Barbara O'Toole EdD

 

Rannóg

Department of Global Diversity, Sustainability & Intercultural Education

Role

Senior Lecturer in Education (Global Citizenship Education)

Qualifications

Ed. D. (St. Patrick's College / Dublin City University)

M.A. (Tavistock Clinic / University of East London)

M.Ed. (University of Nottingham)

B.Ed. (St. Patrick's College) 

Teaching

 

Programme	Module Code	Module Name	Teaching focus
B.Ed. 1	ED8112	Equality Studies	Global Citizenship Education, Intercultural Education, Educational Disadvantage
B.Ed. 2	ED8218	Teaching English as an Additional Language	EAL teaching and learning
PME 2		Inclusive Education	Global Citizenship Education, Intercultural Education
Education Studies	ES8206	Intercultural Education	Intercultural Education
MES ICLL	IC9101	Schools & Diversity	Decoloniality
MES ICLL	IC9102	EAL	EAL teaching and learning
MESICLL	IC9103	Religious Diversity	Church & state in contemporary Ireland

ORCID iD

0000-0001-6299-0490

Publications and other outputs

 

Edited Books

 

O'Toole, B., Joseph, E. & Nyaluke, D. (2020). (Eds.) Challenging perceptions of Africa in Schools: Critical approaches to global justice education, Routledge.

Skinner, B. and O'Toole, B. (Eds.) (2018). Minority language pupils and the curriculum: closing the achievement gap. Marino Institute of Education and University of Ulster: E-book.

 

Book Chapters

O'Toole, B. (2025). 'Guest speakers’ but not professors: the lack of representation of Black educators in primary initial teacher education in Ireland. In E. Joseph (Ed.). Equity in Academia for Black Irish Women. Institute of Anti-Racism and Black Studies.

Nyaluke, D., Feldman, A., O’Toole, B., Joseph, E. (2024). Decolonising global education in Ireland: Making critical connections. In E. Dillon, N. Gaynor, G. McCann, & S. McCloskey, (Eds.). Global education in Ireland: Critical histories and future directions. Bloomsbury Press. pp. 252-261. Available Open Access.

O'Toole, B., Nyaluke, D. & Moody, K. (2023). Trade Justice. In B. Golden (Ed.). Global Citizenship Education: Curious Teachers, Critical Classrooms. DICE & Irish Aid.

O’Toole, B. (2020). ‘Unlearning’ in global justice education. In B. O’Toole, E. Joseph & D. Nyaluke, (Eds.). Challenging perceptions of Africa in Schools: Critical approaches to global justice education. Routledge.

O’Toole, B., Nyaluke, D., & Joseph, E. (2020). Approaching critical pedagogies in education. In B. O’Toole, E. Joseph & D. Nyaluke, (Eds.). Challenging perceptions of Africa in Schools: Critical approaches to global justice education, Routledge.

Haverty, E., Murphy, P., O’Shaughnessy, L., Whiston, L. & O’Toole, B. (2020). Teacher’ experiences of global justice education through the lens of trade. In B. O’Toole, E. Joseph & D. Nyaluke, (Eds.). Challenging perceptions of Africa in Schools: Critical approaches to global justice education, Routledge.

O’Toole, B., Joseph, E. & Nyaluke, D. (2020). Transformative learning: The future of critical education. In B. O’Toole, E. Joseph & D. Nyaluke, (Eds.). Challenging perceptions of Africa in Schools: Critical approaches to global justice education, Routledge.

O'Toole, B. & Skinner, B. (2018). Closing the achievement gap: challenges and opportunities. In B. Skinner and B. O'Toole (Eds.), Minority language pupils and the curriculum: closing the achievement gap. Marino Institute of Education and University of Ulster: E-book.

O'Toole, B. (2008). Separating 'Development and Intercultural Education' in Initial Teacher Education. In M. Fiedler and A. Perez-Pinan (eds.) Challenging Perspectives. Dublin: DICE e-book.

O'Toole, B. (2005). Using Fiction in Development and Intercultural Education. In L. Morris and S. Coghlan (Eds.). Cross-Currents: A Guide to Multicultural Books for Young People, IBBY Ireland.

 

Journal Articles

 

O'Toole, B. (2024). The silences of Global Citizenship Education: A concept fit for purpose? Policy & Practice, A Development Education Review, Issue 39, Autumn 2024.

Malone, T., O'Toole, B. & Mullally, A. (2020). 'The Family Project': investigating multi-belief learning in two Irish primary schools. British Journal of Religious Education, 42(3).

