Researcher Details |

Bernadette Dwyer

Dr.

Bernadette Dwyer is an Associate Professor in the school of Language, Literacy and Early Childhood Education where she lectures and researches in the area of Literacy . Since 1979, Bernadette has gained extensive experience in the field of education as a primary teacher, teacher educator, PD consultant, and researcher. She was a classroom teacher and Learning Support teacher, in a variety of settings, including DEIS Band 1, at all levels of the primary school, for over twenty three years. Since joining the faculty in 2002, Bernadette has taught on a wide range of courses in Literacy at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She currently serves as the faculty ethics advisor and is the chair of the Faculty Ethics Review Panel (FERP).

She earned her PhD from the University of Nottingham, UK.   Her doctoral dissertation entitled, “Scaffolding internet reading: A study of a disadvantaged school community in Ireland” was a distinguished finalist in the Outstanding Dissertation of the Year award (2011) for the International Literacy Association. She has published referred articles in high ranking journals, chapters in books, commissioned reports, and has edited conference proceedings. Her most recent book publication is Using technology to improve reading and learning. Bernadette is a regular presenter at both national and international conferences and has given a range of invited keynote addresses at conferences around the world.

In 2016, Bernadette was awarded the DCU President’s award for engagement in the community for the Chekhov Ebook Lit4life project. The project is a partnership between Microsoft, UNESCO, Mediacraft, and DCU. In 2017, she was awarded the Technology in Reading Research Award by the TILE-SIG of the International Literacy Association for her 'scholarly and practical contributions to the field of literacy and technology integration.'

Bernadette served on the executive committee of the Literacy Association of Ireland (LAI) from 2002-2015. She was President of LAI in 2005-2006.

Bernadette was elected to the Board of Directors of the International Literacy Association (ILA) (2013-2016). In 2017, she was elected by members of ILA to serve on the executive of the ILA board. She served as Vice President (2017-2018),  President (2018-2019), and Immediate Past President (2019-2020) of the International Literacy Association.

Bernadette is currently engaged in research in the areas of multimodal/ digital literacies; inquiry-based learning; disciplinary literacies; reading comprehension; and supporting struggling readers and writers.

Peer Reviewed Journal

	Year	Publication
	2018	Castek,J. and Dwyer,B. (2018) 'Think globally act locally: Teaching climate change through digital inquiry'. Reading Teacher, 71 (6).
	2016	Dwyer B. (2016) 'Engaging All Students in Internet Research and Inquiry'. Reading Teacher, 69 (4):383-389.
	2016	Dwyer B. (2016) 'Teaching and Learning in the Global Village: Connect, Create, Collaborate, and Communicate'. Reading Teacher, .

Book Chapter

	Year	Publication
	2015	Larson, L & Dwyer, B (2015) 'Digging deeper with reader response: Using digital tools to support comprehension of literary texts in online learning environments' In: USA : Solution Tree Publications.
	2015	Dwyer,B (2015) 'Teacher read-alouds nurture readers' In: USA : Stenhouse Publications.
	2014	Dwyer, B. & Larson, L. (2014) 'The writer in the reader: Building communities of response in digital environments' In: USA : IGI Publications.
	2013	Dwyer, B (2013) 'STRUGGLING READERS GO ONLINE: BUILDING AN INTEGRATED, INQUIRY-BASED CLASSROOM CURRICULUM' In: BINGLEY : EMERALD GROUP PUBLISHING LTD.
	2013	Dwyer, B. (2013) 'Developing online reading comprehension: Changes, challenges and consequences' In: UK : Wiley-Blackwell.
	2013	Dwyer, B. (2013) 'Struggling readers go online: Building an integrated, inquiry-based classroom curriculum linking literacy, science and the Internet' In: USA : Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
	2012	Dwyer,B (2012) 'Creating Multiple Pathways to Powerful Literacy in Challenging Times Papers from the 35th Annual Conference of the RAI' In: Dublin Ireland : Reading Association of Ireland.

