Research articles

Student Teacher Educational Research (STER): An Innovation in Irish Teacher Education
Brennan, A. 2019. Education Research and Perspectives, 46(1), 44-74
This article presents the findings of the evaluation of that pilot year, incorporating qualitative and quantitative data from twenty-seven students. The learning derived from participation in STER will be outlined, with a particular emphasis on how peer-learning and research dissemination can be supported in ITE. Giving student teachers an opportunity to share their research in student-led learning community motivated them to engage with educational research outside of lectures and participants gained a greater appreciation for the potential of educational research to influence practice.
Reflections on establishing a student-staff partnership in Irish university-based teacher education
Brennan, A. (2021). In Shagrir, L. and Bar-Tal, S. Exploring Professional Development Opportunities for Teacher Educators: Promoting Faculty-Student Partnerships. Routledge.
This chapter reflects on the learning derived from working in partnership with student teachers on the design and development of the student teacher educational research (STER) project, a student-staff partnership aimed at enhancing the teaching and learning of educational research methods in initial teacher education in Ireland. The chapter highlights the challenges associated with partnership for teacher educators, including reconceptualising traditional staff-student roles, building meaningful relationships with students outside of a formal teaching and learning environment, and navigating complex issues of uncertainty, credibility and student power dynamics.
The important risk-taking of advocating for student partnership practice. Brennan, A. (2021). International Journal for Students As Partners, 5 (1), 8–11.
This opinion piece is a call to action for all higher education teachers engaged in partnership practice to consider themselves advocates, reluctant or willing, for a partnership approach in higher education, reluctant or willing.
Student Teacher Educational Research (STER). Brennan, A. 2022. NStEP Case Study of Student Engagement - Supporting student-staff partnership in Irish higher education.
This case study aims to be an inspiring examples of sharing, learning, and collaboration to support student partnership in Ireland. The profile focuses on how STER supports students to develop research skills while leading the co-publication of an academic journal, conference and podcast.
Embedding Partnership in Student Research Development to Effect System Change. Brennan, A. and Reilly, C. (2022). QQI 10th Anniversary Conference: Strengthening Strategic Partnerships. Dublin, Ireland.
This short lightening talk introduces the STER project with a particular focus on how partnership is embedded.
Learners as Co-Creators of their Own Learning (LeCoLe) is a European funded project which offers insights into best practice associated with actively engaging learners in teaching, learning and assessment. Partner countries Portugal, Iceland, Ireland, Greece and Latvia take the lead on developing podcast episodes that give voice to educators and students involved in co-creation. Participatnts discuss the benefits of participatory design, challenges associated with co-creation, and factors to consider when embedding co-creative learning processes. The STER project provided inspiration to the project team in terms of the staff-student partnership model, podcast design and creation, and learner empowerment. STER also features in the accompanying material and the podcast can be accessed on Spotify.