Marcella Towler

Graduated with a BA in Early Childhhood Studies from UCC. I have also completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. Currently studying for a PhD in education. Research interests include discourses relating to play in early years education. Further research interests include the Froebelian approach to education both historic and contemporary;developments in the early years sector in Ireland, (particularly in relation to Síolta, Aistear and the Free Preschool year). My interest in Aistear has extended to a mentoring role to a preschool in Lesotho. The preschool is using the Aistear curriculum framework to guide their practice.Other research interests include emergent curriculum, STEM in early childhood and educational provision for children with special needs. I am Co-Researcher with Dr Alison Moore on a Froebel Trust funded project entitled ‘Nurture through nature: fostering early childhood students’ understanding of outdoor learning spaces’.

I joined the School of Education in 2010 from the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health and continued my doctoral work on the German educator Froebel. In particular, I am interested in how the approach is evident in current early years curricula and practice. This is the focus of my current research. Within this context, I am interested in developments in the early childhood care and education sector in Ireland, particularly those relating to Síolta; The National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Aistear:The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework. My interest in Aistear has extended to a mentoring role to a preschool in Lesotho. The preschool is using the Aistear curriculum framework to guide their practice.Other research interests include emergent curriculum, STE(A)M in early childhood and educational provision for children with special needs. I have actively participated in OMEP Annual Conferences in Cork as well as the OMEP World Conference in 2014. I have several peer-reviewed articles, one as sole author, and I have contributed to Early Years Conferences on the topic of early learning.

I am interested in all aspects of teaching relating to early childhood care and education. I teach on the following modules on the EYCS degree: SS1019 (Children's Social and Cultural Worlds), SS1020 (Social Policy and Society), ED1016 (Infant, Toddler and Childhood Health, Development and Safety) ED1015 ED2007 (Physical Activity and Childhood Development) I am module co-ordinator on modules ED1012 (Early Years and Childhood Studies: Pedagogical Principles and Practices) Masters in Education Programme: I have contributed to Module ED6026 on the Masters in Education Programme. I have also been module co-ordinator on ED6062 (Play in Learning and Development in Early Childhood) on the Master in Education Programme and I am currently module co-ordinator of ED6069: (Early Childhood Pedagogy: Perspectives and Contemporary Issues) on the Master in Education Programme.