Researcher Details |

Aoife Brennan

Contact Details

F306
T:Ext. 9061

E:Aoife.Brennan@dcu.ie

Aoife Brennan is an Associate Professor and Head of School of Inclusive and Special Education in DCU Institute of Education. She previously worked as a mainstream and learning support/resource primary teacher and as a Literacy Advisor with the National Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST). Aoife teaches across a number of undergraduate and postgraduate teacher education programmes up to and including doctoral level, She has chaired a number of programmes, including the Professional Diploma in Special and Inclusive Education, Diploma in Inclusive and Special Education and the Masters in Special Educational Needs and she has coordinated the professional placement modules on the Grad Dip in Inclusive and Special Education. Aoife leads the Inclusive and Special Education Area of Professional Focus (APF) on the Doctor of Education (EdD) programme. She is Chair of the International Professional Development Association (IPDA) Ireland and an Advisory Board Member for the International Symposium on Leadership for Professional Learning.

Aoife's doctoral research (http://doras.dcu.ie/21956/) focused on exploring the impact of a professional learning community on teacher learning for inclusive practice. Since then, she has continued to engage in research on professional learning for inclusion, inclusive pedagogy, professional learning policy development and inclusive school leadership, which has been published in high-impact teacher education journals. She has led numerous research projects, including a Teaching Council-funded project on the development of a university-school partnership to support collaborative teacher professional learning in PLCs for inclusive pedagogy in primary and post-primary schools, and an international collaborative project on special classes in mainstream schools. Aoife is currently leading a €60,000 Research-Ireland funded 2025 Discover Programme project on STEM for All: Supporting Teacher professional learning for inclusive STEM and a project on neuro-inclusive workplaces funded by Bank of Ireland and Accenture. She has supervised doctoral students in the areas of professional learning and inclusive school leadership, teacher resilience, and inclusive mathematics. Aoife is a member of the leadership team for the recently established Centre for Inclusive Pedagogy.

Peer Reviewed Journal

	Year	Publication
	2024	Logan, A., Brennan, A., Pennycook, C., Scanlon, D., Furlong, C., O’Grady, S., … Doyle, A. (2024) 'Going wild with placement’: exploring a model of engagement in individual, dyadic and team reflective practice in the context of collaborative self-study supporting teacher educator critical reflection, interrogation of practice, professional learning, collaboration and the scholarship of teaching and learning'. REFLECTIVE PRACTIVE, . https://doi.org/10.1080/14623943.2024.2445348
	2024	Brennan, A.; Pennycook, C.; Barr, L. (2024) '‘It didn’t feel like something extra we had to do; it was something we all looked forward to’ - how school-based professional learning communities can reimagine teacher professional learning for inclusive practice'. TEACHERS AND TEACHING, . [Link] [DOI]
	2024	Brennan, A.; Logan, A.; Pennycook, C.; Gorman, A.; Scanlon, D. (2024) 'Collaborative self-study in higher education: lessons from redesigning school placement during the pandemic'. Journal of Education for Teaching, 50 . [Link] [DOI]
	2024	Doyle, A.; Conroy Johnson, M.; Scanlon, D.; Logan, A.; Silke, A.; Gorman, A.; Brennan, A.; Furlong, C.; O’Grady, S. (2024) 'Reconceptualising school placement assessment in initial teacher education: a figurational perspective'. European Journal of Teacher Education, 47 . [Link] https://doi.org/10.1080/02619768.2024.2345904
	2023	Brennan, Aoife; Gorman, Alan (2023) 'Leading transformative professional learning for inclusion across the teacher education continuum: lessons from online and on-site learning communities'. Professional Development in Education, 49 (6). [DOI]
	2022	Brennan, A.; King, F. (2022) 'Teachers’ experiences of transformative professional learning to narrow the values practice gap related to inclusive practice'. Cambridge Journal of Education, 52 . [Link] [DOI]
	2021	Aoife Brennan; Fiona King; Joe Travers (2021) 'Supporting the enactment of inclusive pedagogy in a primary school'. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 25 . [DOI]
	2021	Raftery, A., & Brennan, A. (2021) 'Leading the Special Education Teacher Allocation Model : Examining the Perspectives and Experiences of School Leaders in Supporting Special and Inclusive Education in Irish Primary Schools'. REACH - Journal of Inclusive Education in Ireland, 34 (2):2-20. [Link] https://reachjournal.ie/index.php/reach/article/view/320
	2020	Barr, L. & Brennan, A. (2020) 'Guided Repeated Reading: Supporting the Development of Reading Fluency for Pupils with Reading Difficulties in the Primary School Classroom'. LEARN - Journal of the Irish Learning Support Association, 41 :70-85. [Link]
	2019	Brennan, A. (2019) 'Differentiation through Choice as an Approach to Inclusive Practice'. REACH - Journal of Inclusive Education in Ireland, 32 (1):11-20. [Link] https://reachjournal.ie/index.php/reach/article/view/13
	2014	Brennan, A. (2014) 'Teaching comprehension to pupils with learning difficulties'. Irish Learning Support Association, 36 (1):77-86. [Link]

