Students who grow up in disadvantaged areas face more challenges and are less likely to complete their education than peers from non-disadvantaged areas. In response to this inequality, the Irish Department of Education and Skills implemented an intervention called Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) to address it. Before the…

With global conflict currently riding at its highest levels in the past 30 years, the international community has recognised the importance of engaging young women and men in shaping lasting peace. In 2015 the United Nations Security Council passed a ground-breaking resolution, Youth, Peace and Security: Resolution 2250 (United Nations Security…

Design-based research (DBR) and cognate, practitioner-oriented methodologies have gained increased prominence in the last twenty-five years, and in particular have become established approaches for exploring how we might best optimise the potential impact of digital technologies in education. This is highlighted by the research that shows how DBR…

It is widely accepted that co-operating teachers play a key role in the formation of student teachers during their school placement. Yet, in the Irish context, there is limited research exploring the role and significance of these stakeholders in Initial Teacher Education (ITE). To address this lacuna, this qualitative research draws on a series…

In 2004, a new form of inspection was introduced to post-primary schools in the Republic of Ireland. It represented a complete change from the previous light touch pattern and reflected the New Public Management approach to policymaking and implementation then becoming fashionable in the jurisdiction. Around the same time, a new policy for…

This paper sets out to clarify the role gesture has in creating meaning when learning mathematics. General characteristics of gesture and the mathematical concept of spatial reasoning are discussed. Features of the theoretical basis of that concepts are then explored, primarily to outline how the modern embodied form of knowledge was developed and…

The paper details an approach for engaging in research into how historically the geography curriculum has been constructed as a senior secondary school subject in countries throughout the world. It begins with a broad outline of the historical development of geography internationally as a subject. It then describes the existing corpus of research…

Increasing moves towards inclusive education have meant that children with learning difficulties are almost exclusively educated in mainstream schools. Based on prevalence estimates from a variety of sources, it is likely that up to 20% of the population of Australia lives with dyslexia of some severity. Thus, every teacher is highly likely to…

This paper introduces an innovative project in teacher education, designed to enhance student teachers' engagement with educational research methods by creating in a peer-learning network. The Student Teacher Educational Research (STER) project was established by the author in partnership with a group of student volunteers in 2017. The project…

Education in Ireland presents an idiosyncratic context. Study of this lends depth and insight to any international consideration of education, complex as this must be. This paper considers student teachers' perspectives and interpretations of leadership in primary (national) schools in Ireland. It focuses on the findings of research undertaken…

Slovak education is currently undergoing a reform process aimed at achieving better quality in the education and learning outcomes of students. A decrease in the number of teachers, and applicants for teacher training programmes, as well as the drop in interest of the graduates to work at schools has been observed for some time. Regarding the…

The rich diversity of pupils entering Irish primary schools has risen in recent years. This prompts initial teacher education (ITE) programme designers to be increasingly aware of how to best prepare and support student teachers. Consequently, it is important that such diversity be reflected among cohorts entering ITE. This research explores…

The aim of this chapter is to discuss the parameters for a construction of a scholarly Cultural History of Education in South Africa. The historiography of South African education reflects the context (demographic and otherwise) of the country. Three clearly distinguishable paradigms are evident: a conservative Afrikaner paradigm, a liberal…

The central role of teachers in ensuring the quality of education has been increasingly recognised internationally in recent decades. This paper reviews various shifts that have occurred in the initial teacher education agenda internationally during this time period. The paper reviews the radical reform that has occurred in the structure and…

Currently the Australian university sector almost has a monopoly in the provision of courses and programmes for the initial preparation of teachers across the nation. What the future holds for the filed, however, is quite uncertain. This uncertainty, as this paper will demonstrate, is reflected in a number of trends. First, while a trend has…