in STEM education. In this research, a group of post-primary Mathematics teachers participated in LS during their implementation of a revised curriculum. Their work was analysed utilising a framework of Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching (Ball, Thames, & Phelps, 2008) and findings demonstrate a prominence of knowledge specific to teaching mathematical content (i.e. specialised and pedagogical content knowledge) employed by teachers during LS.
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  • Publication
    Incorporating lesson study in ITE: organisational structures to support student teacher learning
    (Taylor & Francis, 2019-07-10) ;
    Lesson study is a collaborative model of professional development that provides teachers with the opportunity to learn from the planning, conduction and reflection of a specifically designed research lesson. Lesson study is increasingly incorporated in initial teacher education (ITE) and calls have been made to further detail the lesson study structures that support student teacher learning. In this paper the core organisational elements of incorporating lesson study in ITE are investigated as a comparative case study situated in two distinct educational and cultural settings: one in Ireland (post-primary) and the other in Norway (primary). Qualitative data, including student teachers’ planning notes, research lesson designs, and observation notes from live research lessons, were analysed and findings reveal three structural factors for the incorporation of lesson study in ITE. First, defined roles of mentor and university teachers as knowledgeable others; second, the engagement of student teachers at each phase of lesson study, with the inclusion of case pupils; and third, the conduction of the lesson study cycle on both university campus and in the classroom. These findings contribute to the growing literature of lesson study in ITE and may support the inclusion of lesson study in ITE programmes.
    Scopus© Citations 17  277
  • Publication
    Developing mathematics teachers' pedagogical content knowledge in lesson study: Case study findings
    Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the development of mathematics teachers' pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) over successive cycles of lesson study. Utilising the framework of mathematical knowledge for teaching (MKT) (Ball et al., 2008), this research classifies features of PCK as utilised by post-primary mathematics teachers in their planning and reflection conversations in lesson study. The development of these features of PCK is then traced over successive cycles. Design/methodology/approach: In total, 12 teachers in two Irish post-primary schools participated in this research. Over the course of one academic year, these two groups of teachers completed a number of cycles of lesson study and qualitative data were generated through audio recordings of all lesson study meetings and through individual interviews with participants. Findings: Analysis of teacher dialogue reveals distinct features of knowledge of content and students (KCS) and knowledge of content and teaching (KCT) incorporated by these teachers in their planning and reflection conversations, providing empirical evidence of MKT in lesson study. The occurrence of these features of KCS and KCT in lesson study conversations increased over successive cycles, demonstrating teacher learning.Originality/value: This research contributes to the literature in expanding the theoretical underpinnings of teacher learning in lesson study. It also provides further empirical evidence of MKT (Ball et al., 2008) in teacher practice, specifically related to post-primary mathematics teachers.
    Scopus© Citations 35  1168
  • Publication
    Developing mathematics teachers' pedagogical content knowledge through iterative cycles of lesson study
    (Congress of European Research in Mathematics Education (CERME), 2015-02-08)
    This research presents features of knowledge of content and students (KCS) and knowledge of content and teaching (KCT) as empirical evidence of mathematics teachers' pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) utilised and enhanced through their participation in iterative cyclesof lesson study. Over the course of one academic year, twelve teachers in two secondary schools engaged in this research as a double case study of teacher learning within a lesson study community. Qualitative data was generated through audio recordings of teacher meetings and through multiple teacher interviews. Dialogue within the lesson study communities was mapped to a framework of PCK as proposed by Ball, Thames and Phelps (2008). Results of this study find empirical evidence ofthe features of KCS and KCT in teachers' planning and reflection conversations and demonstrate teacher learning over iterative cycles of lesson study.
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  • Publication
    Maths Sparks engagement programme: investigating the impact on under-privileged pupils’ attitudes towards mathematics
    In this paper we explore the attitudes of under-privileged secondary school pupils in Ireland towards mathematics and investigate the impact of attending a 4-week engagement programme on these attitudes. The pupils involved in this research attended schools recognized by the Department of Education & Skills as socio-economically deprived. Pupils attending these schools, known as Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS), are 40% less likely than their counterparts in non-DEIS schools to pursue mathematics at a higher level in state examinations (Smyth, E., Mccoy, S. & Kingston, G., 2015, Learning From the Evaluation of DEIS. Dublin: Economic and Social Research Institute). However, little research has reported on these pupils’ experiences of and attitudes towards mathematics at senior secondary level. An engagement programme entitled ‘Maths Sparks’ was purposefully designed for secondary pupils from DEIS schools, with the aim of positively influencing their attitudes towards and confidence in mathematics. The programme consisted of weekly out-of-school workshops exploring extra-curricular mathematics topics, designed and delivered by undergraduate mathematics students. Questionnaires were utilized to evaluate pupils’ attitudes towards mathematics before and after their participation in the programme. Despite its relatively short time frame, qualitative and quantitative analysis suggests an increase in participating pupils’ attitudes towards, enjoyment of and self-confidence in mathematics due to their participation in the programme. Findings also suggest that while these pupils liked the subject of mathematics, their experience of learning the subject in school was not always positive and was sometimes hindered by the absence of higher-level mathematics as an option in school. The high-stakes examination content and teachers’ beliefs in the ability of their students also sometimes negatively impacted learners’ intentions to pursue mathematics at a higher level. Findings suggest that longitudinal mathematics engagement programmes, which focus on problem solving, involve extra-curricular mathematical concepts and are presented by undergraduate mathematics students, may provide a valuable way of positively impacting pupils’ intentions to pursue the subject.
      101Scopus© Citations 4
  • Publication
    Citizen Science in Ireland
    Ireland has a rich history of public engagement with science and the growing number of national citizen science initiatives is in keeping with developments seen in other European countries. This paper explores several aspects of citizen science in Ireland, in order to assess its development and to better understand potential opportunities for the field. An introduction to the roots of citizen science in Ireland’s past, from the first methodical observations of natural phenomena carried out at monastic settlements up to present day projects monitoring environmental change and biodiversity, is presented along with an overview of the current national citizen science projects running in the country. This cataloging of contemporary citizen science will be compared to the awareness of citizen science in the Irish education system at primary, post-primary, and university level. These measures of progress will be considered in the changing context of international citizen science funding and available support, such as the European Citizen Science Association and the EU-Citizen.Science platform. Citizen science in Ireland is at a critical point. If citizen science is embraced as a truly social and participatory innovation, Ireland has the chance to not only dramatically improve its citizen science output, but to also become a model of best practice for countries at similar stages of citizen science development.
    Scopus© Citations 9  287
  • Publication
    “We’ve just lost six weeks of teaching”: Mathematics teachers’ feedback on CBAs in problem-solving – Investigating the implementation
    (Dublin City University, 2022-06-25) ;
    This research investigates post-primary mathematics teachers’ concerns and feedback around problem-solving and the associated classroom-based assessment (CBA), following significant curriculum reform. Based on a framework of concerns (Hall et al., 1977), semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 mathematics teachers from across Ireland, representing a range of teaching experiences and school contexts. Initial findings suggest that many teachers feel constrained in attempting any change to their traditional classroom practice due to a lack of confidence and resources in implementing problem-solving in the classroom. Furthermore, teachers directly associate the concentrated nature of the curriculum content and the associated time pressures to a lack of meaningful engagement with the CBA. Teachers’ feedback also emphasises the desire to collaborate with other teachers, both in considering approaches and materials but also in building confidence in their own practice.
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  • Publication
    Islands in the stream: Encouraging teacher collaboration in an otherwise solitary profession
    Keynote presentation at WALS (World Association of Lesson Study) 2019 conference
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