Dr Majella Dempsey

    Education

    Lecturer / Assistant Professor

    Maynooth University School of Education
    Second
    207
    (01) 708 3529

    Biography

     I am strand leader for Curriculum Studies on the Doctorate in Education programme. I lecture on Curriculum development, Research methods, Teaching, Learning and Assessment. I completed my doctoral research in Trinity College Dublin on the impact of a key skills approach to teaching and learning in secondary education. I am working on an Erasmus+ project Learning to Disagree on developing social and civic competences.  I was the country lead for the EU  funded project FaSMEd in Ireland looking at the role of technology in promoting formative assessment practices in science and mathematics. I am also involved in a small scale research project looking at how to develop Mathematics Knowledge for Teaching (MKT) with student teachers.  At the heart of all my research interests is the role of pedagogy in teaching, learning, assessment and curriculum.
    I am a member of the      European Association of Curriculum Studies. I hosted the 4th EuroACS conference and EERA/EuroACS Curriculum Summer School in Maynooth University in 2019.
    Prior to joining Maynooth University, I worked as an Education Officer in the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), where my main area of responsibility was working on the senior cycle curriculum developments. I was a member of the Junior Science Support Service (JSSS) working with science teachers on the introduction of the revised curriculum, and, prior to that worked as a science and mathematics teacher.

    Research Interests

    Research Topics
    All of my research activities come under the area of Curriculum Studies 
    Classroom-based instructional interventions     
    • The role of key skills in promoting and developing innovative and creative teaching and learning environments.
    • Research on the role of teaching and assessment methods in addressing low achievement in the field of Mathematics, Science and Technology. (FP7 funded research). 
    Teachers' mathematical knowledge and beliefs
    • Building Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching (MKT) in initial teacher education. (3U funded research).
    • Using lesson study to research issues regarding the teaching and learning of science/mathematics across transitions (Senior Primary/Junior Cycle and Senior Cycle/Third-level) in Ireland. (3U funded research)
    Task design, analysis and implementation 
    • Critical Evaluation and Design of Mathematics Tasks with Pre-Service Teachers. (Fellowship funding)
    Design experiment methodology
    • What is the impact of participation in a module on the competences needed for ‘scientific teaching’ on PSTs attitudes to, and confidence in carrying out experiments at second level? 
    Quasi-experimental design methodology 
    • Exploring the impact of a key skills approach to teaching and learning in secondary education (Doctoral research)

    Research Projects

      Project Role Funding Body / Program Description Start Date End Date Award (€)
    FaSMEd Improving progress through formative assessment in science and mathematics Country lead / 01-JAN-14 01-JAN-17
    Building Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching (MKT) for pre-service teachers Member of research team / 3U Funding 01-JUL-14 01-MAY-15
    Digital Portfolios and Collaborative Learning Research partner / National Council for Curriculum and Assessment 01-MAY-16 30-MAY-17
    Building Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching (MKT) for Pre-Service Mathematics Teachers Team member / 3U Funding 15-SEP-14 06-JUN-16
    Critical Evaluation and Design of Assessment Tasks. Researcher / Maynooth University Fellowship 14-SEP-15 29-AUG-16
    Learning to Disagree Erasmus+ Partner / 01-SEP-17 31-AUG-20
    FaSMEd: Improving Progress for Lower Achievers through Formative Assessment in Science and Mathematics Education PI EU Framework Programme 7 / 2263890 01-JAN-14 31-DEC-16 170024

    Post Doctoral Fellows/Research Team

      Researcher Name Project Role Funding Body
    Niamh Burke FaSMEd Research Assistant EU Framework Programme 7