Book Chapter

	Year	Publication
	2023	Jones, K., Ostinelli, G. & Alberto Crescentini (2023) 'Teacher Professional Learning in the Republic of Ireland: Policy Development to Policy Enactment' In: Innovation in Teacher Professional Learning in Europe: Research, Policy and Practice. UK : Routledge.

Published Report

	Year	Publication
	2020	Ní Bhroin, Ó., O’ Brien, S., Balfe, T., Brennan, A., & Pennycook, C. (2020) Quality Assessment System of In-Service Teacher Training provided by the Education and Teacher Training Agency (QA-INSETT-ETTA). Dublin City University, . [DOI]
	2024	Gorman, A., Woods, C., Furlong, C., Brennan, A., Hall, K., & Curtin, A (2024) Documenting the identity formation of early-career school leaders: transition, socialisation, and role duality. SCoTENs, . https://scotens.org/site/wp-content/uploads/DPIF.pdf

Conference Contribution

	Year	Publication
	2024	Brennan, A. (2024) European Conference on Educational Research (ECER) Supporting teachers to enact inclusive pedagogy in an age of uncertainty: the future of sustainable teacher professional learning for inclusive education Nicosia, Cyprus, .
	2024	Brennan, A. & Gorman, A. (2024) European Conference on Educational Research (ECER) How the identity formation of early-career principals/headteachers can provide insights into developing and supporting sustainable school leadership Nicosia, Cyprus, .
	2024	Brennan, A. (2024) Leadership for Professional Learning Symposium Supporting teachers as leaders of school-based professional learning for inclusion Santiago, Chile, .
	2023	King, F.,; Brennan, A.,; & Gorman, A. (2023) European Conference on Educational Research (ECER) Teacher Professional Learning in the Republic of Ireland: Policy Development to Policy Enactment Glasgow, Scotland, .
	2023	Brennan, A. (2023) Innovative Solutions in Education: from Gamification to Artificial Intelligence Interactive Orals as an Innovative Assessment Approach in the Age of AI. Plenary Lecture Vilnius University, Lithuania, .
	2022	Brennan, A. (2022) International Professional Development Association “It didn’t feel like something extra we had to do; it was something we all looked forward to”How school-based professional learning communities can help reimagine teacher professional learning for inclusive practice Online, .
	2022	Aoife Brennan; Alan Gorman; Fiona King (2022) Teacher Education Policy in Europe Conference Teacher Professional Learning in the Republic of Ireland: Policy Development to Policy Enactment University of Graz, Austria, .
	2021	Brennan, A. & Ní Bhroin, Ó. (2021) International Professional Development Association Leadership for Professional Learning Virtual Symposium Leading transformative online professional learning: opportunities, challenges and ways forward Online, .
	2020	Brennan, A., Ní Bhroin, Ó., O'Brien, S., Balfe, T & Pennycook, C. (2020) International Professional Development Association: Imagining the post professional; Identity, ethics and response-ability beyond professional standards The design of a quality assessment tool to support effective PLD in the context of contemporary global challenges Online, .
	2020	Ní Bhroin, Ó., Brennan, A., O'Brien, S., Pennycook, C. & Balfe, T. (2020) Education Studies Association of Ireland; Opening up education, options, obstacles and opportunities Exploring e-learning opportunities as a form of professional learning for teachers in Croatia Online, .
	2019	Brennan, A. & Gorman, A. (2019) Teacher Education Policy Europe (TEPE) Annual Conference: Quality Teachers and Quality Teacher Education: Research, Policy and Practice Developing transformative models of professional learning for inclusive practice across the continuum of teacher education Krakow, Poland, .
	2019	Brennan, A & King, F (2019) International Professional Development Association: Harnessing creativity in changing times Risk, resilience and professional learning across the professions Exploring a model of creative professional learning to sustain inclusive practice in changing times Birmingham, .
	2018	Brennan, A. (2018) International Professional Development Association: Border Crossings: Professional Development in the 21st Century Evaluating the Impact of a Professional Learning Community on Teacher Professional Learning for Inclusive Practice Birmingham, .
	2018	Brennan, A. (2018) British Educational Research Association (BERA) Researching for Social Justice and Educational Improvement Supporting the development of teachers as agents of change in developing inclusion grounded in social justice University of Bedforshire, .
	2018	Brennan, A. (2018) IATSE 2018:Thinking, Acting and Planning Inclusively Supporting teachers to enact inclusive practice DCU, .
	2017	Brennan, A. (2017) Irish Learning Support Association (ILSA) Annual Conference 2017 Meeting the needs of all: Differentiation through Choice Tullow, Co. Carlow, .
	2017	Brennan, A. (2017) Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) 42nd Annual Conference Supporting the enactment of inclusive pedagogy in a primary school: Implications for the new model of allocation UCC Cork, .
	2015	Brennan, A. (2015) Paper presented at the South East Education Centre Region Fifth Annual Research Conference in Wexford Education Centre, Co. Wexford Teaching comprehension to pupils with learning difficulties Wexford Education Centre, .
	2014	Brennan, A. (2014) Paper presented at the Fourth Annual Post Graduate Conference in Humanities and Education The value of reflective teaching in an era of technical rationality St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, .

