Joe Usher
Dr
Dr Joe Usher is an Assistant Professor in Primary Geography Education and Social, Environmental and Scientific Education. He works in the area of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) and Professional Learning. He has previously worked as a primary school teacher in Co. Meath, Co. Louth and Co. Dublin. Prior to working as a primary teacher, Joe worked as a transport planner in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport as well as a planning officer for the National Heritage Council.
Dr Usher's research interests include; exploring children's rights and participation in local decision making through primary geography (doctoral thesis completed on this area), using digital resources in the teaching of primary geography (including GIS, Google Earth, LEGO Education and Minecraft Education), enquiry-based teaching and learning in primary geography, and the development of educational resources for primary geography education.
He completed his Doctorate at Queen's University, Belfast which involved the first ever nationwide review of the teaching of primary geography in Ireland. Here he also worked with urban planners and senior class primary teachers to develop a framework through which children could be consulted on local planning decisions through primary geography lessons on their local areas.
Dr Usher is a member of the Geography Association (GA), the Geography Society of Ireland (GSI), and the European Association of Geographers (EUROGEO). He is a member of the steering committee for the Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Education at DCU.
Dr Usher welcomes contact from organisations and individuals interested in all areas outlined above and all areas related to geography education.
Dr Usher's research interests include; exploring children's rights and participation in local decision making through primary geography (doctoral thesis completed on this area), using digital resources in the teaching of primary geography (including GIS, Google Earth, LEGO Education and Minecraft Education), enquiry-based teaching and learning in primary geography, and the development of educational resources for primary geography education.
He completed his Doctorate at Queen's University, Belfast which involved the first ever nationwide review of the teaching of primary geography in Ireland. Here he also worked with urban planners and senior class primary teachers to develop a framework through which children could be consulted on local planning decisions through primary geography lessons on their local areas.
Dr Usher is a member of the Geography Association (GA), the Geography Society of Ireland (GSI), and the European Association of Geographers (EUROGEO). He is a member of the steering committee for the Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Education at DCU.
Dr Usher welcomes contact from organisations and individuals interested in all areas outlined above and all areas related to geography education.
Book Chapter
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Dolan, A.M., Usher, J. (2025) 'Contemplating the Future for Primary Geography Education: An Irish Perspective' In: Handbook of Geography Education. Cham : Springer. [DOI] | |
| 2024 | Usher, J. and Broderick, N. (2024) 'Chapter 12 SDG 12 Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production' In: Teaching the Sustainable Development Goals to Young Citizens (10-16 years). London : Routledge. [DOI] | |
| 2021 | Dolan, A. and Usher, J. (2021) 'Climate Change and Geo-literacy' In: Teaching Climate Change in Secondary Schools. London : Routledge. | |
| 2017 | Usher, J. (2017) 'Finding place within primary geography education' In: Reflections on Primary Geography. Oxford : Oxford Brookes University Publishing. | |
| 2012 | Usher, J. (2012) 'Proposal for the Protection of the Souterrain at Crossdrum Lower, Oldcastle, Co Meath' In: Ríocht na Midhe XXIII. Navan : Meath Archaeological and Historical Society. |
Peer Reviewed Journal
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Usher, J. (2023) 'Conceptual framework for the participation of children in local area planning decision-making processes through primary geography education'. Irish Educational Studies, 42 (4):583-597. [DOI] | |
| 2023 | Usher, J. (2023) '‘I hate when we learn off the mountains and rivers because I don’t need to know where they all are on a blank map?!’ Irish Pupils’ Attitudes Towards, and Preferred Methods of Learning'. Irish Educational Studies, 43 (4):1141-1155. [DOI] | |