Moloney, C. and O'Toole, B. (2018). 'Windows and mirrors' or 'closed doors'? Representations of diversity in early years' textbooks. Irish Teachers' Journal, 6(1).

O'Toole, B. (2015). 1831 to 2014: an opportunity to get it right this time? Some thoughts on the current debate on patronage and religious education in Irish primary schools. Irish Educational Studies, 34 (1), 89-102.

O'Toole, B. (2006). "What makes a Global Teacher?" Examining Student Responses to Development and Intercultural Education. Policy and Practice: A Development Education Review, Issue 3.

 

Educational Resources

 

Larkin, T., Morris, L., O'Caoimh, C., Muzanenhamo, P., Wilson, B. and O'Toole, B. (2021). Naisc Chóra, Trádáil Chóir: Acmhainn Teagaisc Faoin Afraic. Institiúid Oideachais Marino agus Proudly Made in Africa.

O'Toole, B. (2021). Teaching about trade justice in the primary school. The DICE Video Series, 2021.

Larkin, T., Morris, L., O'Caoimh, C., Muzanenhamo, P., Wilson, B. and O'Toole, B. (2018). Just Connections, Just Trade: A teaching resource about Africa. Marino Institute of Education and Proudly Made in Africa (PMIA), with funding support from Irish Aid.

 

Research Reports

 

Skinner, B., O'Toole, B., Ní Thiarnaigh, R. & Stewart, M. (2024). Home-school partnerships with migrant/minority families: a way forward on the island of Ireland. Report to Standing Conference on Teacher Education North and South (SCoTENS). Final-Report-Home-school-partnership.pdf 

Skinner, B. & O'Toole, B. (2019). Minority language pupils and the curriculum: closing the achievement gap. Report to Standing Conference on Teacher Education North and South (SCoTENS).

Ryan, A., O'Toole, B. Quinn, F., Hagan, M. and Bracken, S. (2010). English as an Additional Language in Undergraduate Teacher Education Programmes North and South. Reflective Practice: Challenges for Teacher Education: 2009 Conference and Annual Reports (SCoTENS).

Bracken, S., Hagan, M., O'Toole, B. Quinn, F. and Ryan, A. (2009). English as an Additional Language in Undergraduate Teacher Education Programmes in Ireland: A Summary of the Report on Provision in Two Teacher Education Colleges. School Leadership Policy and Practice North and South: 2008 Conference and Annual Reports - (SCoTENS).

 

 

Conference Contributions

 

Skinner, B., O'Toole, B., Ní Thiarnaigh, R., Stewart, M., & Cocault, S. (2024, January 10). Home-school partnership with migrant families: supporting integration. Université de Littoral Cote d'Opale (ULCO), Language and Education: Multicategorial and multicultural perspectives.

O’Toole, B., Ní Thiarnaigh, R., Skinner, B., Stewart, M, & Cocault, S. (2023, November 11). Home-school partnership with migrant families: supporting language and literacy practices. Literacy Association of Ireland (LAI) Conference.

O'Toole, B. (2020, August). Educating for Global Justice. [Paper Presentation]. Inclusive Education and Society in a Time of Change Conference, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.

O'Toole, B., & Nyaluke, D. (2019, November 15). Educating about Trade Justice in Schools. [Paper presentation]. Development Studies Association Conference.

O'Toole, B., Joseph, E., Nyaluke, D., & Feldman, A. (2019, May 10). Educating for Global Justice: Connecting Sociology to the Pluriverse. Roundtable discussion presented at the Sociological Association of Ireland (SAI) Conference, NUIG.

O'Toole, B., & Haverty, E. (2019, January 25). Challenging the Single Story: Images of Africa in the Primary School Classroom. Findings from an Action Research Study. [Paper presentation]. Intercultural Education Conference, DCU.

O'Toole, B., Murphy, P., & Haverty, E. (2017, August). From Assistencialism to Equality? Perceptions of the Global South in Four Primary School Classrooms in Ireland. [Paper presentation]. European Conference on Educational Research (ECER), Copenhagen.

O'Toole, B., & Skinner, B. (2015). Teaching English as an Additional Language: Perspectives from North and South.[ Paper presentation]. SCoTENS Conference, Limerick.

O'Toole, B. (2013). 1831 to 2014: An Opportunity to Get It Right This Time? [Paper presentation]. Religious Education in a Global-Local World Conference (RE21), University College Cork.