Published Report

	Year	Publication
	2012	Kennedy, E., Dunphy, E., Dwyer, B., Hayes, G., McPhillips, T., Marsh, J., O’Connor, M., & Shiel, G. (2012) Literacy in Early Childhood and Primary Education (Children Aged 3-8 Years). Commissioned Research Report. NCCA, . Link

Edited Book

	Year	Publication
	2012	Kelly, A., Dwyer, B. Mehigan, G., & Watson,G. (Eds) (Ed.). (2012) Dublin Ireland: Reading Association of Ireland,
	2007	Dwyer, B., & Shiel, G. (Eds.) (Ed.). (2007) Dublin Ireland: Reading Association of Ireland,

Book

	Year	Publication
	2018	Dwyer,B & Harrison, C. (2018) Using technology to improve reading and learning. UK: United Kingdom Literacy Association. Link
	2014	Harrison, C., Dwyer, B., & Castek, J. (2014) Using technology to improve reading and learning. USA: Shell International Publications.

Guidelines for Practice

	Year	Publication
	2020	Bernadette Dwyer (2020) Internet Inquiry and Research. Support Materials for NCCA Primary Curriculum Online. GFP

Conference Contribution

	Year	Publication
	2011	Dwyer, B. (2011) Poster session presented at the 56th Annual conference of the International Reading Association Scaffolding Internet reading: A study of a disadvantaged school community in Ireland Orlando, Florida, .
	2012	Dwyer, B. (2012) Invited presentation and PD unit for tutors in Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford Developing a balanced literacy framework in the classroom Kilkenny Dublin, .
	2020	Dwyer,B. (2020) Reading Association of Manitoba and Council of Reading Clinicians. Professional Development Students’ Rights to Excellent Literacy Instruction Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.Cancelled due to COVID-19, .
	2019	Dwyer, B (2019) Digital Literacies Presentation to the Primary Development Support Team Laois Education Centre, .
	2019	Dwyer,B (2019) Illuminating the possibilities: Transforming literacy instruction in the 21st century classroom Nebraska Literacy Association Nebraska,USA, 03/02/2019-04/02/2019.
	2018	Dwyer,B (2018) Literacy landscapes in the 21st century classroom: Mirrors and windows in Literacy Landscapes Keynote address Palmerston North, New Zealand, .
	2018	Dwyer,B (2018) Past, Present, and future of ILA affiliates: what roles should we take to help foster people’s characteristics needed in 21st Century? International Conference Association on Literacy in The Digital Era (ICAL) Bangkok ,Thailand, .
	2018	Dwyer,B (2018) Walking on air: Teachers as superheroes in the 21st century classroom Literacy Superheroes Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA, 02/12/2018-04/12/2018.
	2018	Dwyer,B (2018) Literacy for all matters: Bridging the divide Literacy's Legacy KSLA 51st Annual Conference Penn State, Pennsylvania,USA, 28/10/2018-31/10/2018.
	2018	Dwyer,B. (2018) Literacy in a multimodal world: Teaching and learning in the 21st century. Keynote presentation at the International Literacy Conference TILESIG TILESIG keynote presentation Austin,Texas, USA, .
	2020	Dwyer,B. (2020) 65th Annual conference of the International Literacy Shaping the Future of Literacy : Vision 2020 Potholes and possibilities on the yellow brick road: 2020 vision. LEADER special Interest group session, Shaping the future of literacy: We’re in this together. Accepted Presentation Columbus, Ohio, USA, .
	2019	Dwyer,B (2019) Enabling learning environments in the classroom to enhance vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension development using a range of multimodal tools Invited workshop presentation Nebraska,USA, .
	2019	Dwyer, B. (2019) Children’s Rights to Read at 64th Annual Conference of the International Literacy Association. Creating a culture of Literacy Opening Address New Orleans, USA, .
	2018	Dwyer,B (2018) Transforming Literacy Instruction in the 21st Century Classroom Invited presentation Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA, 02/12/2108-02/12/2018.
	2017	Bernadette Dwyer (2017) Bringing Science Forward The Digital Lives of Young Children Copenhagen, Denmark, .
	2012	Dwyer, B. (2012) Invited presentation. Ecole Europeenne de Woluwe, Bruxelles Supporting the development of literacy skills for ELL through explicit strategy instruction in both print and digital texts Brussels, .
	2011	Dwyer, B., & Kelly, A. (2011) Invited presentation Reading Association of Ireland Spring Seminar, Dublin Novels in the classroom: Using literature circles to promote reading engagement and critical thinking skills Drumcondra, Dublin, .
	2017	Bernadette Dwyer (2017) Literacy Research for Expanding Meaningfulness, 67th Annual Conference of the Literacy Research Association Scaffolding authentic learning across the disciplines during Internet inquiry: A climate change curriculum unit. In the session Advancing Multimodal Composition :Theory and Practice Tampa, Florida, .
