Dr Andrea Doherty

General Information

Teaching Responsibilities

• Programme Coordinator for PGCE
• Teaching BEd (Primary) and PGCE Early Years
• Coordinator Year 1 module ‘World Around Us’
• Coordinator PGCE module ‘Implementing a play-based curriculum’
• Advisor of Studies for BEd
• PDP tutor for Early Childhood Studies (BA degree)

External Interests / Community Service

• Member of IAPSE – Irish Association for Primary Science Education
• Academic Collaborator for PSTT- Primary Science Teaching Trust

Research Interests

• Currently interested and engaged with research on play within primary and preschool settings, with a specific focus on playful science. Research on primary science education in general, including curriculum development projects and on outdoor education and outdoor play.  Also interested in the pedagogy of teacher education from initial teacher education through to continuing professional development.

Background & Qualifications

• Teacher, EY Development Advisor, and Home-school collaborator in Derry primary school, 2009-12
• PhD Queen’s University, Belfast 2013

Research & Scholarship

Journal Articles

McCullagh, J.F.  & Doherty A. (2021) A coteaching model for developing pre-service teachers’ practice and confidence in teaching primary science through inquiry, Education 3-13, 49 (3), pp 357-370,

McMillan, D, Walsh, G & Doherty, A (2020) ‘Getting a Better Picture of the ‘Whole’ Child: A Case for Interprofessional Learning in Early Childhood Staff Training,’ Practice, in press.

McCullagh, J.F. & Doherty, A. (2019) The benefits of setting science in an everyday context: a primary school perspective. School Science Review, 100(372)p.21-27

McCullagh, J.F. & Doherty, A. (2018) ‘Digital Makeover: What do pre-service teachers learn from microteaching primary science and how does an online video analysis tool enhance this activity?’ Teacher Education Advancement Journal (TEAN), 10(2), pp.15-28.

McCullagh, J.F & Doherty, A (2017) ‘Innovative approaches within initial Teacher Education to develop emergent science leaders.‘ Journal of Emergent Science, 12, pp.55-63.

Murphy, C., Doherty, A. and Kerr, K. (2016) “It is through others that we become ourselves”: A study of Vygotskian play in Russian and Irish schools. International Research in Early Childhood Education, 7 (2), pp.129-146.

Book chapters

Doherty, A. & McCullagh, J. (2017) ‘Playful Approaches to Science and Technology’ in G. Walsh, D. McMillan & C. McGuinness (Eds.) Playful Learning and Teaching. London: Sage

Doherty, A. & Walsh, G. (2015) ‘The Foundation Stage Curriculum in Northern Ireland: An Inside Practical Perspective’ in D. Boyd & N. Hirst (Eds.) Understanding Early Years Education Across the UK. London: Routledge.

Murphy, C., McCullagh, J.F., & Doherty, A. (2014) ‘Developing reflective practice’, in S. Rodrigues(Ed.) Handbook for Teacher Educators. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.

Resources

Walsh, G. (2024) (in collaboration with Kierna Corr, Andrea Doherty, Deirdre Doherty, Stephanie Gillespie, Hannah Irvine, Karen Irwin, Pam Lowry, Diane McClelland and Adam Willis) The Playful Learning Continuum, https://ccea.org.uk/learning-resources/playful-learning-continuum, Belfast: CCEA.

Boyd, D., Doherty, A., Walsh. G., King, J., Mann, S. Neame, J., Scollan, A., and McLeod, N. (2023) An Early Childhood Education for Sustainability resource that embeds the Sustainable Development Goals and STEM into pedagogical practice: A Northern Ireland Context. NCFE

Practitioner Journals

Doherty, A. & McCullagh, J. (2024) How can enquiry-based science support pupil learning in mathematics?, Primary Science, 183 September, pp.4-8.

McCullagh, J.F.  & Doherty A. (2021) A coteaching model for developing pre-service teachers’ practice and confidence in teaching primary science through inquiry, Education 3-13, 49 (3), pp 357-370,

McCullagh, J.F. & Doherty, A (2020) ‘Stranmillis College: a Model of Excellence in Primary Science in Initial Teacher Education.’ Why & How: The Primary Science Teaching Trust Newsletter, Spring 2020, p.25

McCullagh, J.F. & Doherty, A. (2019) ‘The benefits of setting science in an everyday context: a primary school perspective.’ School Science Review, 100(372), pp.21-27.

