University College Dublin

 

I was a lecturer in history at University College Dublin between 2007 and 2013 (IRCHSS Post-doctoral Fellow, 2009-11), having previously worked there as a tutor / teaching assistant for three years. I taught a mix of mainstream, adult learners and visiting American students.  

 

Approach to Teaching:

My teaching ethos is informed by a participant-centred experience, and I am a strong believer in social learning. In addition to traditional essays and research papers, I also used blogging, documentary-making, team projects and poster presentations as forms of assessment in my modules.

 

Modules Co-ordinated at University College Dublin, 2007-13

Colony to Republic: The Making of Ireland, 1169-2013

Ireland’s Elections: O’Connell to 2007

Debating History: Controversies of Twentieth Century Ireland

Heroes and Villains: History Makers of Twentieth Century Ireland

The Making of Modern Ireland, 1800-1921

Freedom to Achieve Freedom: Ireland 1922-48

Reading History: Controversies of the Twentieth Century

Rebellion and Revolution

 

UCD Writing Academy

In addition to teaching history modules, I was an instructor for several years on the Writing Academy run by the Mature Students Office in University College Dublin. The course is designed to guide adult learners in the principles of critical thinking and writing, thus helping to alleviate some of the potential concerns about returning to education.

Feedback from Writing Academy, 2012:

• ‘I found Ciara very helpful and any questions I had she answered them all for me. Feel a lot more confident about starting now’.
• ‘I found Ciara to be very helpful and approachable. She answered every question big and small with the same enthusiasm’.
• ‘Most enjoyable and helpful. Thank you Ciara’.
• ‘The Writing Academy was a very useful tool and has definitely given me a lot more confidence and drive to get cracking with university life. I would like to thank Ronan and the 3 ladies (Arlene, Gillian and Ciara) for making it so informative and so enjoyable’.

The full report is publicly available from the UCD website.

 

 

 

Images reproduced with permission from those students involved.