Staff Profiles

Dr Kathy O'Sullivan

B.A., PG Dip, PhD

Biography

Kathy O' Sullivan is joint director of the Bachelor of Mathematics and Education (BME) undergraduate teaching programme in the University of Galway and lecturer for mathematics methodologies in the School of Education. Prior to commencing her role as a mathematics teacher educator in the University of Galway, Kathy worked as the National Programme Coordinator for the Professional Diploma in Mathematics for Teaching (PDMT) in EPI*STEM (The National Centre for STEM Education in Ireland). Kathy completed a postgraduate teaching qualification in mathematics education in the University of Limerick and has experience in teaching mathematics to all levels in secondary school. Kathy completed her PhD in the Mathematics Education. Kathy's PhD study investigated pre-service teachers' knowledge of Numeracy and their ability to teach numeracy for disciplinary learning. Kathy has a keen interest in teachers' understanding of mathematical concepts and numeracy concepts in subjects other than mathematics. Kathy is passionate about encouraging numeracy across the curriculum as a whole school approach and enjoys supporting all teachers in embedding numeracy within their subject area.

Research Interests

Kathy's main research interest is numeracy across the school curriculum and her doctoral research has generated knowledge on how numeracy can be embedded across a range of subject disciplines. In recognition of Kathy's research expertise in the area of Numeracy and Mathematics Education, she was invited to join the organising committee for the 14th International Congress on Mathematical Education (ICME 14) for the topic study group Mathematical Literacy, Numeracy and Competency in Mathematics Education. Kathy's other research interests are listed below.

Research Interests:

Pre-service teachers mathematical knowledge
Mathematical thinking and problem solving
Embedding numeracy across the curriculum in primary and post-primary schools
Numeracy development in Adult Education
Curriculum reform in the area of mathematics education
Use of real life applications of mathematics
Teachers as designers of curriculum
Continuous Professional Development for teachers

Successful Funding Grants:

2018 - 2021: Erasmus Plus project to develop a Common European Numeracy Framework which identifies key factors in improving the quality of numerate behaviour of individuals and was awarded a total of ¿334,620 in funding. (https://cenf.eu/)

2019 - 2020:
Developing Good Practice Guidelines for Adult Tutors of Numeracy which was funded by National Adult Literacy Agency (¿25,000) The report is available from: (https://www.nala.ie/publications/good-practice-in-integrated-and-standalone-numeracy-provision-at-levels-1-3/)

NAC-NET: Establishing an Irish network to support teachers embedding numeracy across the curriculum which was funded by the Teaching Council of Ireland (¿5,000)

2020 - 2024:
Professional Diploma in Mathematics for Teaching (PDMT) which is funded by the Department of Education and Skills from 2021 to 2024 (¿1,500,000). Kathy is part of a national consortium of expert mathematics educators who designed and developed the PDMT to support teachers in upskilling in mathematics for teaching at second level.

2021 - 2022:
Numeracy-Meet: Professional development and networking for adult numeracy practitioners funded by the Irish Research Council (¿11,998). The overall aim of the Numeracy-Meets was to help practitioners around Ireland develop their skills in the teaching of numeracy to adult learners and to support practitioners in fostering a positive and engaging environment for teaching numeracy. The recordings and resources from each of the six Numeracy-Meets are available at: https://epistem.ie/numeracy-meets/

Adult Learners Conceptualisations of Numeracy funded by National Adult Literacy Agency (¿17,880)

Peer Reviewed Journals

	Year	Publication
	(2021)	'How Covid-19 has reinforced the importance of a numerate society' O'Sullivan, K., O'Meara, N., Goos, M., & Conway, P. (2021) 'How Covid-19 has reinforced the importance of a numerate society'. Irish Educational Studies, [Details]