Thesis

	Year	Publication
	2017	Brennan, A. (2017) Exploring the impact of a professional learning community on teacher professional learning for inclusive practice. THES [Link]

Professional Associations

	Association	Function	From / To
	International Professional Development in Education	IPDA Association	-

Committees

	Committee	Function	From / To
	International Professional Development Association (IPDA) Ireland		-
	Centre for Talented Youth, Ireland Advisory Board		-

Employment

Employer	Position	From / To
DES	Primary Teacher	01/09/2004 - 01/09/2014
Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST)	Advisor for Literacy	01/09/2014 - 19/01/2017
Dublin City University	Assistant Professor	01/01/2017 -

Education

	Start date	Institution	Qualification	Subject
		DCU Institute of Education	Doctorate in Education
		Trinity College Dublin	Postgraduate Diploma
		NUI Maynooth	Postgraduate Diploma
		Trinity College Dublin	Masters in Education
		St. Patrick's College	Bachelor of Education

Reviews

	Journal	Role
	Journal of Education Policy	Reviewer
	Teaching and Teacher Education	Reviewer
	Cambridge Journal of Education	Reviewer
	INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION (ONLINE)	Reviewer
	Professional Development in Education	Reviewer

Enterprise Engagement

	Year	Engagement Type	Client	Description
	2024	Consultancy	National Council for Special Education	Pilot Project on Practice-Based Research Programme

Outreach Activities

	Year	Engagement Type	Organisation	Description
	2024	Presentations/Talks to an external audience	Croatian Education and Teacher Training Agency	Invited presentation on Transformative Teacher Professional Learning

Media

	Title	Year	Type	Authors
	Let’s Talk Education Research: Transformative Professional Learning for Inclusive Practice (Episode 16))	2023	Podcast	Brennan, A & Tiernan, P.
	'A complex issue': the concerns around special education teaching	2025	Newspaper article (online)	Brennan, A

Research Interests

Inclusion, special education, inclusive pedagogy, leadership for inclusion, collaboration, teacher professional learning, professional learning communities, policy in inclusive and special education, differentiation

Research Projects

Title	Role	Start date	End date
STEM for all: supporting teachers’ professional learning for inclusive STEM	DCU PI	01/01/2025	31/12/2025
Exploring the Barriers and Enablers to Inclusion Experienced by Neurodivergent People in the Workplace	DCU PI	09/09/2024	08/06/2025
Autism Education PhD Scholarhsips	DCU PI	01/09/2024	31/08/2028
Supporting teachers’ professional learning for inclusive practice through professional learning communities.	PI	03/01/2022	26/01/2023
Teacher Fellow Evaluation Project	Researcher	03/10/2022	03/10/2023
Documenting early-career primary and post-primary principals’ identity formation	Researcher	01/09/2020	01/12/2021
Teachers’ experiences of transformative professional learning to narrow the values practice gap related to inclusive practice	PI	01/02/2021	31/08/2021
Developing a Quality Assessment Tool of the System of In-Service Teacher Training (INSETT) Provided by the Education and Teacher Training Agency (ETTA) in Croatia	Researcher	06/05/2019	03/08/2020
Evaluating the long-term impact of a professional learning community on teacher professional learning for inclusive practice.	Co-PI	28/03/2017
Supporting teacher professional learning and development (PLD) for inclusive practice through professional learning communities (PLCs)	DCU PI	01/10/2020	30/09/2021
Higher Education Teachers Supporting Placement Online	Researcher	01/03/2021	31/10/2021

Current Postgraduate Students

	Student Name	Degree	Supervision
	Cresham,Elaine	PhD-track	Supervisor

Teaching Interests

Inclusive education, inclusion and diversity, differentiation and methodolgies, inclusive pedagogy, literacy education.

Modules Coordinated

	Term	Title	Subject
	2025		EDU1170-A