IPDA Ireland Journal Club: Journalling where we have not journalled before

IPDA Ireland hosted the second event in the Journal Club Series entitled: ‘Journalling where we have not journalled before’.

This series offers the opportunity to explore recently published high quality research in the area of professional learning and development (PLD). The paper selection process is shaped in consultation with the IPDA Ireland community regarding current topics of interest and need. Engaging and provocative dialogic activities will be informed by the pre-reading of a selected paper, accompanied by key thinking points. Given the opportunity to explore, debate and critically evaluate, attendees will co-construct a deeper grasp of the paper’s strengths and areas for development, considering the implications it has for them and the wider PLD profession’s policy, practice and research processes.

Host: Dr. Aoife Brennan
Journal Paper: Kezar, A., Gehrke, S., and Bernstein-Sierra, S. (2018) ‘Communities of Transformation: Creating Changes to Deeply Entrenched Issues’, The Journal of Higher Education, 89(6), pp. 832-864, DOI:
10.1080/00221546.2018.1441108

Journal Club Host’s Biography: Aoife Brennan is an assistant professor in DCU School of Inclusive and Special Education. She previously worked as a mainstream and learning support/resource primary teacher and as a Literacy Advisor with the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST). She is the Chair of the Professional Diploma in Special and Inclusive Education and Vice-Chair of IPDA Ireland. Aoife’s doctoral research focused on exploring the impact of a professional learning community (PLC) on teacher learning for inclusive practice. Follow up research evaluated the extent to which professional learning for inclusive practice can be sustained in the longer term. She is currently engaged in Teaching Council funded research on university-school partnerships to support PLCs for inclusive practice in schools.

Journal Lead Author’s Biography: Adrianna Kezar is the Dean’s Professor of Leadership, Wilbur-Kieffer Professor of Higher Education at the University of Southern California, and Director of the Pullias Center for Higher Education. A national expert on change, governance and leadership in higher education, Kezar is regularly quoted in the media, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Atlantic, Boston Globe, Washington Post, PBS, and NPR (national and local stations), among others. At the Pullias Center, Kezar directs the Delphi Project on the Changing Faculty and Student Success and is an international expert on the changing faculty. She also regularly consults for campuses and national organizations related to her work on non-tenure-track faculty, STEM reform, change, collaboration, leadership development, and change. Professor Kezar has kindly agreed to generate a response to 3 critical thinking questions as co-constructed by the attendees at this journal club event.