Papers by Fionnuala Waldron
Irish Educational Studies, 2003
Irish Educational Studies, 2006
Ideas relating to identity and belonging are central to the public discourse around citizenship t... more Ideas relating to identity and belonging are central to the public discourse around citizenship that has emerged in Ireland and internationally in recent years. One thread of that discourse relates to the role of national identity in societies that are increasingly diverse and multicultural. In view of the growing importance of citizenship education, understanding children's ideas about national identity is vital if educators are to engage children in the construction of an hospitable, critical and reflective citizenry. This research was undertaken in two phases during 2003 and 2004. Participating in the study were 119 children, drawn from a range of social contexts. Premised on a social constructivist view of children and childhood, the research drew on participative and democratic methodologies. While the study suggests the existence of an essentialist conception of Irish identity, it also demonstrates the capacity and willingness of children to engage in critical reflection on their constructions of Irishness.
Irish Educational Studies, 2007
Research into student teachers' perceptions, attitudes and prior experiences of learning suggests... more Research into student teachers' perceptions, attitudes and prior experiences of learning suggests that these experiences can exert an influence on practice which can be relatively undisturbed by their initial teacher education. This article is based on the initial findings of an all-Ireland survey of all first-year students on B.Ed. courses in colleges in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland. The survey is the first stage in a longitudinal study which will follow the same cohort of students for the duration of their initial teacher education, seeking to map and track the development of their ideas about teaching and learning in primary history, geography and science. Based on an analysis of the quantitative data in the entry questionnaire, the initial findings suggest that subject knowledge remains a problematic issue in initial teacher education and that both location and gender interact with knowledge, attitudes and subject area to produce a complex and challenging context for teacher educators in history, geography and science education.
Re p o r t b y t h e C e n t r e f o r H u m a n Re p o r t b y t h e C e n t r e f o r H u m a n... more Re p o r t b y t h e C e n t r e f o r H u m a n Re p o r t b y t h e C e n t r e f o r H u m a n R i g h t s a n d
Uploads
Papers by Fionnuala Waldron