Sandra O'Neill
Dr
Dr. Sandra O'Neill is an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education in DCU's Institute of Education.
She is DCU's principal investigator for the EU funded OUTSTEAM project which focuses on supporting playful STEM learning outdoors. Working with partners from Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands, this three-year project will develop resources and guidelines for early childhood and primary settings.
In 2019, Sandra founded the Early Childhood STEAM Network at DCU. The organisation aims to bring together early childhood educators interested in supporting STEAM in settings for children from birth to six years. The network provides professional development opportunities and a community of practice for educators, researchers and lecturers.
Her research interests include STEM in early childhood education, early mathematics, post-digital play and children's participation. Her doctoral work focused on EC STEM policy, under the supervision of Dr Liz Chesworth in the University of Sheffield.
Peer Reviewed Journal
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Sandra O'Neill, Noirin Hayes (2019) 'Little changes, big results: the impact of simple changes to early years learning environments'. International Journal of Early Years Education, 39 (1):64-79. https://doi.org/10.1080/09575146.2017.1342223 | |
| 2022 | McNally, S.,Downes, P., O (2022) 'The whole world was lifted off me: the importance of relational supports and peer mentoring for under-represented students accessing university in Ireland'. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 46 (10):1319-1333. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2022.2075718 | |
| 2021 | O’Neill, S. (2021) '‘Hands-on experience has completely changed my perception of technology in Early Childhood’– an exploration on the impact of a technology module on the attitudes of Early Childhood undergraduates'. An Leanbh Óg: OMEP Ireland journal of early childhood studies, 14 (1):61-81. | |
| 2023 | Sandra O'Neill; Córa Gillic; Nicola O'Reilly (2023) 'Hungry for more: early childhood educators'. Irish Educational Studies, . [Link] https://doi.org/10.1080/03323315.2023.2261903 |
Other Journal
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Sandra O'Neill (2020) 'Technology in the Early Childhood Classroom Starts with the Educator – An Exploration of the Use of Digital Tools by EC Undergraduates' 6 (1) :15-17. [Link] | |
| 2018 | Sandra O'Neill (2018) 'Technology use in early learning and care - a practice dilemma' 2018 (3) :12-17. | |
| 2017 | Sandra O'Neill, Joanne Roe (2017) 'The National Síolta Aistear Initiative' :123-127. [Link] | |
| 2016 | Noirin Hayes, Sandra O'Neill, Triona Rooney, Emma Byrne-MacNamee (2016) 'Enhancing quality practice to enhance early learning: Strenthening Foundations of Learning' 3 (1) :35-41. [Link] | |
| 2021 | O'Neill, S. (2021) 'Overcoming the Challenges to Participation Rights in Early Childhood Education and Care' Childlinks, 2 :14-19. | |
| 2018 | O'Neill, S. (2018) ''Technology use in early learning and care - a practice dilemma'' Childlinks, 3 :12-17. |
Conference Publication
Conference Contribution
Blog
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Sandra O'Neill (2020) Choosing suitable apps for pre-school children (Early Childhood Ireland Scéalta blog). BLOG [Link] | |
| 2020 | Sandra O'Neill (2020) Technology in early years settings (Early Childhood Ireland Scéalta blog). BLOG [Link] | |
| 2019 | Sandra O'Neill (2019) Why is maths talk so important? (OMEP Blog Post). BLOG [Link] |
Published Report
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | French, G., McKenna, G., Giblin, F., Concannon-Gibney, T., Farrell, T., Gillic, C., Halligan, C., Lake, G., Ní Dhiorbháin, A., Ní Láimhín, M. & O’Neill, S. (2022) Literature review to support the updating of Aistear’s themes of Well-being, Identity and Belonging, Communicating and Exploring and Thinking. NCCA, . [Link] |