In this episode of the EPI·STEM podcast, Geraldine Simmie PhD and Michelle Starr PhD welcome Dr Michaela Hayes as their special guest. Dr Hayes is a University Teacher in technology education in the School of Education and an EPI∙STEM Affiliate with expertise in teaching student teachers’ subjects, such as, construction studies, graphics and wood technology.
In the EPI·STEM podcast today, Dr Michaela Hayes shares her passion for teaching and research in technology education and pedagogy and explains how deliberative democracy in the classroom can support paying attention to the common good of society and the environment. Dr Hayes traces her passion and research interest in technology education from good beginnings as a pupil in Coláiste Mhuire in Ennis to her four-year undergraduate degree in UL in Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in technology education. Dr Hayes’s research expertise in relation to pedagogy and teacher learning in technology education is underpinned by her doctoral study – completed in 2025.
Dr Hayes’ doctoral study involved a deep dive into a conceptual framework that drew from the theorisations of Habermas and Foucault and examined the problem involved in seeking to establish a democratic classroom experience for all young people. Dr Hayes explains the need to acknowledge the rich interplays between technology, ethics and power. This needs to include the heart work embedded in good teaching and the necessary struggle for students to experience a democratic learning environment in technology education. Michaela explains that the overall aim here is to make a difference to breathing life into the United Nation’s sustainable development goals.
Dr Michaela Hayes is currently working on a European project on active learning methodologies with her colleagues, Dr Niekie Blom and Dr Donal Canty. This coming week they are travelling, along with final year students to Murcia in Spain to meet their European partners and to visit schools.
The music selection today is performed by Caoimhe Doherty, a third-year student in the BA in World Music in The Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at UL. Here Caoimhe plays two jigs on the fiddle, The Rolling Wave and Banished Misfortune.
