Therese Farrell

Ms

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Dr Thérèse Farrell is an Assistant Professor in Early Childhood Education at the Institute of Education. She lectures on a range of undergraduate, postgraduate and inservice programmes.  Prior to her appointment in 2012, Thérèse worked as a primary teacher and as a tutor for Aistear, The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework (NCCA, 2009). Her MEd specialised in early childhood education and her research focused on children’s perspectives of play.
Thérèse has a range of research interests including curriculum and pedagogy, children’s citizenship, agency and policy analysis. She completed her doctoral studies at the University of Sheffield under the supervision of Professor Elizabeth Wood and Dr Liz Chesworth. Her thesis uses a Foucauldian lens to present a genealogical account of how power has shaped early childhood pedagogy.  

Book Chapter

Year Publication
2011 Dunphy, E. & Farrell, T. (2011) 'Eliciting young children's perspectives on indoor play provision in their classroom: Reflections and challenges' In: London : Routledge.

Peer Reviewed Journal

Year Publication
2020 McCabe U.;Farrell T. (2020) 'Play, pedagogy and power: a reinterpretation of research using a Foucauldian lens'. International Journal of Early Years Education, .

Published Report

Year Publication
2014 Dooley, T., Dunphy, E., Shiel, G., Butler, D., Corcoran, D., Farrell, T., NicMhuirí, S., O'Connor, M., Travers, J. & Perry, B (2014) Mathematics in Early Childhood and Primary Education, Children aged 3-8 years, Volume 18: Teaching and Learning. NCCA, .

Conference Contribution

Year Publication
2017 Farrell, T (2017) British Educational Research Association Neoliberalism in Early Childhood Education Brighton University, .
2013 Farrell, T (2013) A Global Gathering for Early Childhood Developing play pedagogy: the role of the adult Aviva Stadium, Dublin, .
2010 Farrell, T (2010) Playing to Learn: Sowing the Seeds to Start the Journey The role of the adult in play Froebel College of Education, .
2009 Farrell, T (2009) Teachers as Researchers Young children's perspectives of play St. Patrick's College, .
2017 Farrell, T (2017) Research to Empower Educational Leaders – REEL Foucault, Power and Early Childhood Education Drumcondra Education Centre, .
2018 McCabe, U & Farrell, T. (2018) BERA Play, Pedagogy & Power Northumbria University, UK, .
2017 Wood, E.; Chesworth, E., Farrell, T., Archer, N. & Kay, L. (2017) BERA Symposium on Neoliberalism in ECE Brighton University, UK, .
Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2021) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

Research Interests

Children's participation
Children's voice, agency and citizenship
Play and pedagogy
Curriculum and assessment 
Policy analysis
Neoliberalism 
Poststructural theories


Teaching Interests

Early Childhood Education Core Modules:

BEd1: ED1011 Foundations in Education and Early Childhood Education
Play, Language and Learning

BEd2: ED2021 STEM and Early Childhood Education
Mathematics in the Early Years

BEd3: ED3011 Integrated Learning across the Curriculum
Early Years Teaching and Learning

BEd4: ED4015 Research Project
Developing a play policy to support play pedagogy in the infant classroom

Early Childhood Education Major Specialism Modules:
BEd2: EC223 Children's Participation in Early Childhood Education and Care

BEd4: EC421 Transition to Schools

MEd Specialisng in Early Childhood Education:
EC901: Children's Participation in Early Childhood Education and Care

Modules Coordinated

Term Title Subject
2022 Foundations in Education and ECE ED1011
2022 Young Children's Participation in ECEC EC223