    Book Chapters

      Year Publication
    2016 'Gearing up for skills development – a challenge of Junior Cycle Reform'
    Dempsey, M. (2016) 'Gearing up for skills development – a challenge of Junior Cycle Reform' In: Brian Mooney (eds). Education Matters. Dublin: Education Matters. [Details]
    2012 'Developing a Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge using sensor technology with BSc Science Education students'
    Dempsey M (2012) 'Developing a Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge using sensor technology with BSc Science Education students' In: Teaching and Learning Fellowships project report 2012: NUIM. Maynooth: NUIM. [Details]
    2010 'School-based curriculum development: The Irish context'
    Looney, A., Dempsey, M. and O’Shea, M. (2010) 'School-based curriculum development: The Irish context' In: Schools as Curriculum Agencies: Asian and European Perspectives. [Details]
    2008 'Key Skills in Senior Cycle: An approach to embedding key skills in the curriculum at upper secondary in Ireland'
    Dempsey, M. and O’Shea, M. (2008) 'Key Skills in Senior Cycle: An approach to embedding key skills in the curriculum at upper secondary in Ireland' In: CIDREE yearbook 2008 – A toolkit for the European citizen. [Details]

    Peer Reviewed Journals

      Year Publication
    2019 'An Investigation of Students' Attitudes to Science, Mathematics and the Use of Technology in Lower Secondary Education'
    Dempsey, M., Burke, N., & O'Shea, N. (2019) 'An Investigation of Students' Attitudes to Science, Mathematics and the Use of Technology in Lower Secondary Education'. International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology (IJEMST), 7 (4):319-334 [Details]

    Other Journals

      Year Publication
    2013 'Key Skills in a BSc Science and Maths Education Course'
    Dempsey M (2013) 'Key Skills in a BSc Science and Maths Education Course' Brussels: European Schoolnet Web published http://keyconet.eun.org/case-notes/ireland4, KeyCoNet European policy network focused on identifying and analysing initiatives on the implementation of key competencies in primary and secondary school education. BSc module published as . [Details]

    Conference Publications

      Year Publication
    2019 BEING ABLE TO DO MATHS BUT YET FEELING KIND OF FREE: USING THE FLAGWAY GAME TO LEARN MATHEMATICS
    Dempsey M., O'Shea, A. (2019) BEING ABLE TO DO MATHS BUT YET FEELING KIND OF FREE: USING THE FLAGWAY GAME TO LEARN MATHEMATICS . In: Harbison, l., & Twohill, A eds. Mathematics Education Ireland MEI7 , pp.75-82 [DOI] [Details]
    2017 Critical Evaluation and Design of Mathematics Tasks: Pre-Service Teachers
    Dempsey, M & O'Shea A. (2017) Critical Evaluation and Design of Mathematics Tasks: Pre-Service Teachers CERME10 Tenth Congress of the European Society for Research in Mathematics Education Dublin, , 01-FEB-17 - 05-FEB-17 [IR Link] [Details]
    2016 Role of technology in promoting formative assessment practices in science classes
    Dempsey, M., Aldon, G (2016) Role of technology in promoting formative assessment practices in science classes New Perspectives in Science Education [Details]
    2016 Role of technology in promoting formative assessment practices in science and mathematics classes
    Dempsey, M., O'Shea, A, & Burke, N. (2016) Role of technology in promoting formative assessment practices in science and mathematics classes Science and Mathematics Education Conference (SMEC) [IR Link] [Details]
    2014 Developing Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching (MKT) for pre-service teachers: a study of students’ developing thinking in relation to the teaching of mathematics
    Nolan, B., Dempsey, M.,Lovatt, J., & O’Shea, A. (2014) Developing Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching (MKT) for pre-service teachers: a study of students’ developing thinking in relation to the teaching of mathematics British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics [IR Link] [Details]