	2016	Dwyer,B. & Castek,C (2016) Integrating Science, Technology, Engineering and Math: A Carbon & Climate Change Investigation. In Digital Literacies for Disciplinary Learning Paper presented at the 66th Annual Literacy Research Association Conference Nashville, TN, USA, .
	2015	Castek, J. & Dwyer, B. (2015) Using Technology to Improve Reading and Learning In Pre-conference Institute Transforming Adolescents’ Lives through Literacy (Co-Chairs, C Hryniuk-Adamov and S. Lenski) at the 60th Annual conference of the International Literacy Association St Louis, USA, .
	2014	Dwyer, B., Castek, J., & Harrison, C (2014) Transforming Your Literacy Practice Using Internet Tools and Resources: Meeting Students’ Instructional Needs While Addressing the CCSS Presented at the 59th Annual Conference of the International Reading Association . San Antonio, Texas, .
	2014	Dwyer, B., & Larson. L (2014) Digging deeper with reader and writer response: Using digital tools to support the development of literacy and learning Presented at the 38th Annual Conference of Reading Association of Ireland Marino, Dublin, .
	2013	Dwyer,B (2013) Struggling readers go online: Building an integrated, inquiry-based classroom curriculum Presented in session School-based interventions for struggling readers K-8 at the 63rd Annual conference of the Literacy Research Association Dallas, Texas, .
	2013	Dwyer,B (2013) Struggling readers go digital: Potholes and possibilities Invited presentation at the Irish Learning Support Association (ILSA) Spring Conference Drogheda, Ireland, .
	2013	Dwyer, B. & Larson, L. (2013) New literacies, new times: Building global communities of readers Presented at the 18th European Conference on Reading: New Challenges, New Literacies Jönköping, Sweden, .
	2012	Dwyer, B. (2012) Invited presentation. Ecole Europeenne de Woluwe, Bruxelles Supporting the development of literacy skills for ELL through explicit strategy instruction in both print and digital texts Brussels, Belgium, .
	2012	Dwyer, B. (2012) Invited presentation at the International Reading Association Conference (IRA) Pre-Conference Institute: Fostering Literacy with Research-Based Instructional Practices and Web 2.0 Technologies Implementing Internet inquiry with struggling readers in elementary grades IRA, Chicago, IL, .
	2012	Dwyer, B. (2012) Teacher Education Centre, Kilkenny Professional Development Unit for tutors in Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford Kilkenny, .
	2012	Dwyer, B. & Larson, L. (2012) Presented at the the 62nd Annual National Reading Conference/Literacy Research Association Conference, San Diego, California Building communities of e-book readers across time and space San Diego, California, USA, .
	2012	Dwyer, B. (2012) Invited presentation at the International Reading Association Conference (IRA) Pre-Conference Institute: Fostering Literacy with Research-Based Instructional Practices and Web 2.0 Technologies. IRA Implementing Internet inquiry with struggling readers in elementary grades Chicago, IL, .
	2011	Dwyer, B. (2011) In Literacy in a Changing World , Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) Consultative Conference on Education. Irish National Teachers’ Organisation Scaffolding Internet reading: Moving from page to screen Athlone, Ireland, .
	2011	Dwyer, B. (2011) In Castek, C. (chair) Exploring Cognitive and Social Aspects of Online Reading Comprehension Across Multiple Ages of Learner. Literacy Research Association Conference Scaffolding Internet Reading: Challenged readers go online to conduct collaborative Internet inquiry Jacksonville, Florida, USA, .
	2010	Dwyer, B., & Castek, J. (2010) 60th Annual National Reading Conference/Literacy Research Association Conference Exploring instructional activities, pedagogies, and scaffolds that aided the development of online literacies in Ireland, the UK and the U.S Ft. Worth, Texas, .
	2010	Dwyer, B. (2010) Paper presented at the 34th Reading Association of Ireland Annual Conference There’s no rabbits on the Internet': Scaffolding internet inquiry with struggling readers Marino, Dublin, .
	2009	Dwyer, B. (2009) Paper presented at the 59th Annual NRC Conference, Literacy Research Past Present and Future: Multiple Paths to a Better World Scaffolding struggling readers from disadvantaged communities as they construct meaning in internet Inquiry Albuquerque, New Mexico, .
	2009	Dwyer, B. (2009) Invited presentation to the 54th Annual Convention International Reading Association Scaffolding the development of Internet strategies with struggling readers through social collaboration and explicit strategy instruction Minneapolis, USA, .
