Dr. Orla McCormack
Biography
Dr Orla McCormack is a Senior Lecturer in Education in the School of Education and is the Programme Director for the Professional Master of Education. Her main teaching interests relate to Curriculum Policy and Reform, which she teaches at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. Her research interests focus on curriculum issues, pre-service education, particularly reflective practice. She has coordinated a number of internationally and nationally funded research projects, including Tempus and Erasmus+ projects. She is currently PI on a Horizon 2020 project looking at Education Outside the Classroom and co-director on the External Evaluation of the Junior Cycle Framework. She jointly led a project funded by the ETB sector, exploring, for the first time, the characteristic spirit and core values of ETB schoolsResearch Interests
Curriculum reform, initial teacher education with a particular focus on reflective practice and values in publicly managed schools.Professional Activities
Education
- 2003 University of Limerick - Bachelor of Education
Peer Reviewed Journals
Underneath the veneer of techno-positivity exploring teachers' perspectives on technology use in Further Education and Training, Teachers and Teaching
Ryan, , B. McGarr, O. & O. McCormack (2021) Underneath the veneer of techno-positivity exploring teachers' perspectives on technology use in Further Education and Training, Teachers and Teaching. Teachers And Teaching
The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) from the perspective of Irish teacher educators.
Gleeson, J., Lynch, R. & O.McCormack (2021) The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) from the perspective of Irish teacher educators.. European Educational Research Journal
The “tipping point” for educational research: The role of pre-service science teachers’ epistemic beliefs in evaluating the professional utility of educational research
Guilfoyle L.;McCormack O.;Erduran S. (2020) The “tipping point” for educational research: The role of pre-service science teachers’ epistemic beliefs in evaluating the professional utility of educational research. Teaching And Teacher Education
Students' views on their participation in publicly managed second level schools in Ireland: The importance of student-teacher relationships.
McCormack, O., O'Flaherty, J., & Liddy, M. (2020) Students' views on their participation in publicly managed second level schools in Ireland: The importance of student-teacher relationships.. Educational Studies
Perception of Education and Training Board Schools (ETB) in the Republic of Ireland: an issue of ideology and inclusion
McCormack, O., O'Flaherty, J. & M. Liddy (2020) Perception of Education and Training Board Schools (ETB) in the Republic of Ireland: an issue of ideology and inclusion. Irish Educational Studies
Student holistic development and the `goodwill¿ of the teacher
O'Flaherty J.; McCormack O. (2019) Student holistic development and the `goodwill¿ of the teacher. Educational Research
'That's how it works here': The place of religion in publicly managed second-level schools in Ireland
McCormack, O;O'Flaherty, J;O'Reilly, B;Liston, J (2019) 'That's how it works here': The place of religion in publicly managed second-level schools in Ireland. HOBOKEN : WILEY British Educational Research Journal :161-180
STUDENTS’ VIEWS ON THEIR PARTICIPATION IN PUBLICLY MANAGED SECOND LEVEL SCHOOLS IN IRELAND: The importance of student-teacher relationships
McCormack O.;O’Flaherty J.;Liddy M. (2019) STUDENTS’ VIEWS ON THEIR PARTICIPATION IN PUBLICLY MANAGED SECOND LEVEL SCHOOLS IN IRELAND: The importance of student-teacher relationships. Educational Studies
An analysis of national newspaper coverage relating to the Leaving Certificate programme in two newspapers in the Republic of Ireland
McCormack O.;Gleeson J.;O’Donoghue T. (2019) An analysis of national newspaper coverage relating to the Leaving Certificate programme in two newspapers in the Republic of Ireland. Irish Educational Studies
Peer-supported collaborative inquiry in teacher education: exploring the influence of peer discussions on pre-service teachers' levels of critical reflection
McGarr O.;McCormack O.;Comerford J. (2019) Peer-supported collaborative inquiry in teacher education: exploring the influence of peer discussions on pre-service teachers' levels of critical reflection. Irish Educational Studies :245-261
Looking at the Social Aspects of Nature of Science in Science Education Through a New Lens
Kaya, S;Erduran, S;Birdthistle, N;McCormack, O (2018) Looking at the Social Aspects of Nature of Science in Science Education Through a New Lens. DORDRECHT Science & Education :457-478
`The million-dollar question - exploring teachers and ETB staff understanding of characteristic spirit in publicly managed schools in Ireland
Liddy M.;O'Flaherty J.;McCormack O. (2018) `The million-dollar question - exploring teachers and ETB staff understanding of characteristic spirit in publicly managed schools in Ireland. Irish Educational Studies
