Associate Professor (Emeritus)
I am an Associate Professor (Emeritus), in Mathematics Education here at UL.
I graduated with a BS in Mathematics and Physics from St John Fisher College, Rochester, New York and has a Masters in Physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York. I have a PhD in Mathematics Education from Loughborough University, UK.
I have a long history of involvement with mathematics teacher education in Ireland as course founder/leader mathematics teacher education programme at the former Thomond College of Education and UL. I have acted as Course Director on several teacher education programmes and currently I am Course Director of the Professional Diploma in Mathematics for Teaching.
My research interests are in mathematics education with a special focus on mathematics teacher education (Secondary), adult mathematics education/numeracy, service mathematics teaching, and mathematics support (HE). Currently, I have served as a Visiting Professor at SIGMA, Coventry University, UK from 2011 – 2014. I am a Fellow and Chartered Mathematician at The Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA), UK and a chartered member of the Institute of Physics (IOP), UK.
I currently serve on a number of national committees including the STEM review committee.
Research
He is an active researcher in mathematics education with a special focus on mathematics teacher education (Secondary), adult mathematics education/numeracy, service mathematics teaching and mathematics support (HE).
He is the Founder/director of the following centres:
– CAMET(Ireland), the Centre for Advancement of Mathematical Education in Technology
– Mathematics Learning Centre.
– Regional Centre for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching and Learning (CEMTL)
– Co- founder, National Centre for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and Learning (NCE-MSTL).
He has supervised to completion:
15 PhD’s
14 Masters (by research)
and is currently supervising/Jointly supervising:
4 PhD’S
1 Masters
Professional Activities
Professional Societies
Fellow, Chartered Mathematician, Institute of Mathematics and its Applications,U.K.
Member, Chartered Physicist, Institute of Physics, U.K.
Member, Irish Mathematical Society
Hon. Trustee, and former Chair (1997- 2001) Adults Learning Mathematics – A Research Forum (International Charity)
National Committees
STEM Education Review Group (Official launch, 20 November, 2013)
Literacy and Numeracy Implementation Advisory Group (12 December, 2011 – present)
Project Maths Implementation Support Group (25 Feb., 2010 – present)
Board of Studies for Mathematics, NCCA (2008 – present).
National Committee for Mathematics, Royal Irish Academy, 2001-09
National Sub-Commission for Mathematical Instruction, Royal Irish Academy, 2001-09
Applied Mathematics LC Syllabus Committee, NCCA. 2001- 07.
Chair, Mathematics Review Committee, NCVA
Member, Board of Studies, Project Mathematics, NCCA. 2007 – ongoing.
Editorial Boards
Member, Advisory Editorial Board, International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 1988 – present.
Member, Advisory Editorial Board, ALM International Journal (electronic)
Refereeing, reviewing
Referee, International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, occasional articles
Referee, Literacy and Numeracy Studies, Special Issue, 11(2), 2002.
Reviewer, Book proposal (Mathematics Education), Paul Chapman Publishers.
Reviewer, Numeracy Assessment Framework, Adult and Lifeskills International Survey (ALLS), Statistics Canada/OECD
External Examining
Loughborough University, U.K. 2013
Dublin City University, 2011
Coventry University, U.K. 2011.
Loughborough University, U.K. Local Supervisor, MPhil/ PhD, 1984 – 1991.
University of Auckland, New Zealand. External Examiner (PhD, 2006)
Trinity College Dublin, External Examiner (PhD, 2006)
Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. External Examiner (PhD, 2009)
Regional Technical College, Dundalk, External Examiner 1983 – 86.
Regional Technical College, Letterkenny, External Examiner 1983 – 86
Regional Technical College, Sligo, External Examiner 1983 – 86
Dublin City University, External Examiner/Service Mathematics 2002 – 2005
National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG), BA Education and Mathematics (Teacher Education), 2009 – 2012.
Academic Awards, Fellowships, Recognitions
Visiting Professor, SIGMA and Coventry University, U.K., 2009-2012
Excellence in Teaching Award (Joint Recipient), UL, 2001.
Invited member, Organising Panel for Working Group for Action (WGA6) – Adult and Life-long Education in Mathematics, International Congress on Mathematical Education (ICME-9), Tokyo, 31 July – 6 Aug 2000.
UL Teaching Fellow, 1998-99
Nominated for Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Limerick, 1996
Invited member, Organising Panel for Working Group (WG 18) – Adults Returning to Mathematics, International Congress on Mathematical Education (ICME-8), Seville, 14-21 July 1996.
Invited member, Workshop Team in Applied Mathematics for Teachers, Curriculum Development Centre, Thribuvan University, Katmandu, Nepal. Sponsored by the British Council. 1987 (2 weeks).
Visiting Research Fellow, Centre for Advancement of Mathematical Education in Technology (CAMET), Loughborough University, 1983 (1Term).
Invited member, All India Mathematics Education at CAMET (AIMEC). Contributed to workshops sponsored by the British Council in Ahmdebad and Hyderbad.1982 (1 Month).
Publications (selection)
Books, proceedings and reports
Maasz, J. and O’Donoghue, J. ( 2011). Real World Problems for Secondary Level Mathematic Students Case Studies, Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.
Prendergast, M. and O’Donoghue, J. (2011). Developing and Maintaining Interest in School Algebra, LICEJ, 2(1),
O’Keeffe, L. and O’Donoghue, J. (2011). The Use of Evidence Based Research on Mathematics Textbooks to Increase Student Conceptual Understanding, IJCDSE, 2(2), 304 – 311,
Prendergast, M. and O’Donoghue, J (2011). Integrating Different Theoretical Perspectives in Research Design, Ireland International Conference on Education (IICE), Dublin, October 3-5.