	2009	Dwyer, B. (2009) National Reading Conference Scaffolding struggling readers from disadvantaged communities as they construct meaning in Internet inquiry Albuquerque, New Mexico, .
	2008	Dwyer, B. (2008) Presented to the Centre for Literacy Research, Nottingham “There’s just no rabbits on the Internet”. Supporting struggling readers’ development of Internet research skills: an Irish perspective Nottingham Uk, .
	2007	Dwyer, B. (2007) An alternative symposium session presented at the National Reading Conference I’ve a load of questions in my head”: Scaffolding the development of effective search strategies for struggling readers during Internet inquiry Austin, Texas, .
	2006	Dwyer, B. (2006) An alternative symposium session presented at the National Reading Conference “There's no rabbits on the Internet: Supporting struggling readers through integrated multimedia instruction Los Angeles, CA, USA, .
	2006	Dwyer, B. (2006) Presented to the United Kingdom Literacy Association Exploring the development of online literacy strategies for children with low levels of literacy in schools with Designated Disadvantage status Nottingham, U.K, .
	2019	Dalton, B, Dwyer, B., Russell K. (2019) Children’s Literature Day, 64th Annual Conference of the International Literacy Association Creating a culture of Literacy Multimodal Toolbox New Orleans, USA, .
	2011	Dwyer, B. (2011) Poster session presented at the 56th Annual conference of the International Reading Association Scaffolding Internet reading: A study of a disadvantaged school community in Ireland Orlando, Florida, .
	2011	Dwyer, B. (2011) Invited presentation, St. Joseph’s National School , Finglas Spring clean your reading instruction: Developing powerful literacy strategies Dublin , Ireland, .
	2014	Dwyer,B (2014) Digital literacies: Building research-to-practice reciprocal connections through formative and design experiments Presented in the session Reconceptualizing Rigor in Digital Literacy Research: Implications for Practice and Policy (Chairs M. Hagerman & H. Spires) at the 64th Annual National Reading Conference/Literacy Research Association Conference Dallas, TX, USA, .
	2012	Dwyer, B. & Larson, L. (2012) Building communities of e-Book readers across time and space Presented at the 62nd Annual National Reading Conference/Literacy Research Association Conference San Diego, California, .
	2011	Dwyer, B. (2011) Invited presentation, St. Joseph’s National School , Finglas Spring clean your reading instruction: Developing powerful literacy strategies Dublin,Ireland, .
	2011	Dwyer, B. & Kelly, A. (2011) Invited presentation Reading Association of Ireland Spring Seminar, Dublin Novels in the classroom: Using literature circles to promote reading engagement and critical thinking skills Drumcondra Dublin, .
	2016	Dwyer,B (2016) Literacy and learning in the 21st century classroom: The choppy c’s of change Invited keynote address at the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) conference for post-primary teachers University of Limerick, .
	2015	Dwyer,B (2015) Supporting literacy and learning with the Internet: Nurturing collaborative classroom communities Invited presentation at the 60th annual conference of the International Literacy Association St Louis, USA, .
	2014	Dwyer,B (2014) Developing Online Reading Comprehension: What Teachers Need to Know Invited keynote address at the Delaware Valley Reading Association Fall Conference Delaware, Pennsylvania, USA, .
	2013	Dwyer,B (2013) Spring into action with powerful literacy instruction Invited presentation for teachers Tarbert Education Centre, Kerry, Ireland, .
	2012	Dwyer, B. (2012) Inservice Spring Seminars for Teachers, Inservice Department , St. Patrick’s College Spring into action with powerful literacy instruction Dublin, .
	2012	Dwyer,B (2012) Creating Multiple Pathways to Powerful Literacy in Challenging Times Papers from the 35th Annual Conference of the RAI.) Meeting the Challenges of 21st Century Literacies: Equity and Excellence for all Students Dublin Ireland, .
	2012	Dwyer, B. (2012) Invited presentation at the Michigan State University Summer School for Masters in Arts in Educational Technology, DCU, Dublin In pursuit of excellence: Creating deep learning opportunities for our students on the web Dublin, Ireland, .
	2011	Dwyer, B. (2011) Invited keynote address, 35th Annual conference of the Reading Association of Ireland, College of Education, Rathmines Meeting the challenges of 21st century literacies: Equity and excellence for all students Rathmines, Ireland, .