The teachers put effort into teaching us about life, and what's right and what's wrong': Values and moral education in publicly managed schools in Ireland
O'Flaherty, J. Liddy, M., McCormack, O. (2017) The teachers put effort into teaching us about life, and what's right and what's wrong': Values and moral education in publicly managed schools in Ireland. Journal Of Beliefs & Values-Studies In Religion & Education
Developing the characterstic spirit of publicly managed schools in a more secular and pluralist Ireland
O'Flaherty, J., McCormack, O., Gleeson, J., O'Reilly, B., O'Grady, E., Kenny, N. (2017) Developing the characterstic spirit of publicly managed schools in a more secular and pluralist Ireland . Cambridge Journal Of Education
National newspaper-reporting on state examinations: An historical exposition of the exceptional case of the Irish Leaving Certificate
O'Donoghue, T,Gleeson, J,McCormack, O (2017) National newspaper-reporting on state examinations: An historical exposition of the exceptional case of the Irish Leaving Certificate. Encounters In Theory And History Of Education :134-148
Exploring the position of curriculum studies across the continuum of teacher education in Ireland
Lynch, R,McCormack, O,Hennessy, J (2017) Exploring the position of curriculum studies across the continuum of teacher education in Ireland. Irish Educational Studies :439-456
Counterfactual mutation of critical classroom incidents: implications for reflective practice in initial teacher education
McGarr, O,McCormack, O (2016) Counterfactual mutation of critical classroom incidents: implications for reflective practice in initial teacher education. European Journal Of Teacher Education :36-52
Plastic people in pinstripe suits: an exploration of the views of Irish parents on the publication of school league tables
McCormack, O,Lynch, R,Hennessy, J (2015) Plastic people in pinstripe suits: an exploration of the views of Irish parents on the publication of school league tables. Educational Studies :513-533
Introducing education for sustainable development into Egyptian schools
Sewilam, H,McCormack, O,Mader, M,Raouf, MA (2015) Introducing education for sustainable development into Egyptian schools. Environment Development And Sustainability :221-238
Reflecting to Conform? Exploring Irish Student Teachers' Discourses in Reflective Practice
McGarr, O,McCormack, O (2014) Reflecting to Conform? Exploring Irish Student Teachers' Discourses in Reflective Practice. Journal Of Educational Research :267-280
Curriculum, culture, ideology and ownership: the case of the Exploring Masculinities programme
McCormack, O,Gleeson, J (2012) Curriculum, culture, ideology and ownership: the case of the Exploring Masculinities programme. Irish Educational Studies :397-414
An examination of pre-service teacher education student's attitudes and experiences of including development education issues in post-primary schools
McCormack, O; O'Flaherty, J (2010) An examination of pre-service teacher education student's attitudes and experiences of including development education issues in post-primary schools. Teaching And Teacher Education :1132-1139
Attitudes of parents of young men towards the inclusion of sexual orientation and homophobia on the Irish post-primary curriculum
McCormack, O; Gleeson, J (2010) Attitudes of parents of young men towards the inclusion of sexual orientation and homophobia on the Irish post-primary curriculum. Gender And Education :385-400
Books
Stop Talking and Do Something!The Young Social Innovators Programme: An Independent Evaluation
Gleeson, J; Ó Donnabháin, D; McCormack, O; O'Flaherty, J (2008) Stop Talking and Do Something!The Young Social Innovators Programme: An Independent Evaluation. Dublin : Liffey Press
Book Chapters
An examination of pre-service teacher education students attitudes and experiences of examining development education issues into post-primary education
McCormack, O; O'Flaherty, J (2009) An examination of pre-service teacher education students attitudes and experiences of examining development education issues into post-primary education. http://www.ubuntu.ie/ubuntu_e-book2009.html : Ubuntu network Ubuntu Network action research and other projects to integrate development education into Initial teacher education :47-54
Edited Books
Other Journals
'Moving away from the caring': exploring the views of in-service and pre-service male teachers about the concept of the male teacher as role model at an early entry childhood and post-primary level
McCormack, O. and S. Brownhill (2014) 'Moving away from the caring': exploring the views of in-service and pre-service male teachers about the concept of the male teacher as role model at an early entry childhood and post-primary level. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Orla_Mccormack2/publication/281776884_'Moving_away_from_the_car International Journal of Academic Research in Education and review :82-96
Conference Publications
ILTA Annual Conference: TEL Quality Matters - People, Policies and Practices
Ryan, B., McCormack, O. & McGarr, O. (2018) ILTA Annual Conference: TEL Quality Matters - People, Policies and Practices .