O'Toole, B., & Mc Daid, R. (2012). Kicking off with English Language Skills: An Evaluation of a Pilot Programme to Develop Literacy Skills through Sport. [Paper presentation]. Reading Association of Ireland (RAI) Conference, Marino Institute of Education, Dublin.

O'Toole, B., Mc Daid, R., & Connaughton, L. (2011). My Language - Pride in the Skin I'm In. [Paper presentation]. DICE Conference, St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin.

O'Toole, B. (2009). Reading Different Worlds: Literacy Approaches with EAL Learners. [Paper presentation]. Irish Learning Support Association (ILSA) Conference.

Grants

Funding received from Standing Conference on Teacher Education North and South (SCoTENS) in 2022, to support cross-border project with Dr Barbara Skinner at the University of Ulster at Coleraine. 'Home-school partnership with migrant families: a way forward on the island of Ireland.' Research team: NI - Dr Barbara Skinner and Dr Maria Stewart. ROI: Dr Barbara O'Toole and Ms. Richeal Ní Thiarnaigh.  

Funding received under Irish Aid 2017 Annual Development Education Grants round, to support resource design and research project: Teaching about trade in the primary school.

Funding received from Standing Conference on Teacher Education North and South (SCoTENS) in 2017 to support joint project with Dr Barbara Skinner at University of Ulster in Coleraine, with funding for two seminars: 'Minority language students and the curriculum - closing the achievement gap'.

www.SIDiTproject.eu/ 

SIDiT was a joint project between organisations, institutes and schools in Europe, with an expertise in education. It ran from 2020 to 2023, with partners located in Greece, Belgium, Ireland, Italy and Croatia. The goal of SIDiT was to create inclusive classrooms.

SIDiT was co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union and the Goethe Institut (Key Action 2).

All of the project materials, including the SIDiT handbook developed by colleagues in MIE, are available on the above link.

Minority language students and the curriculum: closing the achievement gap

E-book on teaching English as an additional language

Skinner, B. and O'Toole, B. (Eds.) (2018). Minority language pupils and the curriculum: closing the achievement gap. Marino Institute of Education and University of Ulster: E-book.

This 2018 e-publication is based on talks given at two seminars on teaching English as an additional language which were held at MIE and the University of Ulster in Coleraine in 2017, supported by funding from SCoTENS.

The e-book contains chapters by the following authors:

Barbara Skinner (University of Ulster), Barbara O'Toole (MIE), Piet Van Avermaet (Ghent University), Andrew Hancock (University of Edinburgh), Deirdre Kirwan (former principal of Scoil Bhríde Cailiíní, Dublin), Jean Conteh (Leeds University), and Rory Mc Daid (MIE).

 

 

Seminars on teaching English as an additional language

In April 2017, MIE held a one-day seminar entitled 'Minority language students and the curriculum: closing the achievement gap', which was supported by funding from SCoTENS. The initiative was organised in association with Dr Barbara Skinner at the University of Ulster in Coleraine. A one-day seminar on the same theme was held in Coleraine in February 2017.

Speakers at the MIE seminar included: Dr Piet Van Avermaet from the University of Ghent in Belgium, Dr Andrew Hancock from Edinburgh University, Dr Deirdre Kirwan, former principal of Scoil Bhríde Cailíní in Blanchardstown, Dublin, and Dr Jean Conteh from Leeds University. Dr Rory Mc Daid from MIE was the rapporteur for the day.

The seminars were filmed and the recordings have now been edited into a ten-minute digital resource:

Just Connections, Just Trade: A Teaching Resource about Africa (2018)

A collaborative project between Marino Institute of Education and Proudly Made in Africa (PMIA), with funding support from Irish Aid

Just Connections, Just Trade: A Teaching Resource about Africa has been written to support 5th and 6th class primary school teachers in teaching about the wider world and in developing global citizenship in relation to curricular areas such as SESE and SPHE. It examines topics such as interdependence and globalisation, trade relationships, and consumer choices, in child-friendly language, and through a range of active and participative methodologies designed to enable children to understand and engage with complex issues. It examines global trade issues while promoting a view of African countries as equal trade and economic partners.

The pack was written by: Tom Larkin, Liz Morris, Conall O'Caoimh, Penelope Muzenenhamo, Barbara Wilson, and Barbara O'Toole. The pack can be downloaded here.

The Irish-language pack: Naisc Chóra, Trádáil Chóir: Acmhainn Teagaisc Faoin Afraic can be downloaded here.