Professional Associations

Association	Function	From / To
Reading Association of Ireland/ Literacy Association of Ireland	Executive Committee Member (2002-2015) , President (2005-2006)	-
American Educational Research Association	member	-
Literacy Research Association	member	-
Literacy Research Association	Member of the Albert J. Kingston Award Committee	-
International Literacy Association	Member	-
International Literacy Association	Chair of the Elearning, Technology and Communications	-
International Reading Association/ International Literacy Association	Member of the Board of Directors (2013-2016)	-

Honors and Awards

Date	Title	Awarding Body
01/01/2011	Distinguished Finalist Outstanding Dissertation of the Year	The International Reading Association
01/07/2017	Technology in Reading Research Award	Technology in Literacy Education SIG International Literacy Association
01/04/2016	DCU President's Award for Engagement in the Community	Dublin City University
01/01/2008	Professional Development Fellowship	St. Patrick's College

Committees

	Committee	Function	From / To
	M.Ed Programme Board		-
	PME programme Board		-
	B.Ed Programme Board		-
	Faculty Research Admissions Panel		-
	Faculty Research Committee		-

Education

	Start date	Institution	Qualification	Subject
		University of Nottingham	PhD
		Dublin City University	MSc
		National University of Ireland	B.Ed

Reviews

	Journal	Role
	Reading Research Quarterly	Reviewer
	Literacy	Reviewer
	Reading Teacher	Series Editor

