Creating an Innovative, Online Resource to Support Teachers in Integrating Digital Literacy Skills into the Junior Cycle English Curriculum - Ph.D. 2023

Sep 12, 2026

This Ph.D. dissertation presents the development of an innovative online resource designed to support teachers in integrating digital literacy skills into the Junior Cycle English curriculum. It situates the work within global and national educational contexts, including the Irish education system and the Junior Cycle framework. The study adopts an educational entrepreneurial action research approach, using reflection journals, questionnaires, interviews, video, photographs, and other evidence to examine aims, data validity, and ethical considerations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPaper Templates

FormatPDF

Pages514

Reading Time3 h 0 min

AccessFree to download

List of Figures

List of Tables

List of Videos

List of Abbreviations

Link to Online Resources

Glossary of Terms

Acknowledgements

Abstract

A Note on the Structure of the Dissertation

Chapter 1 Introduction

The Global Context

The National Context

The Irish Education System

Rationale for this Research

Research Aims

Dissertation Layout

Methodology

Research Paradigms

Action Research

Data Collection Methods

Validity

Ethical Considerations

Conclusion

Chapter 2 An Exploration of Self

Chapter 3 Teacher Continuous Professional Development

Chapter 4 Digital Literacy

Chapter 5 Digital Inequality

Chapter 6 Digital Natives-Born or Made?

Creating an Innovative, Online Resource to Support Teachers in Integrating Digital Literacy Skills into the Junior Cycle English Curriculum Laura Sloyan Ph.D. 2023 Creating an Innovative, Online Resource to Support Teachers in Integrating Digital Literacy Skills into the Junior Cycle English Curriculum Laura Sloyan B.A.Th. , P.G.C.E. , M.Sc . Dissertation Submitted for the Award of Ph.D. School of STEM Education, Innovation and Global Studies Dublin City University Supervisors: Dr. Yvonne Crotty Dr. Margaret Farren March 2023 Declaration I hereby certify that this material, which I now submit for assessment on the programme of study leading to the [award of Ph.D. is](award of Ph.D. is) entirely my own work, and that I have exercised reasonable care to ensure that the work is original, and does not to the best of my knowledge breach any law of copyright, and has not been taken from the work of others save and to the extent that such work has been cited and acknowledged within the text of my work. Signed: ID. No.:58211612 Date: 12/3//2023 Table of Contents List of Figures 11 List of Tables 16 List of Videos 17 List of Abbreviations 18 Link to Online Resources 21 Glossary of Terms 22 Acknowledgements 25 Abstract 27 A Note on the Structure of the Dissertation 28 Chapter 1 31 Introduction 31 1. The Global Context 31 2. The National Context 31 3. The Irish Education System 34 3.1. The Junior Cycle 35 3.2. Developing Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) 37 4. Rationale for this Research 38 5. Research Aims 39 6. Dissertation Layout 40 Methodology 46 1. Introduction 46 2. Research Paradigms 46 2.1. Critical Theory 47 3. Action Research 51 3.1. The Origins of Action Research 51 3.2. What is Action Research? 54 3.3. Key Characteristics of Action Research 55 3.3.1. Closes the gap between theory and practice 55 3.3.2. Draws out tacit knowledge 56 3.3.3. Collaborative 57 4. Educational Entrepreneurial Approach to Action Research 58 4.1. A personal reflection on my adoption ofCrotty’s Educational Entrepreneurial Approach to action research 58 4.2. Educational Entrepreneurship 61 4.3. The Four Stages ofCrotty’s Educational Entrepreneurial Approach to Action Research 64 4.4. Explore 65 4.4.1. Educational Values, Passion and Motivation 66 4.4.2. Work Culture 68 4.4.3. Literature and Policies 69 4.5. Understand 70 4.6. Create 71 4.6.1. Creativity 71 4.6.2. Risk & Performance 74 4.6.3. Collaboration 77 4.7. Transform 78 4.7.1. Personal Transformation 79 4.7.2. Cultural Transformation 79 4.8. Reflection 80 5. Data Collection Methods 83 5.1. Reflection Journals 84 5.2. Questionnaires 85 5.3. Interviews 86 5.4. Video 88 5.5. Photographs 89 5.6. Personal Correspondence and Student Work Samples 90 6. Validity 91 6.1. Winter’s Criteria of Rigour 91 6.1.1. Collaborative Resource 92 6.1.2. Plural Structure 92 6.1.3. Risk 93 6.1.4. Theory, Practice and Transformation 94 6.2. Social Validation 94 7. Ethical Considerations 96 8. Conclusion 98 Chapter 2 101 An Exploration of Self 101 1. Introduction 101 2. Exploration of self 102 2.1. Parental influences on my educational values 104 2.2. Influence of my own work experience on my educational values: Ireland 106 2.2.1. Educational inequities in socio-economically disadvantaged areas 106 2.2.2. Educational inequities in school retention and progression to third level 108 2.3. Influence of my own work experience on my educational values: Australia 110 2.4. Exploration of my educational passions and skills 115 3. Conclusion 118 Chapter 3 120 Developing a greater understanding of the literature, attitudes and perspectives around Teacher Continuous Professional Development 120 1. Introduction 120 2. What is Continued Professional Development for Teachers? 120 2.1. What does effective CPD look like? 123 3. Factors affect

FAQs

What is the purpose of the online resource described in the dissertation?

The dissertation focuses on creating an online resource to support teachers in integrating digital literacy skills into the Junior Cycle English curriculum.

Which research approach guides the study?

The study uses an action research methodology, framed through an educational entrepreneurial approach.

How is data collected for the research?

Data is collected through reflection journals, questionnaires, interviews, video, photographs, and personal correspondence and student work samples.

Sep 12, 2026

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