Book Chapters

	Year	Publication
	(2023)	'Mathematical Literacy Across the Curriculum: Every Teacher's Responsibility' O' Sullivan, K., & Goos, M. (2023) 'Mathematical Literacy Across the Curriculum: Every Teacher's Responsibility' In: International perspectives on teaching and learning for mathematical literacy. The Netherlands: Brill. [Details]
	(2023)	'The evolution and uptake of numeracy and mathematical literacy as drivers for curriculum reform' Goos, M., & O' Sullivan, K. (2023) 'The evolution and uptake of numeracy and mathematical literacy as drivers for curriculum reform' In: Mathematics Curriculum Reforms Around the World. International Commission on Mathematical Instruction (ICMI): Springer. [DOI] [Details]

Published Reports

	Year	Publication
	(2021)	Development of Good Practice Guidelines for Integrated and Standalone Numeracy Provision for Adults at Levels 1-3 Final Report. Goos, M., Prendergast, M., O' Meara, N., & O' Sullivan, K. (2021) Development of Good Practice Guidelines for Integrated and Standalone Numeracy Provision for Adults at Levels 1-3 Final Report. SOLAS, Dublin, Ireland. [Details]

Conference Publications

	Year	Publication
	(2022)	*Adults Learning Mathematics: Numeracy and Social Impact* Prendergast, M., Forster, A., O'Meara, N., O' Sullivan, K., & Faulkner, F. (2022) Evaluating a series of Numeracy-Meets for Adult Practitioners in Ireland Adults Learning Mathematics: Numeracy and Social Impact [Details]
	(2022)	*MERGA 44; Mathematical Confluences and Journeys* O' Sullivan, K., & Goos, M. (2022) Numeracy Across the Curriculum in Initial Teacher Education MERGA 44; Mathematical Confluences and Journeys [Details]
	(2022)	*Science and Mathematics Education Conference (SMEC)* O' Sullivan, K., O' Meara, N., Goos, M., & Conway, P. (2022) Pre-service teachers numeracy capabilities Science and Mathematics Education Conference (SMEC) [Details]
	(2022)	*Twelfth Congress of the European Society for Research in Mathematics Education (CERME)* Prendergast, M., O'Meara, O'Sullivan, K., & Faulkner, F. (2022) Numeracy-Meets: professional development and networking for adult numeracy practitioners Twelfth Congress of the European Society for Research in Mathematics Education (CERME) [Details]
	(2021)	*ICME 14 (14th International Congress on Mathematical Education)* O' Sullivan, K. (2021) It is time pre-service teachers develop their numerate abilities to support their students numeracy learning ICME 14 (14th International Congress on Mathematical Education) [Details]
	(2019)	*43rd conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (Vol. 4, p. 170). Pretoria, South Africa: PME* O'Sullivan, K., O'Meara, N., Goos, M., & Conway, P. (2019) Teaching numeracy across the curriculum; What knowledge do preservice teachers need? 43rd conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (Vol. 4, p. 170). Pretoria, South Africa: PME [Details]
	(2019)	*Seventh Conference on Research in Mathematics Education in Ireland* O' Sullivan, K., O' Meara, N., Goos, M., & Conway, P. (2019) The N Framework - A potential Solution to Numeracy across the Curriculum Seventh Conference on Research in Mathematics Education in Ireland [Details]
	(2018)	*ICMI-24 Study Conference on School mathematics curriculum reforms: Challenges, changes and opportunities. Tsukuba, Japan, 26-30 November* Goos, M., & O' Sullivan, K. (2018) A comparative analysis of numeracy as a driver for curriculum reform in Australia and Ireland ICMI-24 Study Conference on School mathematics curriculum reforms: Challenges, changes and opportunities. Tsukuba, Japan, 26-30 November [Details]
	(2018)	*Science and Mathematics Education Conference* O' Sullivan, K., O' Meara, N., Goos, M., & Conway, P. (2018) How numerate are pre-service teachers? Science and Mathematics Education Conference [Details]

Conference Contributions

	Year	Publication
	(2020)	Creativity and Innovation in the Classroom, O' Sullivan, K. (2020) Literacy and Numeracy in practice. [Keynote Address], Creativity and Innovation in the Classroom, Galway, Ireland , 19-FEB-20. [Details]