Enterprise Engagement

Year	Engagement Type	Client	Description
2011-present	Other	Literacy Beat: Intersections of literacy and technology	Blog
2012	Consultancy	Invited presentation. Ecole Europeenne de Woluwe, Bruxelles.	. Supporting the development of literacy skills for ELL through explicit strategy instruction in both print and digital texts.
2008	Invited talk/presentation	Presented to the Centre for Literacy Research, Nottingham, UK.	There's just no rabbits on the Internet'. Supporting struggling readers' development of Internet research skills: An Irish perspective
2016	Consultancy	Chekhov Ebook Lit4Life Project	The Chekhov ebook Lit4life project is an example of a collaborative partnership, between Microsoft, UNESCO, Mediacraft, and St. Patrick’s College, Dublin City University, to harness the power of digital tools and technology to address the problems of illiteracy in the world today. The free app provides a scaffolded digital learning environment, with inbuilt multimodal supports like image and audio support. The app operates on low cost mobile devices and provides support for emerging readers and writers as they build literacy skills. Fourth year B.Ed. literacy specialism students and graduates of the college and university developed 50 levelled ebooks for beginning readers (aimed at children but also potentially at adolescents). These ebooks will serve as exemplar texts and will be piloted by UNESCO as part of a range of literacy services to underserved communities in Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia and Mexico in the coming year.
2012	Continuous Professional Development/Training	Inservice Spring Seminars for Teachers, Inservice Department, St. Patrick’s College, Dublin, Ireland.	. Spring into action with powerful literacy instruction.
2012	Continuous Professional Development/Training	Invited presentation and workshops for Professional Development Unit for tutors in Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford. Teacher Education Centre, Kilkenny, Ireland.	Developing a balanced literacy framework in the classroom.
2011	Invited talk/presentation	In Literacy in a Changing World, Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) Consultative Conference on Education. Irish National Teachers’ Organisation, Athlone, Ireland.	Scaffolding Internet reading: Moving from page to screen.
2012	Invited talk/presentation	Invited keynote presentation at the Michigan State University Summer School for Masters in Arts in Educational Technology. Dublin City University (DCU), Dublin.	In pursuit of excellence: Creating deep learning opportunities for our students on the web.
2011	Invited talk/presentation	Invited keynote address, 35th Annual conference of the Reading Association of Ireland, College of Education, Rathmines	Meeting the challenges of 21st century literacies: Equity and excellence for all students
2011	Invited talk/presentation		Spring clean your reading instruction: Developing powerful literacy strategies. Invited presentation, St. Joseph's National School, Finglas, Dublin, Ireland
2013	Invited talk/presentation	Invited presentation at the Irish Learning Support Association (ILSA) Spring Conference, Drogheda, Ireland.	Struggling readers go digital: Potholes and possibilities.
2013	Consultancy	Invited presentation for teachers. Tarbert Education Centre, Kerry, Ireland.	Spring into action with powerful literacy instruction.
2016	Invited talk/presentation	Literacy and learning in the 21st century classroom: The choppy c’s of change. Invited keynote address at the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) conference for post-primary teachers, University of Limerick,	Keynote address
2012	Continuous Professional Development/Training	Professional Development Unit for tutors in Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford. Teacher Education Centre, Kilkenny, Ireland.	Developing a balanced literacy framework in the classroom. Invited presentation and workshops for

Media

Title	Year	Type	Authors
Big leap for literacy in schools. Push for in-depth reading demands new teaching methods and digital tools.	2016	Newspaper article (online)	Alison DeNisco
Leader Q&A with Bernadette Dwyer: A Board member’s perspective on ILA transformation .	2016	Newspaper article (Print)	Dan Mangan, Sarah Long
Literacy for All: Accelerating Outcomes through Collective Impact	2015	Radio interview/panel discussion	Invited panellist
What’s hot in literacy	2016	Newspaper article (Print)	Stephanie Grote-Garcia
Digital Tools to personalize literacy	2016	Newspaper article (Print)	Benjamin Herold
Developing a signature style	2013	Newspaper article (Print)	Sheila Wayman

Research Interests

Digital and Multimodal Literacies
Disciplinary Literacies
Online reading Comprehension
Internet inquiry skills strategies and dispositions
Inquiry-Based learning
Informational text
Visual Literacies

Current Postgraduate Students

	Student Name	Degree	Supervision
	Devey ,Ceire	PhD	Supervisor

Internal Collaborators

	Type	Name	Company	Role
	Internal	Educational Disadvantage Centre	DCU	Academic

External Collaborators

	Type	Name	Company	Role
	External	Dr. Lotta Larson	Kansas State University	Academic
	External	Dr. Jill Castek	University of Arizona	Academic

Teaching Interests

Balanced Literacy Framework in reading and writing workshops
Reading Comprehension in print and online
Vocabulary and Fluency Development
Visual Literacy
Using children's literature in the classroom
Language Experience Approach
Informational Texts
Disciplinary Literacy
Digital and Multimodal literacies
Inquiry-based approaches
Challenge-based learning

Modules Coordinated

	Term	Title	Subject
	2022	New Literacies:Dyslexia	EC324