STER 2024 sets the gold standard for student teacher research

MIE were delighted to host the Student Teacher Educational Research (STER) project on Tuesday 9 April 2024.

The Conference featured individual presentations by students and graduates from early years, primary, post-primary and further education representing eight different HEIs (UCC, St Angela’s UCD, MIE, SETU, DCU, TCD and the University of Graz). A panel discussion focusing on ‘perspectives on the research journey’ was chaired by MIE student Holly Smith; and an insightful Keynote address was delivered by Dr Máirín Glenn, co-convener of the Network for Educational Action Research in Ireland (NEARI).

Speaking about the student presentations, Dr Máirín Glenn said “the quality of rigour and critical engagement shown by these student teachers is setting what should be a gold standard not only for other student teachers but also for the teaching profession in general.” Not only do students personally benefit from sharing their research accounts via the STER e-Journal and the STER Conference, the educational influence of these students in the learning of others is initiated, reaching out like ripples on a pond.

A pioneering project when it was established in 2017, the STER team have now supported over 125 students to share and publish their research via the Podcast, Conference and peer reviewed e-journal. Founder of the project, Dr Aimie Brennan said “STER offers an important opportunity for undergraduate student teachers to be leaders in the field of teacher research dissemination. These novice researchers have a unique contribution to make and in a time when misinformation is increasing, it is even more important to disseminate research evidence in an accessible way.”

The project continues to generate not only national, but international interest from scholars hoping to adapt the STER approach within their own educational contexts.  According to Dr Glenn, “The collaborative, creative, rigorous, student-instigated, student-led and inter-institutional nature of STER is a rarity in the field of educational research and it should be celebrated.”

The sixth volume of the STER e-Journal was launched at the conference, including eight articles written by education graduates covering a diversity of themes including religious education, professional development, play therapy, diversity and inclusion, English language teaching and literacy education. The journal can be accessed online: https://www.ster.ie/journal.html

If you are interested in participating or volunteering as part of the STER project, please feel free to contact Dr Aimie Brennan at [email protected] or reach out to the student team directly at [email protected]

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