Alison Egan PhD

Rannóg

IT & eLearning Department

Role

Director, IT & eLearning

Biography

Alison Egan, PhD is a Director of IT & eLearning since 2008.  Her current research interests are focused on digital literacy; artificial intelligence, technological self-efficacy; national and international digital education policies and technology enhanced learning.  She completed her PhD in 2018 at Trinity College Dublin, by conducting longitudinal research into technological self-efficacy of pre-service teachers during their undergraduate programmes.   

She is Vice-President of the Irish Learning Technology Association (ILTA) and Chair of the Consultative Council of Society for IT in Teacher Education (SITE), USA (2023 - 2026). 

She also sits on the Advisory Board, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport & Culture (DG EAC, Brussels) for the new versions of DigCompEdu & SELFIE (2026 - 2027). 

Qualifications

PhD (DUB) Education, 2018

MSc (DUB) Technology & Education, 2009

Dip. (DIT) Training & Development, 2000

Dip. (Wales) Legal Studies, 1993

B.A  (NUI) Mode One English, 1992

ORCiD

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9277-6724

Publications and other outputs

Edited Books

Egan, A., Johnston, K., & McGarr, O. (Eds.). (2025). Reimagining Teacher Digital Competence. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. Retrieved Sep 22, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035337514

Book Chapters 

McGarr, O., Egan, A., & Johnston, K. (2025). "1: The trajectory of digital competence within education: from literacy to competence". In Reimagining Teacher Digital Competence. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. Retrieved Sep 22, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035337514.00007

Egan, A. (2025). "4: Teachers’ professional digital competence: ensuring legal compliance and protection". In Reimagining Teacher Digital Competence. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. Retrieved Sep 22, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035337514.00010

McGarr, O., Johnston, K., & Egan, A. (2025). "10: The digitally competent teacher: agentic professional in the digital age or digitally compliant learning technician?". In Reimagining Teacher Digital Competence. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. Retrieved Sep 22, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035337514.00016

Hall T.,Ryan M., McMahon J., McGann M., Egan A., Connolly C. (2021) T-REX (Teachers’ Research Exchange): Infrastructuring Teacher Researcher Collaboration Through an Open Educational Ecosystem. In Marcus-Quinn A., Hourigan T. (eds), Handbook for Online Learning Contexts: Digital, Mobile and Open. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67349-9_21

Egan, A. (2020). Doing a PhD Part-Time, An Irish Perspective. In B.Bradford (Ed.), The Doctoral Journey International Educationalist Perspectives (pp. 70 - 91). Brill Sense Publishers. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004444287

Egan, A., Fitzgibbon, A., Johnston, K., & Oldham, E. (2019). Pre-Service Teachers’ Technological Self-Efficacy : An Irish Perspective. In D. Gibson & M. Ochoa (Eds.), Research Highlights in Technology and Teacher Education 2019 (pp. 149 - 158): Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education. http://www.learntechlib.org/p/210591/

 

Journal Articles

Cherner, T., Trust, T., Hurlbut, A., Krutka, D. G., Yao, X., Heath, M. K., Mouza, C., Clausen, J. M., Cohen, J. D., Crawford, D., Heinsfeld, B. D., Williams, M. K., West, R. E., Ritzhaupt, A., Barger, A., Lipsmeyer, L. L., Vasconcelos, L., Barreto, D., Egan, A., Margerum-Leys, J., & Asim, S. (2026). Picturing the theory of GenAI: Frameworks for teaching and learning in the age of artificial intelligence. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 26(1). https://citejournal.org/volume-26/issue-1-26/editorial/picturing-the-theory-of-genai-frameworks-for-teaching-and-learning-in-the-age-of-artificial-intelligence

Cherner, T., Egan, A., Howe, K., & Whitfield, E. (2025). An essential glossary for generative artificial intelligence in higher education. Journal of AI Enhanced Learning, 1(1). https://www.learntechlib.org/p/226399/

