POSTGRAD PROFILE ON ... Niamh McGrogan

Every issue, we’ll bring you an interview with a postgraduate student or member of staff who are making a positive impact on the postgrad community. In this edition we talk to Niamh McGrogan, Programme Leader and Senior Lecturer, Primary PGCE at Bath Spa University.

WHAT COURSE DO YOU STUDY AND AT WHAT LEVEL?

Doctorate Teachers as Researchers: Understanding the Lived Experience of Engagement in Research Through Collaborative Close-to-Practice Inquiry.

IF YOU WERE EXPLAINING YOUR COURSE TO A CHILD, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

I’m trying to understand what teachers think about investigating their teaching while they’re doing it.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR COURSE?

Learning and finding my way out of the uncomfortable spaces. I’m also a Programme Leader on the PGCE at Bath Spa and I talk to students all the time about learning sometimes being in an uncomfortable space and how that’s okay; it means you’re growing and developing as a learner. I’m reminded of this when I’m stuck... these aren’t always pleasant spaces to be in and I have to keep reminding myself that I’m learning. It feels so good when I come out of those spaces having learned something new or made sense of something I didn’t understand and that’s where I find a lot of joy.

HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING ON ANYTHING EXCITING?

In my work I’m hearing a lot about research informed and evidence based practice from policy makers and education researchers. I don’t hear anything from teachers or teacher educators - those microphones are literally on mute. In my research, I’ve been listening to the experiences of teachers, understanding what research means to them and what it means for them to engage in research activity. Having attended so many meetings where the silence of their voices has been so loud, I’m finding it so exciting to hear those voices and understand what they’re telling me.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE ANY OF YOUR WORK WITH US?

Sure! I’m learning that a lot of the literature out there is appearing in my data - the teachers I interviewed struggle with managing the demands of their workload and engaging in research and they really value researching in collaboration. The teachers also only find value in research that directly relates to their practice and how to support pupil learning. However, I’ve also learned that there was an emotional aspect to research for these teachers. They found it ‘exciting’ or felt ‘scared’ by it; they talked about these strong emotions and when looking at their engagement I can see connections between these and their engagement with the process. It’s really interesting to hear what they said and then analyse this to understand what was shared without being explicitly said. I’ll stop there otherwise I’ll end up writing half my thesis here!

Do you have a furry buddy that keeps you company while you work? Let us know at studentcomms@bathspa.ac.uk and you and your pet may be featured in the next issue!