Hello! I'm Bernadette Brereton
I'm a sociologist, educator and researcher. In 2021, I delivered a keynote speech at the UNESCO conference 'Education and the Challenges in a Multicultural World' in Warsaw, Poland. In 2020, I was one of 9 final nominees for the National Forum Teaching and Learning Research Fellowships. In 2019, I was a member of the MBS team which was awarded the National Education Award - Best International Collaboration. In 2018, I was a member of the MBS team which was awarded the National Education Award - Best International Collaboration and Best Academic Practice. In 2017, I was a member of the National Forum Professional Development Expert Group and mentored the 'Teachers and Researchers' meitheal which examined the NF PD Framework Domains and typology of PD Activities. In 2016, I won the National Forum Teaching Expert Team Award.
To see my full publication list, visit: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bernadette-Brereton
Dr. Bernadette Brereton
SOCIOLOGIST, EDUCATOR, RESEARCHER
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2021 UNESCO Conference 'Education and the Challenges of the Multicultural World' KEYNOTE SPEAKER
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2020 National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP NOMINEE
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2019 National Education TEAM AWARD - Best International Collaboration
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2018 National Education TEAM AWARDS - Best International Collaboration and Best Academic Practice
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2017 National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERT GROUP
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2016 National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education TEACHING EXPERT (team) AWARD
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CO-ORDINATOR European Sociological Association (ESA) Sociology of Education Research Network
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EDITOR - Editorial Boards -
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All Ireland Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education,
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Student Engagement in Higher Education Journal
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Contact me:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bernadette_Brereton/contributionshttps://dkit.academia.edu/BernadetteBrereton
Address:
SOCIETY Research Group,
CELT - Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching,
DkIT - Dundalk Institute of Technology
Ireland
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NATIONAL FORUM PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 'Teachers and Researchers' Pilot Group 2017
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK: DOMAIN 1: The Self
2018-2020
Lawyer
WHO WERE WE?
From February to May 2017, 21 higher education professionals working within DkIT, Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin, joined in a working group or 'meitheal' to share our experiences as higher level professionals. Whether during meetings or summarised and shared in our customised shared space on Microsoft OneNote, we reflected on our practice as teachers and researchers as well as trialing digital educational tools.
WHAT DID WE ACHIEVE?
This array of technological tools were considered by the meitheal for their possible usefulness in capturing, gathering and displaying evidence in our PD portfolios.
The success and impact of our PD meitheal lay in professional collaboration in an inter-institutional, inter-disciplinary space with an increased digital capacity for all.
Having presented at EdTech in June 2017, our meitheal will progress as a sharing, reflective space for teachers and researchers.
NATIONAL FORUM PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
'Teachers and Researchers' Pilot Group
Tutors' reflections
A screenshot of our meitheal's Microsoft Onenote space for communciation, resource-sharing and calendar dates.
USE OF TECHNOLOGY
This array of technological tools were considered by the meitheal for their possible usefulness in capturing, gathering and displaying evidence in our PD portfolios.
The success and impact of our PD meitheal lay in professional collaboration in an inter-institutional, inter-disciplinary space with an increased digital capacity for all.
Having presented at EdTech in June 2017, our meitheal will progress as a sharing, reflective space for teachers and researchers.
WHO WERE WE?
From February to May 2017, 21 higher education professionals working within DkIT, Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin, joined in a working group or 'meitheal' to share our experiences as higher level professionals. Whether during meetings or summarised and shared in our customised shared space on Microsoft OneNote, we reflected on our practice as teachers and researchers as well as trialling digital educational tools.
2018-2020
Lawyer
WHAT DID WE ACHIEVE?
This array of technological tools were considered by the meitheal for their possible usefulness in capturing, gathering and displaying evidence in our PD portfolios.
The success and impact of our PD meitheal lay in professional collaboration in an inter-institutional, inter-disciplinary space with an increased digital capacity for all. Our meitheal will progress as a sharing, reflective space for teachers and researchers.
Research based on our on-going work has been presented at EdTEch in Sligo IT in June 2017, ESA13 in Athens in August 2017 and in a book chapter in Maguire et al (2017) 'Teachers as Learners: Exploring the impact of accredited professional development on learning and assessment in Irish Higher Education' . On September 1st, 2017, the meitheal took part in a national Celebration Day in the historic setting of the Round Room in the Mansion House, Dublin where each participant received a National Forum badge in recognition of their great work. In January 2018, the members of the meitheal presented a National Forum-funded seminar entitled 'Implementing Mentoring and PD Best Practice in HE' which presented some of the key learning achieved by the meitheal.
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NATIONAL FORUM PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
'Teachers and Researchers' Pilot Group
Tutors' reflections
A screenshot of our meitheal's Microsoft Onenote space for communciation, resource-sharing and calendar dates.
Video examining PD Framework Typology of Activities
Dr. Terry Maguire, Chair of the National Forum presents the PD Expert Advisory Group at the PD Celebration Day
Some of the 'Teachers and Researchers' meitheal attend the PD Celebration Day
THE SELF AS PERFORMER
I have always performed. Family get-togethers were always based around music, singing, performing sketches and reciting poetry from memory. I took part in my first Feis Cheoil competition at 4 years of age and have been in various stage plays, musicals, and musical performances over the years. I made a TV advert during my ‘National Youth Theatre’ days. These days, I sing a lot of jazz and I am inspired by female artists such as Joni Mitchell. Her track 'Both Sides Now' became the 'theme song' of our 'meitheal' as it captured the essence of the duality of the approach that we took; inter-institutional, inter-disciplinary, 'soft' and 'hard' skilled disciplines, f2f and using technology.