Connolly, C., Hall, T., Ryan, M., McMahon, J., McGann, M., & Egan, A. (2021). A fusion of research-informed teaching and teaching-informed research : Designing a scalable online ecosystem for new partnerships in educational research. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 82 - 95. https://ajet.org.au/index.php/AJET/article/view/6131

 

 

Conference Contributions

Knezek, G., Christensen, R., Langran, E., Bower, M., Cernochova, M., Cohen, J., Egan, A., Furuta, T. & Slykhuis, D. (2026). EDUsummIT 2025 Issues and Outcomes: Highlights for the Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education (SITE). In Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference (pp. 2416-2421). Waynesville, NC USA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved April 13, 2026 from https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/2129305/.

Cherner, T., Egan, A., Howe, K., Whitfield, E. & Guimaraes, C. (2025). Let’s Talk about GenAI: An Essential Glossary for Educators. In R. Jake Cohen (Ed.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference (pp. 586-593). Orlando, FL, USA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved April 2, 2025 from https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/225570/.

Redmond, P., Christensen, R., Carvalho, A.A., Martin, D.A., Byrne, M., Trevisan, O., Nykvist, S., Santos, I., Getenet, S., Egan, A., Willis, J.M., Bower, M. & Vaz-Rebelo, P. (2025). A global perspective on integrating technology into teacher education programs using measures of self-efficacy, attitudes and program experiences. In R. Jake Cohen (Ed.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference (pp. 1396-1405). Orlando, FL, USA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved April 2, 2025 from https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/225684/.

O'Donnell, N., & Egan, A. ( August 2025). Implementation of a TeMoo approach to enhance the technological knowledge of early childhood educators [Conference presentation]. ATEE Conference, Marino Institute of Education, Dublin, Ireland.

Egan, A. (February 20-21) (2025). Panel Speaker, Education after the algorithm: Co-designing critical and creative futures conference, DCU, Dublin.

Redmond, P., Christensen, R., Trevisan, Ottavia, & Egan, A. (2024). International Collaborative Project Focusing on Technology Integration Experiences of Preservice Teachers Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2024, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. https://www.learntechlib.org/p/224094

Egan, A., Georgeson, J., Revyakina, E., Fernandez Morante, C., Latorre Ruiz, E., & Strasser, T. (2023). EKT: a project exploring the use and impact of a smart technological system to support school placement in five European countries, a final report Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2023, New Orleans, LA, United States. https://www.learntechlib.org/p/222030 

Redmond, P., Dunn, S., Kachikwu, S., Langran, E., & Egan, A. (2023). What is the future of professional development in a changing world of emerging technologies and innovative pedagogies? Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2023, New Orleans, LA, United States. https://www.learntechlib.org/p/221902 

Egan, A., Georgeson, J., Revyakina, E., Strasser, T., Cebreiro Lopez, B., Fernandez Morante, C. & Latorre Ruiz, E. (2022). EKT, a pilot project exploring the use and impact of a smart technological system to support school placement in five European countries. In E. Langran (Ed.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference (pp. 2167-2172). Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/221048/

Egan, A., Revyakina, E., Georgeson, J., Cebreiro López, B., Fernández Morante, C., Latorre Ruiz, E. & Strasser, T. (2021). EKT, a trans-national platform to support school placement. In E. Langran & L. Archambault (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference (pp. 656-661). Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/219196/

Egan, A. & Georgeson, J. (2022, September 8).  Developing support for teaching placements : A Case Study. [Paper presentation]. British Educational Research Association (BERA).  University of Liverpool UK, September 2022. 

Revyakina, E., Egan, A., Georgeson, J., Morante, C., Strasser, T., Cebreiro, B. (2021, September 17).  The Use of a Trans-National Online Environment designed for School Placement.  [Paper presentation]. European Educational Research Association (ECER), Online Conference.

Egan, A. & Gurhy, A. (2020, September 5). A sequential explanatory mixed methods study of pre-service teachers’ experiences of and attitudes to coding in Ireland. [Paper presentation]. Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI), Online Conference.