Honours and Awards

	Year	Title	Awarding Body
	2019	John Coolahan Research Support Framework Award	Teaching Council of Ireland

Professional Associations

Association	Function	From / To
International Congress on Mathematical Education (ICME)	Organising Committee member for Topic Group Mathematical Literacy and Numeracy Education	01-JUN-19 /
Adults Learning Mathematics	Member	01-JUN-22 /
International Group for Psychology of Mathematics Education	PME is an international group of mathematics educators and researchers who gather once a year to share our work and interests at an Annual Conference. The aim of the organisation is to promote international contacts and exchange of information in the field of mathematics education	01-MAY-19 /
Young European society for Research in Mathematics Education (YERME)	YERME aims to support young researchers in the field of mathematics education share their work and opens opportunities for collaboration with other countries	01-FEB-19 /
Educational Studies Association of Ireland	This association is dedicated to the advancement of educational research in Ireland	01-MAR-16 /

Committees

	Committee	Function	From / To
	Steering Group Committe for Professional Diploma in Mathematics for Teaching	Steering Committee member	/ 31-OCT-19
	International Congress on Mathematical Education	Organising Committee for ICME - 14	/

Employment

Employer	Position	From / To
NUI Galway	Lecturer in Mathematics Education	04-NOV-19 /
University of Limerick	National Programme Coordinator for the Professional Diploma in Mathematics for Teaching (PDMT)	13-OCT-14 / 31-OCT-19
Terence McSwiney Community College, Cork	Mathematics Teacher	01-JAN-09 / 03-OCT-14

Education

Year	Institution	Qualification	Subject
2022	University of Limerick	PhD in Mathematics Education	Numeracy across the Curriculum
2012	University of Limerick	Postgraduate Diploma	Mathematics Teaching
2009	University College Cork	Bachelor of Arts	Mathematics & Gaeilge

Reviews

	Journal	Role
	Irish Educational Studies	Reviewer

Teaching Interests

Kathy has a passion for teaching mathematics for understanding. She believes it is essential that teachers promote real life applications of mathematics as this will support students' learning. In Kathy's modules, she encourages pre-service teachers to become designers of their own resources and of the curriculum, and does this by providing them with the knowledge and tools to become pro-active teachers of mathematics.

Recent Postgraduate Students

	Graduation	Name	Degree	Primary Supervisor
	2021	Clíodhna Flavin	Master of Education	Y

Modules Taught

Term/Year	Module Title	Module Code	Subject / Desc
2019 - to date	Principles of Second - Level Mathematics	ED109	This module engages students in re-examining the major mathematical concepts from Junior and Leaving Certificate mathematics with the aim of initiating the transition of students' mathematical knowledge from knowledge required of a student, to knowledge required for effective teaching. Particular emphasis is placed on deepening conceptual understanding and making connections across topics.
2021 - to date	Professional Studies	ED304
2020 - to date	Research Dissertation	ED412
2021 - to date	Mathematics and Applied Mathematics Methodologies	ED2001
2021 - to date	Practical Teaching Programme	ED303
2019 - 2021	Practical Teaching Programme 1	ED199	This module introduces students to the classroom environment, schools as organisations and teaching as a profession. Student teachers undertake a series of visits to local schools to conduct structured observations, carry out teaching and learning activities, and interact with school professionals in order to develop an understanding and appreciation of the complexities of mathematics teaching and learning, and the requirements of the teaching profession.
2019 - 2020	Professional Practice	ED6201
2019 - 2020	Research Literacies for Professional Development & Lifelong Learning	ED329	This module is about becoming literate in research as it relates to teaching. This will enable students to become researchers in their own classrooms.
2019 - 2021	Mathematics Methodology & Skills of Teaching	ED295

External Collaborators

Name	Organisation / Institute	Country
Fiona Faulkner	Technological University Dublin	IRELAND
Merrilyn Goos	University of the Sunshine Coast	AUSTRALIA
Mark Prendergast	University College Cork	IRELAND
Niamh O' Meara	University of Limerick	IRELAND