Education Studies

Biographical Details:

Dr. James Lovatt is a Lecturer at the School of Education Studies who works in the area of Initial Teacher Education, Education and Traning, STEM and ICT. He is the School of Education Studies co-ordinator for the BSc Science Education, BSc Physical Education with Biology and BSc Physics Education with Mathematics. He is a qualified secondary school teacher. He completed his PhD in the area of Chemistry Education. He is member of the Centre for the Advancement of Science and Mathematics Teaching and Learning (CASTeL) and The Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI).

Research Interests:

Dr. James Lovatt's research interests are in the areas of Science Education, Teacher Education (ITE, NQT and CPD), ICT in Teaching and Learning, Teaching and Learning Methodologies with specific interest in Inquiry-Based-Science-Education (IBSE), and Assessment for Learning.

With his colleagues in the School of Education Studies, School of Physical Sciences, and 25 European partners Dr. Lovatt is a involved in The Pathway to Inquiry Based Science Teaching FP7 Science in Society Project. Jointly with colleagues in (CASTeL) he is involved an (AMGEN-EUN innovative ) providing professional development for secondary school science teachers to help them incorporate hands-on enquiry-based science education in their classrooms.The initiative focuses on those teaching science, principally biology and chemistry, to students aged 12 to 18.

Selected Peer Reviewed Journals

• Lovatt, J., Finlayson, O. 2012. Investigating the transition into third level science - Identifying a student profile. Chemistry Education Research And Practice, DOI:10.1039/C2RP20107K,
• Kelly, O. and Lovatt, J. 2012. A case study exploring students' problem-solving strategies in a PBL chemistry task. New Directions In The Teaching Of Physical Sciences, 8,, pp38-42.
• Lovatt,J., Finlayson, O.E., James, P. 2007. Evaluation of student engagement with two learning supports in the teaching of 1st year undergraduate chemistry. Chemistry Education Research And Practice, 8, 4, pp390-402.

Selected Chapters

• O'Hara, J., Lahart, J., Lovatt, J., McSharry, M., & McNamara, G. 2012. Managing Stress in Initial Teacher Education: - Challenges and Opportunities.
• Kelly, O. Lovatt, J. 2012. Insights into Science Students' Problem-Solving Strategies in the Chemistry Laboratory, New Perspectives in Science Education.