    Conference Contributions

      Year Publication
    2019 EuroACS International Conference.
    Dempsey, M. & Malone, A. (2019) EuroACS International Conference. [International Refereed Conference], Assessing Competences for Democratic Culture: Opportunities and Challenges, Maynooth University [Details]
    2019 National Forum Seminar: Religions and Beliefs in Changing Times (RBCT): Responses to Religious Belief Diversity in Educational Settings in the Republic of Ireland.
    Majella Dempsey (2019) National Forum Seminar: Religions and Beliefs in Changing Times (RBCT): Responses to Religious Belief Diversity in Educational Settings in the Republic of Ireland. [Invited Lecture], Learning to Disagree: Addressing Sensitive and Controversial Issues in the Classroom, Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick [Details]
    2019 Straddling the divide between transmission and constructivist beliefs: Changing pedagogical practices in upper secondary education in Ireland.
    Dempsey, M (2019) Straddling the divide between transmission and constructivist beliefs: Changing pedagogical practices in upper secondary education in Ireland. [Oral Presentation], Educational Studies Association of Ireland ESAI, Ireland [Details]
    2018 Invited speaker: Design Based Research Methods in Science Education.
    Majella Dempsey (2018) Invited speaker: Design Based Research Methods in Science Education. [Invited Lecture], MORSE - Methods of Research in Science Education, TU Dublin , 02-NOV-18 - 02-NOV-18 [Details]
    2019 EERA International Doctoral Summer School.
    Dempsey, M. & Malone, A. (2019) EERA International Doctoral Summer School. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Using (critical) Discourse Analysis to research curriculum and policy, Maynooth University [Details]
    2019 European Educational Research Conference ECER.
    Dempsey, M. & O'Neill, N. (2019) European Educational Research Conference ECER. [International Refereed Conference], Hands-On, Minds-On: The Role of Factual and Procedural Knowledge in Teaching Practical Work in Upper Secondary Education in Ireland, Germany , 03-SEP-19 - 07-SEP-19 [Details]
    2019 Conference chair and host.
    Majella Dempsey (2019) Conference chair and host. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], 4th European Conference on Curriculum Studies EuroACS, Maynooth University , 07-JUN-19 - 08-JUN-19 [Details]
    2018 SMEC 2018 Science and Mathematics Education.
    Dr Majella Dempsey and Dr Ann O'Shea (2018) SMEC 2018 Science and Mathematics Education. [Oral Presentation], The Evaluation and Design of Tasks by Science and Mathematics Pre-Service Teachers, DCU [Details]
    2018 Learning to Disagree Scientific meeting.
    M. Dempsey and A. Malone (2018) Learning to Disagree Scientific meeting. [Oral Presentation], Assessing Competences for Democratic Culture, Maynooth University , 17-JAN-19 - 20-JAN-19 [Details]
    2018 Presentation to Curriculum Council in Prague.
    M. Dempsey (2018) Presentation to Curriculum Council in Prague. [Invited Oral Presentation], Curriculum development in Ireland, Charles University, Prague , 15-OCT-18 - 19-OCT-18 [Details]
    2018 Curriculum Autonomy Policies in Europe: Trends, Tensions and Transformations.
    M. Dempsey (2018) Curriculum Autonomy Policies in Europe: Trends, Tensions and Transformations. [Invited Oral Presentation], Curriculum policy in Ireland: the past, the future and the present, Fundacao Calouste Gulbenkian , 24-JAN-19 - 23-FEB-19 [Details]
    2018 European Conference Educational Research.
    Majella Dempsey and Audrey Doyle (2018) European Conference Educational Research. [Oral Presentation], The Liminal State: Curriculum Reform in Lower Secondary Education in Ireland, Bolzano, Italy [Details]
    2017 CERME10.
    Dempsey, M & O'Shea, A. (2017) CERME10. [Oral Presentation], Critical Evaluation and Design of Mathematics Tasks: Pre-Service Teachers, Dublin , 01-FEB-17 - 05-FEB-17 [IR Link] [Details]
    2017 EUROPEAN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION.
    Dempsey, M (2017) EUROPEAN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION. [Oral Presentation], Pedagogy and learning: The co-construction of the culture for learning by students and teachers, Copenhagen [Details]
    2017 Teaching and Teacher Education in STEM Education Seminar.
    Majella Dempsey (2017) Teaching and Teacher Education in STEM Education Seminar. [Oral Presentation], FaSMEd - Country report, EPI-STEM, the National Centre for STEM Education Research , 26-MAY-17 - 26-MAY-17 [Details]
    2016 Invited participant to conference of EU policy networks.
    Majella Dempsey (2016) Invited participant to conference of EU policy networks. [Other], Sustainable Networks for Inclusive Education, Brussels , 11-APR-16 - 13-APR-16 [Details]
    2015 Sharing innovative practices from across all areas of education.
    Majella Dempsey (2015) Sharing innovative practices from across all areas of education. [Oral Presentation], Assessment of Key Competences, Croke Park Conference Centre , 13-NOV-15 [Details]
    2014 Vintage is a EU funded project through the Grundtvig action of Lifelong Learning Programme.
    Majella Dempsey (2014) Vintage is a EU funded project through the Grundtvig action of Lifelong Learning Programme. [Oral Presentation], Self-Evaluation of key Competence in Adult Age, Ireland [Details]
    2014 KeyCoNet Final Conference.
    Majella Dempsey (2014) KeyCoNet Final Conference. [Oral Presentation], Improving the Integration of key Competences in School Education, European Schoolnet: Brussels [Details]
    2014 Improving Progress through Formative Assessment in Science and Mathematics Education.
    Majella Dempsey, Niamh Burke, Ann O'Shea (2014) Improving Progress through Formative Assessment in Science and Mathematics Education. [Oral Presentation], ESRI Educational Research and Practice in Time of Transition: Looking to the Future, Ireland , 09-APR-15 - 11-APR-15 [Details]
    2012 RIAI/DES COLLOQUIUM ON POST PRIMARY SCHOOLS DESIGN MAKES A DIFFERENCE -Long Term Value in the Design.
    Dempsey M (2012) RIAI/DES COLLOQUIUM ON POST PRIMARY SCHOOLS DESIGN MAKES A DIFFERENCE -Long Term Value in the Design. [Oral Presentation], Keynote address: Post Primary School Curriculum; Teaching and Learning Methods of the Future, Dublin [Details]
    2012 SCoTENS the Standing Conference on Teacher Education North and South: Tenth Annual Conference.
    Majella Dempsey (2012) SCoTENS the Standing Conference on Teacher Education North and South: Tenth Annual Conference. [Oral Presentation], Workshop – Critical reflection in science teaching and learning: a creative approach to the introduc, Cavan [Details]
    2008 UBUNTU Network.
    (2008) UBUNTU Network. [Oral Presentation], Key Skills and their relevance in sustainable development education, [Details]
    2008 ASTI Education Conference.
    (2008) ASTI Education Conference. [Oral Presentation], Key Skills, [Details]
    2008 Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Conference.
    Dempsey M (2008) Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Conference. [Oral Presentation], Making their voices heard: students perception of senior cycle teaching and learning, Ireland [Details]
    2008 IVEA Conference.
    (2008) IVEA Conference. [Oral Presentation], Flexible Learning Profiles, [Details]
    2008 Quest 2008 – Focused Leadership that Deepens Learning.
    Dempsey M (2008) Quest 2008 – Focused Leadership that Deepens Learning. [Oral Presentation], Unlocking learning through key skills, Canada [Details]
    2007 European Educational Research Association (EERA) Conference.
    Dempsey M (2007) European Educational Research Association (EERA) Conference. [Oral Presentation], To embed or bury-the challenge of making an impact on teaching and learning through key skills, ECER [Details]
    2007 IVEA Conference.
    (2007) IVEA Conference. [Oral Presentation], The Senior Cycle Developments, [Details]
    2002 European Educational Research Association (EERA) Conference.
    Dempsey M (2002) European Educational Research Association (EERA) Conference. [Oral Presentation], The Student Voice in Transition Year, Ireland [Details]

