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Dr Kathy O'Sullivan

B.A., PG Dip, PhD

 
researcher
 

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 Description of Collaboration
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