McCullagh, J.F. & Doherty, A. (2018) ‘Lights, camera, science. How digital story-telling can support science enquiry.’ Primary Science, Jan/Feb, pp.21-24.

Web Articles

McCullagh,J.F. & Doherty, A. (2020) ‘Aspiring for excellence in primary science: A model for initial teacher education.’ Primary Science Teaching Trust, https://pstt.org.uk/application/files/9215/7849/8002/Stranmillis_SPSA_report_V3.pdf 

McCullagh,J.F. & Doherty, A. (2020) ‘Accreditation of pre-service teachers’ innovative practice in primary science: Guide for initial teacher educators.’ Primary Science Teaching Trust. https://pstt.org.uk/application/files/8915/7312/3844/Stranmillis_primary_science_accreditation_programme_-_guide_for_ITE_providers.pdf

Invited Presentations

Doherty, A. (2020) Vygotsky and Play, Guest Lecture, Southwestern University Texas, 7th October.

Conference proceedings and papers

McCullagh, J.F & Doherty, A. (2017) Innovative approaches within initial Teacher Education to develop emergent science leaders. Journal of Emergent Science, 12, p55-63

Doherty, A. & McCullagh, J.F (2016) Coteaching and the Creation of Ideal Practice’ .Presentation symposium which focused on ‘Coteaching In Teacher Education: New Developments’. BERA, Dublin

McCullagh, J.F. & Doherty, A. (2016) ‘Co-teaching as an effective pedagogy for science teacher education.’ Presentation at The Primary Science Teaching Trust International Conference, Belfast 2016

Doherty, A. & McCullagh, J.F (2016) Playful Approaches to Science. Presentation at The Primary Science Teaching Trust International Conference, Belfast

Murphy, C., McCullagh, J. and Doherty, A. (2014) Piloting a model for coteaching in preservice teacher education school placements based on Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development. AERA proceedings, available at: http://www.aera.net/Publications/OnlinePaperRepository/AERAOnlinePaperRepository/tabid/12720/Owner/941006/Default.aspx

Doherty, A. (2013) ‘Vygotsky and Play: A Critical Exploration of Theory into Practice, Global Gathering for Early Childhood Ireland, Aviva Stadium, October 2013.

Doherty, A. (2013) The Innovative Play Environment, PlayBoard Conference, Belfast, October 2013.

Doherty, A. (2011) Golden Key: Employing Aspects of a Vygotskian Approach to Education, to Early Years Education in the Northern Ireland Context, OMEP Conference, Cork, April 2011.

Reports

O’Toole, L., Walsh, G., Kerrins, L. Doherty, A, et al. (2023) A Consultation with Babies, Toddlers and Young Children to Inform the Updating of Aistear: Phase 1 Report. Dublin: NCCA. https://ncca.ie/en/resources/phase-1-consultation-by-maynooth-university-stranmillis-university-college-and-early-childhood-ireland-with-babies-toddlers-and-young-children-to-include-their-voices-in-the-updated-aistear/

O’Toole, L., Ward, C and Walsh G., Doherty, A. et al., (2024) A Consultation with Babies, Toddlers and Young Children to Inform the Updating of Aistear: Phase 2 Report. Dublin: NCCA. https://ncca.ie/en/resources/phase-2-consultation-with-babies-toddlers-and-young-children/

McCullagh, J.F. and Doherty, A (2022) Student Teachers Supporting Primary Science: Project Report for the Royal Society of Chemistry. Belfast: Stranmillis University College

Aistear Framework: An Evaluation of the Ballyfermot Early Years Language and Learnings Initiatives Programme to promote Quality Improvement in Early Years Settings through the use of the Aistear Framework: Final Report (2014)

Science Coteaching In Teacher Education (SCITE ) Project: Final Report (2013)

Science Enhancement and Learning through Exchange and Collaboration among Teachers (SELECT) Final Report (2012): SCoTENS http://scotens.org/wp-content/uploads/SELECT-Final-Report.pd

Fibonacci Project: Final Report (2012)