• Corbett, K., van Kampen, P., Lovatt, J., Community of practice as a method to proliferate the learning of inquiry based learning in second level science education in Ireland, Educational research in a Time of Transformation: Insights, influences and impacts, Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) 37th Annual Conference, 29-MAR-12 - 31-MAR-12, Cork
• Ford, J, Lorenzi, F., Lovatt, J., The Subject Learning Portfolio and its application in supporting the training of 2nd year students in self-assessment techniques, Educational research in a Time of Transformation: Insights, influences and impacts, Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) 37th Annual Conference, 29-MAR-12 - 31-MAR-12, Cork
• Kelly, O., Lovatt, J., Insights into Science Students¿ Problem-Solving Strategies in the Chemistry Laboratory, In: Pixel ed.New Perspectives in Science Education, 08-MAR-12 - 09-MAR-12, Florence, Italy, 643 - 660
• Lovatt, J., McLoughlin, E., Finlayson, O.E., Murphy, P., Developing a module in Interdisciplinary Science, Interdisciplinary experiences - collaborations and collisions Sixth annual Celsius Symposium on Science and Society, 10-JUN-11 - 10-JUN-11, The Helix Gallery, Dublin City University
• O'Malley, P., Lovatt, J., Finlayson, O.E., Sustaining Change - what happens after a research project?, Engaging Minds: Active learning, participation and collaboration in Higher education, NAIRTL 5th Annual Conference and Galway Symposium on Higher Education,, 09-JUN-11 - 10-JUN-11, National University of Ireland, Galway, 74 - 74
• Kelly, O., Lovatt, J., Identifying students¿ problem solving strategies and their relation to approaches to learning, Inquiry-based learning: Facilitating authentic learning experiences in science and mathematics, Science and Mathematics Education Conference SMEC 2010, 16-SEP-10 - 17-SEP-10, Dublin City Univeristy
• Lovatt, J., Finlayson, O.E., "Using a quantitative approach to investigate teaching and learning of undergraduate chemistry" in the Micro symposium: "How can research influence practice? Examples given by young researchers from different countries, representing a variety of research approaches": , In: Iwona Maciejowska, Jagiellonian University Krakow, Poland Pawel Ciesla, Pedagogical University of Krakow, Poland ed.10th European Conference on Research In Chemical Education, 04-JUL-10 - 09-JUL-10, Krakow, Poland, 168 - 168
• Lovatt, J., Mc Crudden, E.B., Ramírez-García, S., Finlayson, O.E., O'Malley, P., Selggog Abbey - a context laboratory for 1st year undergraduate science students¬, Sciences serving science: Cross-disciplinary issues in Mathematics & Science Education, SMEC 2008, 11-SEP-08 - 12-SEP-08, Dublin City University Ireland
• Lovatt, J., Finlayson, O.E., Expectations, Approaches to learning and Academic Achievement: Are there correlations for the first year undergraduate chemistry student?, Variety in Chemistry Education, 28-AUG-08 - 29-AUG-08, Dublin City University, Ireland
• Lovatt, J., Mc Crudden, E.B., Ramírez-García, S., Finlayson, O.E., O'Malley, P., Selggog Abbey ¿ a context laboratory problem for introductory undergraduate chemistry, 9th European Conference On Research In Chemical Education, 06-JUN-08 - 09-JUN-08, Istanbul, Turkey
• Lovatt, J., Finlayson, O.E., Ramirez-Garcia, S., Assessment for learning in undergraduate laboratory teaching, Variety in Chemistry Education, 30-AUG-07 - 30-AUG-07, University of Leicester, UK
• Lovatt, J., Finlayson, O.E., Ramirez-Garcia, S., Modification of an expository laboratory for 1st year undergraduate chemistry, 2nd European Variety in Chemistry Education, 27-JUN-07 - 30-JUN-07, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
• Finlayson, O.E., Lovatt, J., Ramirez-Garcia, S., Small-scale teaching within large groups ¿ empowering the tutors in a 1sy year undergraduate chemistry laboratory, 2nd European Variety in Chemistry Education, 27-JUN-07 - 30-JUN-07, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
• Lovatt, J., Finlayson, O.E., Monitoring Approaches to Learning in Undergraduate Chemistry, SMEC, Interconnections between Science and Mathematics: 2nd Science and Mathematics Conference, 23-SEP-06 - 24-SEP-06, St. Patrick¿s College & Dublin City University, Ireland
• Lovatt, J., Finlayson, O.E., James, P., Evaluation of student engagement with a virtual learning environment (Moodle) in the teaching of 1st year undergraduate organic chemistry, 8th European Conference On Research In Chemical Education, 31-AUG-06 - 01-SEP-06, Budapest, Hungary
• Lovatt, J., Finlayson, O.E., James, P., Addressing the learning of chemistry at undergraduate level, 8th International ESERA Summer School, 15-JUL-06 - 22-JUL-06, Braga, Portugal
• Lovatt, J., Finlayson, O., James, P., Evaluation of students engagement with moodle VLE in a 1st year organic chemistry blended learning module, The 7th Variety In Irish Chemistry Teaching Meeting, 10-APR-06 - 10-APR-06, Dublin Institute of Technology,Ireland
• Lovatt, J., Finlayson, O.E., James, P., Development and evaluation of approaches to student teaching and learning of chemistry at tertiary level using a VLE platform, Fifth International ESERA Conference on Contributions of Research to Enhancing Students¿ Interest in Learning Science, 01-AUG-05 - 05-AUG-05, Barcelona, Spain