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Dr John O'Shea

Dr John O'Shea

B Ed; M Ed (UL); Dip Leadership and Management in Education (TCD) & PhD (UL)
Associate Professor of Education (B.Ed. Programme Leader)

Research interests

Mathematical problem solving; mathematics teacher education, and teaching methodologies that support student understanding from a constructivist perspective.

Publications

Higgins, E., Slattery, S., Perry, J.L. & O'Shea, J. (2019) An evaluation of a group CBT programme for children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in a school age disability service, Educational Psychology in Practice, 35:1, 50-66, DOI: 10.1080/02667363.2018.1527293 

Mooney Simmie, G., de Paor, C. Liston, J. & O’Shea, J. (2017) Discursive positioning of beginning teachers’ professional learning during induction: a critical literature review from 2004 to 2014, Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 45:5, 505-519, DOI: 10.1080/1359866X.2017.1280598 

Mooney Simmie, G., de Paor, C., Liston, J. & O'Shea, J. (2015) An Evaluation of the National Induction Programme for Teachers (NIPT) mandatory workshop program for NQTs Report. Dublin: DES.

O’Shea, J. & Malone, M. (2014) Mathematics in a Virtual Environment. In K. Burden (ed) Learning to Teaching Using ICT in the Primary School. London: Routledge.

O’Shea, J. (2013) Teaching mathematical problem-solving from an emergent constructivist perspective: the experiences of Irish primary teachers. Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education, 16(4).

O’Shea, J. & Leavy, A.M. (2011) Problem Posing: An Initial Study. Proceedings of Fourth  National Conference on Research in Mathematics Education in Ireland: A Research Perspective. St. Patrick’s College, Dublin, September 22-23.

O’Shea, J. (2010) Fostering Positive Attitudes towards Mathematical Problem Solving in the Primary School utilising Constructivist Methods: Lessons from Practice. Proceedings of Science and Mathematics Education Conference. Dublin City University. DCU, September 16-17.

O’Shea, J. (2009) Teaching mathematical problem solving from a constructivist perspective. Proceedings of Third National Conference on Research in Mathematics Education in Ireland: A Research Perspective. St. Patrick’s College, Dublin, September 24-26.

O’Shea, J. (2006)  When are we going to do real sums? InTouch, March 2006.

O’Shea, J. (2005)  Mathematical Problem Solving in the Senior Primary School – An Examination of the Beliefs and Experiences of Class Teachers.  Proceedings of First National Conference on Research in Mathematics Education in Ireland: A Research Perspective. St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, September 16th/17th.

O’Shea, J. (2003)  A Clinical Investigation into 4th Class Pupils Problem Solving Approaches. Irish Educational Studies, 22(2), 47-61.

Selected Conference Presentations

(Invited Speaker) NCCA Consultative Conference on Early Years Mathematics (October 10, 2014) – Dublin Castle, Dublin.

(Invited Speaker) INTO Education Consultative Conference (November 15-16, 2013) – Portlaoise, Co. Laois.

American Educational Research Association (2013) – Using Constructivist Methods in the Primary Classroom, April 26th – San Francisco, California, USA.

(Invited Speaker) Trends in Mathematics Education Reform Conference (2012) - Approaching mathematical problem solving in the Irish primary classroom: Using a constructivist framework to scaffold teachers’ explorations, November 26th – University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.

European Conference on Educational Research (September, 2012) – Recommendations for facilitating mathematics from a constructivist perspective, September 16th – Cadiz, Spain.

Fourth Conference of Mathematics Education in Ireland (2011) – Problem Posing: An Initial Study, September 22nd/23rd – St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, Dublin, Ireland.

American Educational Research Association (2011) – Mathematical Problem Solving from a Constructivist Perspective, April 11th – New Orleans, Louisiana,USA.

Science and Mathematics Education Conference (2010) - Fostering Positive Attitudes towards Mathematical Problem Solving in the Primary School utilising Constructivist Methods: Lessons from Practice, September 16th – Dublin City University, Dublin.

Colleges of Education Research Consortium (2010) – Implications of the constructivist theory of learning for classroom practice, September 6th – Church of Ireland College of Education, Rathmines, Dublin.

European Conference on Educational Research (August, 2010) – Recommendations for facilitating mathematics from a constructivist perspective, August 25th/27th – Helsinki, Finland

Educational Studies Association of Ireland (2010) – Teaching mathematical problem solving to senior school pupils, March 25th/27th – Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dundalk, Co. Louth, Ireland.

Third Conference of Mathematics Education in Ireland (2009) – Endeavouring to explore mathematical problem solving from a constructivist perspective, September 26th/27th – St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, Dublin, Ireland.

European Conference on Educational Research (September, 2009) – Exploring mathematical problem solving from a constructivist perspective in the senior primary classroom, September 24th/25th – Vienna, Austria.

Educational Studies Association of Ireland (2009) - An exploration of constructivist teaching methods with primary school mathematics teachers, April 2nd/4th – Kilkenny, Ireland.

First Conference of Mathematics Education in Ireland (2005) – Mathematical problem solving in the senior primary school, September 16th/17th - St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, Dublin, Ireland.

 

Supervision of Graduate Work

Ryan, S. (2016) Post Primary Math Teachers’ Perspectives of Problem Solving in Project Maths. Unpublished Master's Dissertation, Mary Immaculate College.

Stapleton, P. (2014) An Investigation into the Effects of Collaborative Learning on Children’s Experience with Problem Solving in 4th Class Primary School Mathematics. Unpublished Master's Dissertation, Mary Immaculate College.

O’Sullivan, E. (2013) Creating a community of learners through playful problem solving: a process led approach to the teaching and learning of mathematics in the early childhood classroom. Unpublished Master's Dissertation, Mary Immaculate College.

Malone, M.J. (2012) Exploring the use of a virtual e-learning environment for the teaching and learning of mathematics in a primary classroom. Unpublished Master's Dissertation, Mary Immaculate College.

O’Gorman, M. (2011) The use of blogging in the completion of homework. Unpublished Master's Dissertation, University of Limerick

Lomasney, A.M. (2010) An investigation into the effect of the constructivist approach on the development of student attitudes towards mathematics and mathematical problem solving abilities in senior primary school. Unpublished Master's Dissertation, Mary Immaculate College.

Madigan, M. (2010) The impact of the theory of constructivism, aided by creative and critical thinking skills, on the process approach to writing. Unpublished Master's Dissertation, Mary Immaculate College.

Farrell, J. (2008) Issues in exploring problem solving in multicultural classrooms. Unpublished Master's Dissertation, Mary Immaculate College.