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 schools

Research 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

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 :245-261

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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

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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. HOBOKEN : WILEY British Educational Research Journal :161-180

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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. DORDRECHT Science & Education :457-478

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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

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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 :134-148

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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 :439-456

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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

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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

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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 :36-52

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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 :513-533

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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 :221-238

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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 :267-280

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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 :397-414

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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 :1132-1139

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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 :385-400

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Books

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

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Book Chapters

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. 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

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Edited Books

This author has not written any publications of this type yet.

Other Journals

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. 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

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Conference Publications

2018

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 .

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2017

Education Studies Association of Ireland National Conference

Guilfoyle, L., McCormack, O., & Erduran, S. (2017) Education Studies Association of Ireland National Conference.

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2017

Sandra K. Abell Institute for Doctoral Students

Guilfoyle, L., McCormack, O., Erduran, S. (2017) Sandra K. Abell Institute for Doctoral Students.

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2017

European Science Education Research Association

Guilfoyle, L., McCormack, O., Erduran, S. (2017) European Science Education Research Association.

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2016

ESAI Annual Meeting ‘Education as a Public Good'

McGarr, O., McCormack, O. & Comerford, J. (2016) ESAI Annual Meeting ‘Education as a Public Good'.

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2016

Educational Studies Association of Ireland Conference, Galway, Ireland.

Guilfoyle, L., Erduran, S., & McCormack, O. (2016) Educational Studies Association of Ireland Conference, Galway, Ireland..

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2016

European Conference of Educational Research, Dublin, Ireland.

Guilfoyle, L., Erduran, S., & McCormack, O. (2016) European Conference of Educational Research, Dublin, Ireland..

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2016

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,.

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2015

LUMAT

McManus, B., O'Dwyer, A., Childs, P., Broggy, J. McCormack, O. (2015) LUMAT. :512-528

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2015

Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI)

McCormack, O; Lynch, R; Hennessy, J (2015) Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI).

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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) New Perspectives in Science Education.

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2010

Annual Conference of American Eduational Research Association

Gleeson J & McCormack, O (2010) Annual Conference of American Eduational Research Association.

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Conference Contributions

2016

Education Studies Association of Ireland National Conference

Guilfoyle, L; Erduran, S; McCormack, O. (2016) Education Studies Association of Ireland National Conference.

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2007

Development Futures Conference

O'Flaherty, J., & McCormack O., (2007) (2007) Development Futures Conference.

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American Education Research Association

Gleeson, J. & McCormack, O () American Education Research Association.

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Published Reports

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. Naas : ETBI

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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' . Naas : ETBI

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2012

'Religion, Diversity and Publicly-managed Schools in Ireland

O'Flaherty, J., McCormack, O. (2012) 'Religion, Diversity and Publicly-managed Schools in Ireland. Naas : ETBI

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Editorials

This author has not written any publications of this type yet.

Book Reviews

This author has not written any publications of this type yet.

Other Publications

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

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2007

Developmental Education Resource Pack

Hogan, D; Liddy, M; O'Flaherty, J; McCormack, O (2007) Developmental Education Resource Pack. University of Liemrick : Ubuntu Network

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