    Newspaper Articles

      Year Publication
    2015 'Teachers against learning' sounds very like a new form of professional self-harm.
    Dempsey, M., & Jeffers, J. (2015) 'Teachers against learning' sounds very like a new form of professional self-harm. Newspaper Articles [Details]
    2014 Students need to know physics and chemistry are important.
    Dempsey, M. (2014) Students need to know physics and chemistry are important. Newspaper Articles [Details]
    2014 Teachers should grasp this unique opportunity to engage with young learners.
    Dempsey, M., & Jeffers, J. (2014) Teachers should grasp this unique opportunity to engage with young learners. Newspaper Articles [Details]

    Conference Hosted

      Year Publication
    2019 4th EuroACS Conference on Curriculum Studies - Curriculum: Origins, Trajectories and Practices.
    Majella Dempsey Conference Chair (2019) 4th EuroACS Conference on Curriculum Studies - Curriculum: Origins, Trajectories and Practices. Conference Hosted [Details]
    2019 EERA/EuroACS Curriculum Studies Summer School.
    Majella Dempsey Summer School Chair (2019) EERA/EuroACS Curriculum Studies Summer School. Maynooth University: Conference Hosted [Details]
    2016 FaSMEd Final Conference.
    Majella Dempsey (2016) FaSMEd Final Conference. Conference Hosted [Details]
    2011 Project Maths: Engagement with initial teacher educators.
    Majella Dempsey (2011) Project Maths: Engagement with initial teacher educators. Conference Hosted [Details]

