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

      Project Role Funding Body / Program Description Start Date End Date Award (€)
    An evaluation of Schools Partnership project Project researcher / Government State Bodies 10-OCT-20 10-OCT-22 30000
    SPUR project Collaborator Maynooth University / Government State Bodies 05-MAY-20 30-JUN-20 1500

    Professional Associations

      Association Function From / To
    Teaching Council Programme Accreditation /
    CARN Subcommittee 10-OCT-19 / 08-FEB-21
    Network for Educational Action Research Ireland Collaborator 02-OCT-17 /

    Honours and Awards

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

    Committees

      Committee Function From / To
    Department Academic committee Develop departmental academic programmes and affairs 2018 /
    Doctoral Working group Member 2017 /
    Department Research and Ethics Committee Chair from 2019 2015 /
    University Research Ethics Sub committee Reviewer 2016 / 2018
    Department School Placement Committee School engagement officer 2014 /

    Employment

      Employer Position From / To
    Professional Development Service for teachers Subject Co-ordinator 04-SEP-05 / 08-AUG-09
    St Nicholas Montessori College External examiner 09-SEP-16 / 30-JUN-20
    UCD ITEDP Course designer and lecturer 15-MAR-13 / 28-MAR-13

    Education

      Year Institution Qualification Subject
    2015 UCD PhD Sociology of curriculum

    Consultancy

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

    Outreach Activities

      Description

    Parent Representative on Board of Management Link

    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

    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.

    Recent Postgraduates

      Graduation Student Name University Degree Thesis
    2019 Lucy Brannock Maynooth University
    2020 Aoife Mc Cormack Maynooth University

    External Collaborators

      Name Role / Description Country
    Marino Institute of Education Co-researchers IRELAND