Sandra K. Abell Institute for Doctoral Students
Guilfoyle, L., McCormack, O., Erduran, S. (2017) Sandra K. Abell Institute for Doctoral Students.
European Science Education Research Association
Guilfoyle, L., McCormack, O., Erduran, S. (2017) European Science Education Research Association.
Education Studies Association of Ireland National Conference
Guilfoyle, L., McCormack, O., & Erduran, S. (2017) Education Studies Association of Ireland National Conference.
First European Regional Conference of the International History, Philosophy and Science Teaching Group,
Guilfoyle, L., Erduran, S., & McCormack, O. (2016) First European Regional Conference of the International History, Philosophy and Science Teaching Group,.
ESAI Annual Meeting Education as a Public Good'
McGarr, O., McCormack, O. & Comerford, J. (2016) ESAI Annual Meeting Education as a Public Good'.
Educational Studies Association of Ireland Conference, Galway, Ireland.
Guilfoyle, L., Erduran, S., & McCormack, O. (2016) Educational Studies Association of Ireland Conference, Galway, Ireland..
European Conference of Educational Research, Dublin, Ireland.
Guilfoyle, L., Erduran, S., & McCormack, O. (2016) European Conference of Educational Research, Dublin, Ireland..
LUMAT
McManus, B., O'Dwyer, A., Childs, P., Broggy, J. McCormack, O. (2015) LUMAT. :512-528
Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI)
McCormack, O; Lynch, R; Hennessy, J (2015) Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI).
New Perspectives in Science Education
McManus B., O'Dwyer, A., Childs, P., Broggy, J., McCormack, O., Dunne, P., Harley-Warnock, M., Kingston, S., Ryan, P. (2014) New Perspectives in Science Education.
Annual Conference of American Eduational Research Association
Gleeson J & McCormack, O (2010) Annual Conference of American Eduational Research Association.
Conference Contributions
Education Studies Association of Ireland National Conference
Guilfoyle, L; Erduran, S; McCormack, O. (2016) Education Studies Association of Ireland National Conference.
Development Futures Conference
O'Flaherty, J., & McCormack O., (2007) (2007) Development Futures Conference.
American Education Research Association
Gleeson, J. & McCormack, O () American Education Research Association.
Published Reports
Exploring and Expressing the Characteristic Spirit of Publicly Managed Education and Training Board Schools
Liddy, M., Liston, J., O'Flaherty, J. and McCormack, O. (2016) Exploring and Expressing the Characteristic Spirit of Publicly Managed Education and Training Board Schools. Naas : ETBI
Religion, Diversity and Publically Managed Schools in Ireland: Democracy, Empowerment and Student/Teacher Responsibility'
O'Flaherty, J. McCormack, O. (2013) Religion, Diversity and Publically Managed Schools in Ireland: Democracy, Empowerment and Student/Teacher Responsibility' . Naas : ETBI
'Religion, Diversity and Publicly-managed Schools in Ireland
O'Flaherty, J., McCormack, O. (2012) 'Religion, Diversity and Publicly-managed Schools in Ireland. Naas : ETBI
Editorials
Book Reviews
Other Publications
Report on research funded by the Gender Equality Unit
McCormack, O; Gleeson, J (2010) Report on research funded by the Gender Equality Unit. Gender Equality Unit, DES
Developmental Education Resource Pack
Hogan, D; Liddy, M; O'Flaherty, J; McCormack, O (2007) Developmental Education Resource Pack. University of Liemrick : Ubuntu Network