| 2021 | Usher, J. (2021) 'Powerful primary geography: a toolkit for 21st century Learning: by Anne M. Dolan, London, Routledge, 2020, 268 pp., 96 B/W Illustrations, Price is £24.99 for paperback version and £22.49 for online version. ISBN 9781138226517'. Irish Educational Studies, :689-691. [DOI] | |
| 2021 | Usher, J. (2021) 'How is geography taught in Irish primary schools? A large scale nationwide study'. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 31 (4):337-354. [DOI] | |
| 2021 | Usher, J. (2021) 'Africa in Irish Primary Geography Textbooks: developing and applying a Framework to investigate the potential of Irish Primary Geography textbooks in supporting Critical Multicultural Education'. Irish Educational Studies, 42 (1):123-143. [DOI] | |
| 2021 | Usher, J., & Dolan, A. M. (2021) 'Covid-19: teaching primary geography in an authentic context related to the lived experiences of learners'. Irish Educational Studies, 40 (2):177-185. [DOI] | |
| 2019 | Usher, J. (2019) 'Is geography lost? Curriculum policy analysis: finding a place for geography within a changing primary school curriculum in the Republic of Ireland'. Irish Educational Studies, 39 (4):411-437. [DOI] | |
| 2014 | Murphy, E., & Usher, J. (2014) 'The Role of Bicycle-sharing in the City: Analysis of the Irish Experience'. International Journal of Sustainable Transportation, 9 (2):116-125. [DOI] |
Other Journal
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Binimelis Sebastian, J., Usher, J., & Bagoly-Simo, P. (2024) 'Primary Education teachers’ academic, employment, personal and geographical context and the development of active geographical learning methodologies in Spain' Cuadernos Geográficos, 63 (2) :74-91. [DOI] | |
| 2023 | Binimelis Sebastian, J., Usher, J., & Bagoly-Simo, P. (2023) 'How is Geography taught at Primary Education centers in Spain? Results of a state-wide study' Boletín De La Asociación Española De Geografía, 98 . [DOI] |
Conference Publication
Book
Published Report
Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2025) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.
Research Interests
Dr Usher's research interests include; exploring children's rights and participation in local decision making through primary geography (doctoral thesis completed on this area), using digital resources in the teaching of primary geography (including GIS, Google Earth, LEGO Education and Minecraft), enquiry-based teaching and learning in primary geography, and the development of educational resources for primary geography education.
He his Doctorate at Queen's University, Belfast which involved the first ever nationwide review of the teaching of primary geography in Ireland. Here he also working with urban planners and senior class primary teachers to develop a framework through which children could be consulted on local planning decisions through primary geography lessons on their local areas. Dr Usher's research interests include; exploring children's rights and participation in local decision making through primary geography, using digital resources in the teaching of primary geography, enquiry-based teaching and learning in primary geography, and the development of educational resources for primary geography education.
Teaching Interests
Joe teaches on a wide range of courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Professional Master of Education (Primary) (Level 9)
PMEP1: ED8089 Science, History and Geography Education
PMEP1: ED9057 Primary Geography Elective
PMEP1: ED9047 School Placement and Reflection
PMEP1: School Placement Supervision
PMEP2: School Placement Supervision
PMEP2: ED8057 Research Project
Professional Master of Education (Primary) (Level 9)
PMEP1: ED8089 Science, History and Geography Education
PMEP1: ED9057 Primary Geography Elective
PMEP1: ED9047 School Placement and Reflection
PMEP1: School Placement Supervision
PMEP2: School Placement Supervision
PMEP2: ED8057 Research Project
Bachelor of Education (Level 8)
BEd1: ED1023 SESE and Teacher as a Person: Primary Geography Education
BEd1: ED1018 Teacher as Reflective Practitioner
B.Ed2: ED2026 SPHE, Ethics, Geography and History Education
B.Ed2: SG214 Geographical, Environmental and Outdoor Education: Spaces
B.Ed3: ED3053 Global Citizenship and Local Studies
B.Ed3: SG304 Geographical, Environmental and Outdoor Education: Agency and Action
B.Ed2: ED2026 SPHE, Ethics, Geography and History Education
B.Ed2: SG214 Geographical, Environmental and Outdoor Education: Spaces
B.Ed3: ED3053 Global Citizenship and Local Studies
B.Ed3: SG304 Geographical, Environmental and Outdoor Education: Agency and Action
B.Ed4: SG404 Subject Leadership within Geography Education
B.Ed4: ED4015 Research Project
BEd1, 2, 3 and 4 - School Placement Supervision