Contemporary Research in Irish Education: Volume 4: Book of abstracts of the 6th Annual Postgraduate Research Seminar

Abstract

We are delighted to welcome you to the 6th Annual Postgraduate Research Seminar of the School of Education, NUI Galway. A central part of the School of Education s recurrent Research Seminar Series, this annual research colloquium affords the School s master and doctoral researchers the opportunity to present their research to colleagues and peers, and to do so from a timely perspective germane to the particular stage/phase of the research. It furthermore provides opportunities to share and discuss the School of Education s postgraduate research, and the broader conceptual and methodological contexts within which that research is undertaken. This book of abstracts is the fourth in the series, Contemporary Research in Irish Education. As in the previous publications, this year s book of abstracts includes synopses of current and ongoing graduate research within the School of Education, NUI Galway. This research summarised here engages with and addresses salient questions and topics in contemporary educational research, both in Ireland and internationally, including: The teaching of Enterprise in Irish post-primary schools The primary and post-primary schooling experiences of Black and Minority Ethnic students Examining Irish post-primary students difficulties in initial algebra The experiences of working class applicants and entrants to initial teacher education in Ireland Learningful interactions at Galway City Museum Engaging students in STEM Through informal astrobiology learning Adopting a Content and Language and Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach Being an insider researcher Addressing issues of gender modelling in Irish primary schools School leadership The Experiences of those who have been expelled from post-primary schools

Building on the successes of the previous seminars, and as a publication output from this year s colloquium, this book of abstracts includes the programme for the School of Education s 2017 Postgraduate Research Seminar and the abstracts of the presenters, outlining their respective research questions, methodologies, data collection and analysis. We would like to congratulate the presenters in the seminar this year and their supervisors, and to thank all involved in organising this evening s event, particularly those colleagues who are chairing the respective parallel sessions. We look forward to an interesting, insightful and productive discussion and sharing of contemporary, critical educational research. Le gach dea-mhéin, Professor Gerry MacRuairc Head, School of Education Dr. Elaine Keane Chair, Research Committee Dr. Tony Hall Editor, Book of Abstracts