Egan, A. & Gurhy, A. (2020). A sequential explanatory mixed methods study of pre-service teachers’ experiences of and attitudes to coding in Ireland. In Gary H. Marks & Denise Schmidt-Crawford (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference (pp. 524-529). Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE).

 

Research Reports

Egan, A., & Georgeson, J. (2023). Evaluation of Users' Satisfaction & Assessment of the Products Derived from the Project. Output 17. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8026463

Egan, A., & Georgeson, J. (2023). Evaluation on impact of EKT proposal in student´s professional competencies (prospective teachers). Output 18. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8026515

Egan, A. (2020). A review of technology in teaching and learning. Education International. Available from https://issuu.com/educationinternational/docs/2020_ei_research_technologyteaching_eng_final

 

Podcasts

Lets Talk about Sociology Podcast - 20 March 2025 - Dr Melanie Ni Dhuinn interviews Alison about her role and "Navigating the Third Space in Higher Education Institutions" https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/dr-alison-egan-navigating-the-third-space-in-higher/id1560198605?i=1000700064016 

Enovation AI Podcast - Episode 1 (2023)- Dr Alison Egan https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/enovation-ai-podcast-episode-1-dr-alison-egan/id1524440548?i=1000606061018

 

Thesis

Egan, A. (2018). Use of Technology by Pre-Service Teachers: A Mixed Methods Study [Doctoral dissertation]. University of Dublin, Trinity College - School of Education. http://www.tara.tcd.ie/handle/2262/82942 

Research/Professional Interests 

Technological self-efficacy

Digital literacy

TPACK

Digital criticality

Digital competencies 

Instructional design and

Technology enhanced learning.

Grants/Funded Projects

Erasmus + Knowledge Alliance - EKT Project 2019 - 2023. Amount of Award 100,000/eur   Website https://ektproject.eu/

European Commission, European Education and Culture Executive Agency, Erasmus+ Knowledge Alliances – Dissemination sheets – Projects 2014-2020 / implementation 2014-2024, Publications Office of the European Union, 2022, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2797/486572

Education International, Brussels 2019 to 2020 - Research Launch Website and/or  https://www.ei-ie.org/

Education International, Brussels - Commissioned Research Report - A Review of Technology in Teacher Education, October 2020 – Amount of Award 20,000/eur  

National Forum for Teaching & Learning, Funded Project - Teachers' Research Exchange (T-Rex), Amount of Award 10,000/eur -  2018 - 2020. Website https://www.t-rex.ie/

National Forum for Teaching & Learning, Funded Project - GTA Online Learning, 2017, Amount of Award 5,000/eur. Website https://www.teachingandlearning.ie/project/alignment-and-development-of-an-online-programme-for-graduate-teaching-assistants/

National Forum for Teaching & Learning, Funded Project - Digital Skills in Action, 2016, Amount of Award 5,000/eur. Website https://www.teachingandlearning.ie/project/digital-skills-in-action/

 

Editorial Board Membership

The Doctoral Journey in Education,  Book Series, Brill Sense Publishing - International Advisory Board Member https://brill.com/display/serial/DOCJ?contents=about 

Awards

 ICT Excellence Award, 2006 - Best use of Open Source Software (Moodle) - Equal Status Online Project.

 

Membership

International

Invited Expert, Advisory Board Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport & Culture (DG EAC, Brussels), DigCompEdu & SELFIE, 2026 to 2027.

Chair, Consultative Council, Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education (SITE) 2024 to 2026 https://site.aace.org/about/site-executive-committee/.

SIG Chair - International Perspectives, Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education (SITE) 2019 to 2023.

ALT Member - Association for Learning Technology, UK https://openbadgefactory.com/v1/assertion/b253b5a463f271824b53bfe5ac0d53db7e3fe50f

National

CRITE Research Group (Centre for Research in IT in Education), Trinity College Dublin - Invited Research Associate 2009 to 2020.

Vice President & Treasurer - Irish Learning Technology Association (ILTA), Ireland 2012 to date. 

National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning in Higher Education, National Forum Associate 2023.