Dr Bernadette Wrynn

Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education

School of Education
3rd
321
(01) 474 7450

Biography

After graduating with her B.Ed in 1996 Bernadette began teaching across a range of school contexts and prompted a greater interest in curriculum development in primary schools. During her teaching career Bernadette took on the role of Deputy Principal and Acting Principal before accepting a post as curriculum trainer and advisor in the Primary Curriculum Support Programme (PCSP) in 2005. Bernadette was appointed Co-ordinator for the national team of SESE advisors to schools in 2008. During her time as Co-ordinator Bernadette completed postgraduate studies in educational leadership and management from Trinity College Dublin (TCD). Bernadette accepted a post with the Froebel (college) Department in 2009, completed her MA. Ed in 2010 (UCD) and was awarded her Ph.D. (UCD) in 2015. Additional teaching experiences included work with the Adult Education Centre (UCD 2013) on the access programme (students preparing to re-enter education at undergraduate level). Bernadette has become involved in the area of school partnerships, fostering greater links with schools that regularly support Froebel students on School placement. In 2017Bernadette took on the role of M.Ed. (Research in Practice) programme leader. https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/froebel-department-primary-and-early-childhood-education/master-education-research-practice Bernadette became chair of the department research and ethics committee in 2019 which oversees the research activity of the postgraduate students on the MEd programme and also became a member of the department doctoral working group.

Research Interests

Sociological and epistemological studies of curriculum. The recontextualisation of curriculum across school contexts and the forces or imperatives affecting curriculum development in schools. The role of official and pedagogic discourses on curriculum teaching and learning.

Research Projects

Title Role Description Start date End date Amount
Spur Project Mentor 15/05/2022 30/06/2022
Teacher Educator identities Project researcher 01/02/2022 06/09/2023
An evaluation of Schools Partnership project Project researcher 10/10/2020 10/10/2022 30000
SPUR project Collaborator The Summer Programme For Undergraduate Research (SPUR) is a six week active research based and paid experiential learning programme which offers successful students the opportunity to work closely with faculty mentors on research projects across a range of disciplines 05/05/2020 30/06/2020 1500
DCEDIY ECE qualification recognition PI Supplementary Request for Tenders (SRFT) Under The Multi Supplier Framework Agreement for the Provision of Research and Evaluation Services for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Recognition of Professional Qualifications for Early Learning and Care, 01/03/2023 06/07/2023 13672
Early Childhood qualifications review PI 21/05/2023 31/10/2023 13000

Other Journal

Year Publication
2022 Smith, N. & Wrynn, B. (2022) 'Inquiry Based Science Education' Irish Teachers Journal, 10 :56-73. [Link]
Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2023) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

Professional Associations

Description Function From / To
Teaching Council Programme Accreditation -
NCCA Primary Development group SEE 03/10/2022 - 21/07/2024
Info-TED Researcher 08/08/2021 -
CARN Subcommittee 10/10/2019 -
Network for Educational Action Research Ireland Collaborator 02/10/2017 -

Honors and Awards

Date Title Awarding Body
01/09/2015 Ph.D in Education UCD
01/09/2011 MA.Ed UCD
01/01/2011 P. Grad Dip (Leadership) TCD

Committees

Committee Function From / To
Department Academic committee Develop departmental academic programmes and affairs 01/09/2018 -
FSS Research committee Department representative 04/09/2022 -
Doctoral Working group Member 09/09/2017 -
Department Research and Ethics Committee Chair from 2019 06/09/2015 -
University Research Ethics Sub committee Reviewer 04/09/2016 - 04/10/2018
Department School Placement Committee School engagement officer 27/06/2014 - 08/08/2021

Employment

Employer Position From / To
Professional Development Service for teachers Subject Co-ordinator 04/09/2005 - 08/08/2009
St Nicholas Montessori College External examiner 09/09/2016 - 30/06/2020
UCD ITEDP Course designer and lecturer 15/03/2013 - 28/03/2013

Education

Start date Institution Qualification Subject
UCD PhD Sociology of curriculum

Languages

Language Reading Writing Speaking
English Fluent Fluent Fluent
Irish-Gaeilge Functional Functional Functional
French Functional Functional Functional

Other Activities

Description
External examiner on level 7 and 8 programmes in a recognised third level institution (2016-2019)
MEd Course Director of Action Research programme including blended learning from 2017 to present

Consultancy

Client Description
NIPT Partners for development of school placement
PDST Consultation on partnerships with schools
NCCA

Outreach Activities

Organisation Type Description
Carysfort National School Co. Dublin Civic Society Parent Representative on Board of Management [Link]
Kildare County Council Civic Society Project Live in association with Kildare County Council and Maynooth University

Teaching Interests

Curriculum development and the implementation of curriculum across educational contexts.
Curriculum and methodology development within the areas of Science, History and Geography education.
The sociological factors impacting curriculum in schools.
Postgraduate research teaching in the areas of educational practice leading to transformation.
Programme Co-ordinator of MEd (Research in Practice) and Supervisor of MEd theses in the area of Action Research.
Supervisor of school placement on the BEd and PMEd programmes across all year groups.

Modules Co-ordinated:  EDF685, EDF686, EDF689 and EDF457.

Recent Students

Graduation date Name Degree
2021 Niamh Smith Masters in Education
2022 Kevin Maher Masters in Education
2019 Lucy Brannock Masters in Education
2020 Aoife Mc Cormack Masters in Education
2023 Erica O Reilly Masters in Education

External Collaborators

Name Role Country
Marino Institute of Education Co-researchers Ireland
University of Aberdeen Co-researchers United Kingdom
DCEDIY Funder Ireland