Orla Mc Cormack


Contact Details

Lecturer
Main Building
T: (061) 202760
E: orla.mccormack@ul.ie
 
researcher

Biography

Dr Orla McCormack is a 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 schools

Research Interests

Curriculum reform, initial teacher education with a particular focus on reflective practice and values in publicly managed schools. 

Books

  Year Publication
2008 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. [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
2009 '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' In: Ubuntu Network action research and other projects to integrate development education into Initial teacher education. http://www.ubuntu.ie/ubuntu_e-book2009.html: Ubuntu network. [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
2021 '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, [DOI] [Details]
2021 '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, [DOI] [Details]
2020 '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, 90 [DOI] [Details]
2020 '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, [DOI] [Details]
2020 '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, [Details]
2019 '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, [DOI] [Details]
2019 '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, [DOI] [ULIR Link] [Details]
2019 '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, 38 (2):245-261 [DOI] [ULIR Link] [Details]
2019 ''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'. British Educational Research Journal, 45 :161-180 [DOI] [Details]
2019 '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, [DOI] [Details]
2018 '`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, [DOI] [Details]
2018 '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'. Science & Education, 27 (5-6):457-478 [DOI] [Details]
2017 '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, [DOI] [Details]
2017 '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, 36 :439-456 [DOI] [ULIR Link] [Details]
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'
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, [Details]
2017 '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, 18 :134-148 [DOI] [ULIR Link] [Details]
2016 '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, 39 :36-52 [DOI] [ULIR Link] [Details]
2015 '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, 17 :221-238 [DOI] [Details]
2015 '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, 41 :513-533 [DOI] [Details]
2014 '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, 107 :267-280 [DOI] [ULIR Link] [Details]
2012 '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, 31 :397-414 [DOI] [Details]
2010 '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, 26 :1132-1139 [Details]
2010 '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, 22 (4):385-400 [DOI] [Details]

Other Journals

  Year Publication
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'
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' International Journal of Academic Research in Education and review, 2 (4) :82-96. [ULIR Link] [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
2018 ILTA Annual Conference: TEL Quality Matters - People, Policies and Practices
Ryan, B., McCormack, O. & McGarr, O. (2018) TEL Leadership: Recognising the central role of the teacher in implementing change ILTA Annual Conference: TEL Quality Matters - People, Policies and Practices [Details]
2017 Education Studies Association of Ireland National Conference
Guilfoyle, L., McCormack, O., & Erduran, S. (2017) Science Teachers’ Views of Education Studies vs the Natural Sciences Education Studies Association of Ireland National Conference Cork, Ireland, , 20-APR-17 - 22-APR-17 [Details]
2017 European Science Education Research Association
Guilfoyle, L., McCormack, O., Erduran, S. (2017) “Wishy-Washy Nonsense”: Student Science Teachers Epistemic Comparisons of Educational Studies and Physical Sciences European Science Education Research Association Dublin, Ireland, , 21-AUG-17 - 25-AUG-17 [Details]
2017 Sandra K. Abell Institute for Doctoral Students
Guilfoyle, L., McCormack, O., Erduran, S. (2017) A Longitudinal Study of Science Teachers’ Personal Epistemologies and Perceptions of Education Studies Sandra K. Abell Institute for Doctoral Students Taipei, Taiwan, , 24-JUN-17 - 28-JUN-17 [Details]
2016 ESAI Annual Meeting ‘Education as a Public Good’
McGarr, O., McCormack, O. & Comerford, J. (2016) ‘Double-loop reflections’: challenging student teachers assumptions on critical incidents ESAI Annual Meeting ‘Education as a Public Good’ [Details]
2015 LUMAT
McManus, B., O'Dwyer, A., Childs, P., Broggy, J. McCormack, O. (2015) Teaching enquiry with mysteries incorporated: The benefits of involving pre-service teachers LUMAT https://lumat.fi/index.php/lumat-old/article/view/78, , pp.512-528 [Details]
2010 Annual Conference of American Eduational Research Association
Gleeson J & McCormack, O (2010) Press, parents and populist politics: `Exploring Masculinities¿ in the Irish post-primary curriculum Annual Conference of American Eduational Research Association , 30-APR-10 - 03-MAY-10 [Details]
2014 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) Involving Irish Pre-Service Science Teachers in the TEMI Project: Teaching Enquiry with Mysteries Incorporated New Perspectives in Science Education [Details]
2015 Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI)
McCormack, O; Lynch, R; Hennessy, J (2015) Exploring the views of Irish parents on the publication of school league tables Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) [Details]
2016 Educational Studies Association of Ireland Conference, Galway, Ireland
Guilfoyle, L., Erduran, S., & McCormack, O. (2016) Science vs Education Studies: Exploring science teachers’ beliefs about knowledge and knowing in two domains Educational Studies Association of Ireland Conference, Galway, Ireland [Details]
2016 First European Regional Conference of the International History, Philosophy and Science Teaching Group
Guilfoyle, L., Erduran, S., & McCormack, O. (2016) Exploring the influence of pre-service science teachers’ personal epistemologies on their perceptions of education studies First European Regional Conference of the International History, Philosophy and Science Teaching Group Flensburg, Germany, , 22-AUG-16 - 26-AUG-16 [Details]
2016 European Conference of Educational Research, Dublin, Ireland
Guilfoyle, L., Erduran, S., & McCormack, O. (2016) Exploring the influence of pre-service science teachers’ personal epistemologies on their perceptions of education studies European Conference of Educational Research, Dublin, Ireland [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
2016 Education Studies Association of Ireland National Conference,
Guilfoyle, L; Erduran, S; McCormack, O. (2016) Science vs Education Studies: Exploring science teachers’ beliefs about knowledge and knowing in two domains. [Oral Presentation], Education Studies Association of Ireland National Conference, Galway , 31-MAR-16 - 02-APR-16 [Details]
2007 Development Futures Conference,
O'Flaherty, J., & McCormack O., (2007) (2007) Group work won't stop them killing each other: A study of pre service teacher education students' experiences of and attitudes towards integration of development education into their teaching while on a 12-week teaching practice placement and the potential in their future careers. [Invited Oral Presentation], Development Futures Conference, Galway, Ireland [Details]

[Details]
American Education Research Association,
Gleeson, J. & McCormack, O American Education Research Association, [Details]

Published Reports

  Year Publication
2016 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. ETBI, Naas. [Details]
2012 'Religion, Diversity and Publicly-managed Schools in Ireland.
O'Flaherty, J., McCormack, O. (2012) 'Religion, Diversity and Publicly-managed Schools in Ireland. ETBI, Naas. [Details]
2013 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’. ETBI, Naas. [Details]

Non Published Reports

  Year Publication
2007 Developmental Education Resource Pack.
Hogan, D; Liddy, M; O'Flaherty, J; McCormack, O (2007) Developmental Education Resource Pack. University of Liemrick: Non Published Reports [Details]
2010 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: Non Published Reports [Details]

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2003 University of Limerick Bachelor of Education

Teaching Interests

Curriculum, philosophical values underpinning curriculum selection, curriculum and cultural change, pre-service teachers views regarding teachers role in curriculum/curriculum change

Modules Taught

  Term (ID)) Title Link Subject
All Curriculum Policy and Reform EN4015/EN6054Curriculum, curriculum change, school culture, teachers as change agents