    Honours and Awards

      Year Title Awarding Body
    2011 Teaching and Learning Fellowship
    2015 Teaching and Learning Fellowship Maynooth University

    Professional Associations

      Association Function From / To
    European Educational Research Association (EERA) Convenor Network 3 01-MAY-07 /
    Stirling Curriculum Studies Network Member 01-NOV-18 /
    Education Studies Association of Ireland ESAI Member 01-JUL-19 / 01-DEC-20
    American Association for the Advancement of Curriculum Studies AAACS Member 01-AUG-19 / 01-AUG-20
    UNESCO IBE's Global Curriculum Network To link curriculum policy makers and academics around the world. 01-MAY-19 /
    Public Pedagogy and Sustainability Challenges International educational theorists and sustainability education researchers network. 09-JAN-18 /
    European Association of Curriculum Studies Committee member 27-JUN-17 /
    Irish Association of Science Education Lecturers (IASEL) Maynooth University member 02-MAY-16 / 30-OCT-17
    Discover Science and Engineering Member of the consultative panel for school related initiatives 01-SEP-10 / 29-JUN-14
    UN Regional Centre for Expertise in Education for Sustainable Development Member 01-JAN-08 / 18-DEC-09
    Amgen Foundation Science Education Initiative Member of high-level expert group 19-JUL-12 /
    Kildare Education Centre Management Committee 01-AUG-08 / 07-FEB-16
    KeyCoNet European Policy Network Associate Member 19-JUL-14 / 31-DEC-15
    Mountmellick Development Association Board of Management 05-OCT-08 / 12-OCT-14

    Committees

      Committee Function From / To
    Irish Science Teacher's Association Conference Committee Member 2016 / 2017
    HRS4R Implementation Group Member 2019 /
    Research Ethics Deputy Chair 2016 / 2019

    Employment

      Employer Position From / To
    Department of Education and Skills Regional Development Officer Junior Science Support Service (JSSS) 01-AUG-03 / 01-AUG-06
    National Council for Curriculum and Assessment Senior Cycle Education Officer 01-JUN-06 / 31-DEC-09
    Department of Education and Science Science and mathematics teacher 01-AUG-92 / 01-AUG-03

    Education

      Year Institution Qualification Subject
    2016 Trinity College Dublin Doctor of Philosophy Education
    2001 Maynooth University Master's Degree Education
    1986 Maynooth University Bachelor of Science Biology, chemistry and mathematics
    1996 Maynooth University Higher Diploma in Education Education

    Consultancy

      Client Description
    AmgenTeach programme
    High Level Expert for Ireland
    National University of Ireland
    Carry out programme review and offer advice.
    Teaching Council
    External Advisor

    Reviews

      Journal Role
    Journal Of Curriculum Studies Reviewer
    Curriculum Journal Reviewer
    Empirical Research In Vocational Education And Training Reviewer
    Irish Education Studies Journal Reviewer

    Outreach Activities

      Description

    Chair of the Biology Development Group working with a team to develop STEM education in Ireland. Link

    Board Member


    External Collaborators

      Name Role / Description Country
    EUROCLIO Lead on Erasmus+ project NETHERLANDS
    Newcastle University Partner in FaSMEd project ENGLAND
    Dublin City University Research partner IRELAND
    European Scoolnet Lead for the Co-Lab project BELGIUM
    University of Nottingham Partner in FaSMEd project ENGLAND
    École Normale Supérieure de Lyon Partner in FaSMEd project FRANCE
    Soer-Troendelag University College, Trondheim Partner in FaSMEd project NORWAY
    Università degli Studi di Torino Partner in FaSMEd project ITALY
    University of Duisburg-Essen Partner in FaSMEd project GERMANY
    African Institute for Mathematical Sciences Schools Enrichment Centre Partner in FaSMEd project SOUTH AFRICA
    University of Duisburg-Essen Partner in FaSMEd project GERMANY