2015-2017
Master's Degree
2012-2014
Bachelor's Degree
ESB 'DREAMLOVER TV AD
THE PERFORMER AS TEACHER
I have built up my performing skills over the years, so that I can mask nerves and focus on the listeners. Every time I am presenting, I am performing and I always want ‘performances’ to be the best that they can be – whether with musical performances, conference presentations, corporate training sessions or classroom-based work. This is a strength and a weakness. It means that I prepare well and give ‘good value’ but it also means that I have to be always ‘on’, always upbeat and interesting and engaging. Not only is this personally exhausting but it places the teacher in the position of ultimate authority and undermines opportunities for independent student learning and reflection or use of peer learning.
This track is a recording of 'Both Sides Now' with me on vocals and a participant in the pilot group Associate Professor Neil Hurley (UCD) on guitar. Neil works in computer science in UCD, mainly as a researcher with a low weekly teaching load. I work in social science in DkIT, mainly as a teacher with less week-to-week research deadlines. We could be called the embodiment of the 'Both Sides Now' polarities within Irish HE.
THE TEACHER AS MENTOR
Over the last seven years while working in CELT, I have developed my mentoring skills. I have encouraged colleagues to see the positives in their approach, to try new things and be unafraid of appearing less than perfect in the classroom. I often receive positive feedback on my mentoring skills. Yet, I still believe that this may just be due to the brilliance of the people that I work with and that I am only as good as my last 'performance' in the classroom.
Leading and participating in the PD Pilot Project has helped me to examine who I am with the on-going impacts that this has on my personal and professional life; to step off the stage and not be the performer. Our working sessions examined the activities that teachers and researchers engage in and I believe that this has been of huge benefit, to me, personally and in the classroom.
ESB 'DREAMLOVER TV AD
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK: DOMAIN 2: Professional Identity, values and development in teaching and learning
Powerpoint presentation 'Mentoring for success in Education'
RESEARCH DISSEMINATION
With published research interests in the areas of education, gender, social network analysis, community engagement and citizenship, I have established a research profile through the dissemination of conference papers, journal articles and book chapters.
Since 2005, I have served on the organising committee of the European Sociology Association (ESA) Sociology of Education Research Group, organising a yearly international conference.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK: DOMAIN 3: Professional Communication and Dialogue in Teaching and Learning
MENTORING AND COLLABORATING
I deliver a number of Research skills, methodologies and ethics programmes both to undergraduate groups and to teachers undertaking CPD programmes.
I mentor colleagues wish to begin researching and publishing and regularly collaborate with Irish and international colleagues.
I have served as an international judge for the Global Undergraduate Awards in the Sociology category.
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Values and principles of mentoring
RESEARCH DISSEMINATION
With published research interests in the areas of education, gender, social network analysis, community engagement and citizenship, I have established an international research profile. I am on the editorial boards of the All Ireland Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education and Student Engagement in Higher Education Journal. In February 2018, I served as Guest Editor for a Joint Special Issue entitled 'Higher Education, Inclusivity and Organisational Change' of the All Ireland Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education see https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323494707_Higher_Education_Inclusivity_and_Organisational_Change
I am also the Co-ordinator of the European Sociological Association (ESA) Sociology of Education Research Network and co-organise our yearly international conferences - up-coming conference ESA15 in Spain, 2021 and International Week of Education and Training, Switzerland, 2022.
Powerpoint presentation 'So you have to conduct research. Now what?'
REVIEWING
I reviewed the National Forum Digital Badge Scheme, in the areas of Intercultural Competence, Mentoring and Teaching and Learning Policy.
I also review for AISHE-J (Ireland), the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education – JLDHE (U.K.) and the Italian Journal of the Sociology of Education – IJSE (Italy).
I was co-editor of 'TEL Tales: stories of enhancing learning through technology' (2016) and am currently editor of a Special Issue of AISHE-J on ‘Higher Level Education, Inclusivity and Organisational Change’ – publication date 28th February, 2018.
I am also an International Expert for The Research Foundation – Flanders. This informs me of the international standards of research and funding applications in the European context.
What is Research? Why get involved?
What does learning mean to me and why?
WHAT MAKES A GOOD TEACHER? WHAT MAKES A GOOD RESEARCHER?
Is there, and should there be, a relationship between these two?
Personally, as a teacher for the last 27 years and conducting post-doctoral research for the last 15 years, I attest to the value in the classroom of a strong and growing relationship between the two; i.e. the need for research-informed teaching at higher level. Our meitheal of teachers and researchers from both the university and IOTI sectors have discussed and investigated the roles of the researcher and teacher and the relationship between research and teaching and learning. We drew on our own experiences to identify key inhibitors and enablers to the successful alignment of excellent research and teaching and learning. Our group found that carrying out research helped inform teaching, keeping case studies up-to-date and leading students to tackle existing and new problems in innovative ways.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK DOMAIN 4: Professional Knowledge and Skills in Teaching and Learning
SOCIOLOGY
The study of people is a fascinating field which takes in diverse aspect of gender, communication, social relations, citizenship and media structures. I co-ordinate the Sociology of Education Research Network of the European Sociological Association (ESA) and co-ordinate international sociology of education conferences every year.
TEACHER EDUCATION
As a professional development tutor in CELT, DkIT, I work with colleagues engaged in professional development learning and activities through the Masters of Arts in Learning and Teaching programme. I find it is rewarding to work with fellow professionals to develop their understanding of teaching theory, improve their teaching practice and disseminate their teaching and learning research widely.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK: DOMAIN 5: Personal and Professional Digital Capacity in Teaching and Learning
DIGITAL PROFILE
I am an active member of the academic social network sites Researchgate.net and Academic.edu and my publications have been read by colleagues across the world. I have participated in discussions on diverse questions such as sociology of education, formative feedback, peer learning and competency development in veterinary students.
You can see some of this digital presence at:
