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Irene White

Dr

Contact Details


SPC M 202
T:Ext. 9241

E:Irene.White@dcu.ie
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Irene White is is a lecturer and researcher in the School of Human Development, Institute of Education, Dublin City University. She is Programme Chair of the Professional Master of Education (Post-Primary) and Teaching and Learning Convenor for the School of Human Development. Irene teaches Creativity in Education, English Education, Drama in Education and Academic Reading and Writing across a range of initial teacher education programmes. Before joining DCU, Irene taught at post-primary level for twelve years, during which time she was a mentor for initial teacher education students and a State Exams Commission examiner for the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme. Irene also has considerable experience in the participatory arts sector. Her work in this field includes her role as artist and director with Upstate Theatre Project on The Crossover Project, a cross-border, cross-community participative drama programme, and her work with students from the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York University on the study abroad programme. Irene also worked with Smashing Times Theatre and Film Company on the ‘Acting for the Future' programme using drama and theatre performance to promote positive mental health and the 'Acting for Change' programme using drama to explore cultural diversity and identity and promote anti-racism, anti-sectarianism and equality. Irene’s research interests are informed and inspired by her work as a teacher, initial teacher educator and artist. She has a particular interest in creativity, teacher education, teacher identity, arts education, and creative activity for health and wellbeing. Her PhD examined creativity in participatory arts initiatives and articulated a Participatory Arts for Creativity in Education (PACE) model, an applied participatory arts model aimed at fostering creativity in education. 

Book Chapter

Year Publication
2019 White, I.; Foody, M.; O’Higgins Norman, J. (2019) 'Storytelling as a Liminal Space: Using a Narrative Based Participatory Approach to Tackle Cyberbullying Among Adolescents' In: Narratives in Research and Interventions on Cyberbullying among Young People. [Link]
2015 White, Irene (2015) ''Whose art is it anyway?' Devising in Participatory Arts and Professional Theatre Practice: A Critical and Historical Analysis of Upstate Theatre Project' In: Devised Performance in Irish Theatre: Histories and Contemporary Practices. Dublin : Carysfort.
2014 White, Irene (2014) 'Playing Your Part: Using Drama Strategies to Promote Well-Being and Self-Esteem Among Young People' In: Education Matters, Readings in Pastoral Care for School Chaplains, Guidance Counsellors and Teachers. Dublin : Veritas.

Peer Reviewed Journal

Year Publication
2021 White, I.; McSharry, M. (2021) 'Preservice teachers’ experiences of pandemic related school closures: anti-structure, liminality and communitas'. Irish Educational Studies, 40 . [Link] [DOI]
2019 Lorenzi, F.; White, I. (2019) 'Liminality in education: generating a creative space of encounter and dialogue between teachers and students within educational structures'. Pastoral Care in Education, 37 . [Link] [DOI]
2018 White, Irene; Lorenzi, Francesca; Norman, James O'Higgins (2018) 'Fighting words as revolutionary pedagogy: a Freirean reading of young people's experiences of a socially-engaged creative writing centre'. Pastoral Care in Education, 36 (4). [DOI]
2016 White, I.; Lorenzi, F. (2016) 'The development of a model of creative space and its potential for transfer from non-formal to formal education'. International Review of Education, 62 . [Link] [DOI]

Conference Contribution

Year Publication
2024 Mc Sharry, Majella and White, Irene (2024) British Educational Research Association (BERA) Policing Risky Bodies: The Embodied Work and Experiences of Preservice Teachers During the Covid-19 Pandemic Manchester, .
2024 Mc Sharry, Majella, White, Irene and Kirwan, Evan (2024) Education for more just societies: the roles of imagination, innovation and collaboration. Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Becoming a Teacher Through Flexible Learning: Preservice Teachers' Experiences of a Flexible Delivery Model of Initial Teacher Education Maynooth, .
2023 White, I.; Gallagher, F.; Tiernan, P. (2023) 3rd International Conference of Possibility Studies: Cultivating the Possible ‘Now I understand what being creative looks like’: Empowering preservice teachers to become creative inclusive practitioners Online, .
2022 Mc Sharry, Majella and White, Irene (2022) Teacher Education and Practice: Foresight and Hindsight. Association for Teacher Education in Europe 'Masks Up, Desks Apart!': Distance and Disjuncture in COVID-19 Restricted Classrooms Dublin, .
2021 White, Irene and McSharry, Majella (2021) British Educational Research Association (BERA) From Classroom to Zoom Room: Placement Related Challenges and Opportunities for Preservice Teachers London, .
2017 White, Irene and Lorenzi, Francesca (2017) Reforming Education and the Imperative of Constant Change: Ambivalent roles of policy and educational research. ECER (European Conference on Educational Research) Meeting in Liminal Spaces: Educational Encounters, Creativity, and Possibility in Post-Primary Education Copenhagen, .
2016 White, Irene (2016) Bullies, Bullied and Bystanders: Advancing Knowledge, Understanding and Practice in Education. ABC National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre, Dublin City University Empowering youth through voice: The arts as an agent for bullying prevention Dublin City University, 09/06/2016-10/06/2016.
2014 Lorenzi, Francesca and White, Irene (2014) The past, present and future of educational research in Europe. ECER (European Conference on Educational Research) Injecting Creativity in the Second Level School Curriculum in Ireland: An Evaluation of the Potential Contribution of Fighting Words University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, 01/09/2014-05/09/2014.
2014 Lorenzi, Francesca and White Irene (2014) 'The Lives of Art' International Conference on the Arts in Society Fighting Words as a Model of Creative Space: Researching the Physical, Emotional/Social and Critical Dimensions to Recreate the Model in a School Context Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy, 25/06/2014-27/06/2014.
2013 White, Irene and Gallagher, Fiona (2013) From one world to another: Arts Education for tomorrow. IDEA 2013 8th World Congress of the International Drama/Theatre and Education Association Learning to Play, Playing to Learn: Using drama to support international graduate students' transition to a new culture of learning Paris Diderot University, Paris, France, 08/07/2013-13/07/2013.
2012 White, Irene and Mallon, Declan (2012) Borders and Translations: Towards new paradigms and languages in drama education. IDiERI (International Drama in Education Research Institute Crossing Borders: Commonalities between drama in education and community engaged participatory theatre practice Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland, 10/07/2012-16/07/2012.
2012 White, Irene (2012) Borders and Translations: Towards new paradigms and languages in drama education. IDiERI (International Drama in Education Research Institute) Lessons from theatre: The significance of Brecht for drama teaching Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland, 10/07/2012-16/07/2012.

Commissioned Report

Year Publication
2014 Lorenzi, Francesca and White, Irene (2014) Evaluation of the Fighting Words Creative Writing Model. COMMREP [Link]

Published Case Studies

Year Publication
2021 Irene White (2021) Fostering Creativity through the Participatory Arts: A Case Study of the Fighting Words Creative Writing Centre. PUBCS

Thesis

Year Publication
2020 White, Irene (2020) Participatory arts for creativity in education (PACE) model: exploring the participatory arts as a potential model for fostering creativity in post-primary education. THES
2003 Irene White (2003) Building with Stones: Marie Jones’ Stones in his Pockets in the context of recent developments in Physical Theatre in Ireland. THES

Conference Publication

Year Publication
2023 Gallagher, F., Tiernan, P. and White, I. (2023) Proceedings of the Fifth Pedagogy for Higher Education Large Classes (PHELC) Symposium . In: Ann Marie Farrell and Anna Logan eds. Group video assessment in higher education large classes: Students’ and educators’ perspectives Online, 09/06/2023- https://zenodo.org/records/8139359

Blog

Year Publication
2023 Tiernan, P, Gallagher, F. & White, I. (2023) Fostering Creativity in the Classroom – developing a cross-curricular module in ITE. BLOG [Link]

Published Report

Year Publication
2022 McDonald, E., Doyle, A., Fitzsimons, S., & White, I. (2022) Pedagogical Strategies to Support Literacy Development at Post-Primary Level. Department of Education, . [Link]
Certain data included herein are derived from the ? Web of Science (2024) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

Professional Associations

Association Function From / To
ADEI (Association for Drama in Education in Ireland) Member -
ESAI (Educational Studies Association of Ireland) Member -

Honors and Awards

Date Title Awarding Body
05/05/2023 President's Awards for Excellence in Teaching Nominee Dublin City University
01/05/2022 President's Awards for Excellence in Teaching Nominee Dublin City University
01/01/2021 Shortlisted for the American Educational Research Association (AERA) 2021 Arts and Learning Special Interest Group (A&L SIG) Distinguished Dissertation Award AERA Arts and Learning Special Interest Group (A&L SIG) Awards Committee
22/02/2019 Elevator Funding IoE Research Support Award DCU Institute of Education
01/03/2013 HSS Research Travel Award DCU Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
01/04/2013 President's Awards for Excellence in Teaching Nominee Dublin City University

Committees

Committee Function From / To
DCU Connected Development Programme 10/01/2022 -
DCU Transversal Skills Creative Thinking Expert Panel 01/03/2022 -
DCU Institute of Education Faculty Teaching and Learning Committee 23/08/2021 -
DCU Educational Disadvantage Centre 10/06/2021 -
National Anti Bullying and Resource Centre 28/10/2015 - 22/01/2021
DCU Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Marketing Committee 27/09/2012 - 14/06/2016

Education

Start date Institution Qualification Subject
DCU PhD
Trinity College Graduate Diploma in Arts
UCD Diploma
Queen's University Belfast Master of Arts
01/01/2000 NUIM Higher Diploma in Education Education
01/01/2000 NUIM Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Arts

Reviews

Journal Role
International Journal of Bullying Prevention Reviewer
Journal of Education for Teaching Reviewer
Irish Educational Studies Reviewer

Other Activities

Description
DCU IoE Teaching and Learning Day 2023, Staying Connected: Valuing Authenticity in Teaching, Learning and Assessment, Creative Workshop, 'Sin Scéal Eile: Collaborative Storytelling as a Tool for Authentic Learning in Initial Teacher Education'
DCU IoE Teaching and Learning Day 2022, Creative Workshop, 'A Dramatic Interlude: Pausing to Reconnect, Reflect and Re-energise'
DCU Teaching Enhancement Unit, The Sipping Point Conversations, 'Here’s One We Made Earlier: Using Video as a Tool for Assessment'.
DCU Institute of Education's Research Conversation Series, 'Discussing New Directions in Teacher Education', Panel Discussion
Assistant Director 'At Peace' (Upstate Theatre Project)
Stage Manager 'Two Rooms' (Focus Theatre)
Stage Manager 'Orpheus Descending' (Rathmines Conservatory of Music)
Assistant Director 'Hades' (Upstate Theatre Project)

Creative Outputs

Year Title Type
2021 Fostering Creativity through the Participatory Arts Recording
2008 Midland: An original dramatic work devised and performed by community participants Play
2008 Hamlet and The Baker’s Son... and his son: Theatre of the Oppressed and Forum Theatre with Augusto and Julian Boal Play
2007 Times Hands: A devised theatrical performance combining stylised movement with drama, music and dance Play

Enterprise Engagement

Year Engagement Type Client Description
2019 Invited talk/presentation Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York University 'Art for All': Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. A presentation to students and staff from the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York University on the study abroad programme in association with Upstate Theatre Project.
2017 Invited talk/presentation Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York University Lesser Heard Voices: A Critical and Historical Analysis of Upstate Theatre Project. A presentation to students and staff from the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York University on the study abroad programme in association with Upstate Theatre Project.
2016 Consultancy Hibernia College External Examiner, Professional Diploma in Education, School Placement, Hibernia College, 2012 - 2016.
2012 Consultancy Smashing Times Theatre and Film Company Member of Panel of Specialists, Professional Artists and Facilitators

Outreach Activities

Year Engagement Type Organisation Description
2023 Presentations/Talks to an external audience The Linenhall Arts Centre Guest speaker at 'Faces From the Frontline', Orla Sloyan Photography Exhibition at The Linenhall Arts Centre, Friday 2 June 2023.
2022 Advisory Work Upstate Theatre Project Chairperson of the Board of Directors
2010 Educational Outreach/Public Engagement Smashing Times Theatre and Film Company Acting for Change: Addressing Diversity Through Drama. A participative drama workshop programme to promote anti-racism and anti sectarianism and to create an understanding of identify, diversity and the promotion of equality
2008 Educational Outreach/Public Engagement Smashing Times Theatre and Film Company Acting for the Future. An arts project using participative drama workshops and theatre performance to raise awareness of issues surrounding suicide and suicide prevention with adolescents in second-level schools north and south of the border.

Research Interests

Creativity in education, particularly in relation to how educational environments can foster creative learning, the relationship between teaching creatively and teaching for creativity and the use of drama-based pedagogy across the post-primary curriculum; Initial teacher education with a particular focus on teacher identitiy and the transition from other careers to teaching; Participatory arts practices and processes, particularly in relation to creative collaboration, storytelling, creative writing, devising and performance in community-engaged theatre and the impact of creative activity on health and wellbeing.

Research Projects

Title Role Description Start date End date
Creation-Pop: A creative social prescription approach: promoting wellbeing of persons of older age through creativity-based intergenerational activities Research Partner 01/02/2022 01/08/2024
Pre-service Teachers' Experiences of an Interdisciplinary Module on Creativity and Innovation in Education Principal Investigaator 10/01/2022 01/06/2023
Creative Schools Evaluation Researcher 02/09/2019 28/01/2023
Engagement with the Professional Master of Education (PME) Programme Principal Investigator 04/12/2018 04/12/2023

Current Postgraduate Students

Student Name Degree Supervision
Kirwan ,Evan PhD Supervisor
Gallagher ,Emma PhD Supervisor

Internal Collaborators

Type Name Company Role
Internal Dr. Fiona Gallagher School of Applied Language & Intercultural Studies, DCU Academic
Internal Dr. Francesca Lorenzi School of Policy and Practice, DCU Academic
Internal Dr. Majella McSharry School of Human Development, DCU Academic
Internal Dr. Peter Tiernan School of STEM Education, Innovation & Global Studies, DCU Academic

Teaching Interests

English Education, Drama Education, Arts Education, Creativity, Academic Reading and Writing

Modules Coordinated

Term Title Subject
2022 Academic Writing and Reading ES110
2022 Teaching and Learning in English Education ES562
2022 Fostering Creativity and Innovation: Digital Media, Drama and Linguistic Responsiveness in Professional Practice HD595