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Dr Pauline Rooney

Dr Pauline Rooney

Head of Academic Practice, Trinity Teaching & Learning


Biography

Pauline is Head of Academic Practice: Teaching & Learning where she leads a team of academic developers, education support officers, student interns and teaching fellows. She works closely with College Officers and academic staff, providing leadership and expertise in further enhancing teaching and learning practices across the disciplines at Trinity. She also advises and contributes to College’s wider objectives in respect of its education provision and strategic goals.

With over 20 years’ experience in education development, academic support, teaching and research, Pauline has particular expertise in digital learning, teaching and assessment and digital scholarship. She has led a number of national and institutional teaching and learning projects including the National Forum-funded Digital by Design initiative and DALTAI project. She has sat on a number of national steering committees and advisory groups including the IUA’s EDTL Steering Committee and the National Forum Learning Analytics Advisory Groups.

She is an experienced educator, a lecturer and supervisor at postgraduate level, and she is a Fellow of the UK Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA). Her research interests focus on how digital technologies impact on learning, teaching and scholarship in higher education.

See also:

Trinity Research Profile

Orcid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8759-6091

Publications and Further Research Outputs 

  • Caitríona Ní Shé, Pauline Rooney, Nicola Byrne, Jonny Johnston, Jade Concannon, Cicely Roche, Signature Assessments in the Disciplines, Lets Talk About Assessment 2023: Rethinking Assessment in Higher Education, Croke Park Conference Centre, Dublin, 30 Jan 2023, 2023Poster, 2023 TARA - Full Text 
  • Jonny Johnston, Pauline Rooney, Caitriona NiShe, Jade Concannon, NIcola Byrne, Cicely Roche, Surfacing academic integrity via authentic & integrated assessment, Let's Talk About Assessment 2023: Rethinking Assessment in Higher Education, Croke Park Conference Centre, Dublin, 30 Jan 2023, 2023Poster, 2023 TARA - Full Text 
  • Rooney, P., Johnston, J., NiShe, C., O'Farrell, C., Roche, C., (2022) PODCASTS: taking educational enhancement conversations online, The Irish Learning Technology Association's EdTech conference, University College Cork, 26-27 May 2022. http://www.tara.tcd.ie/handle/2262/98714  
  • Schalk, A. E., McAvinia, C., & Rooney, P. (2022). Exploring the concept of the digital educator during COVID-19. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 38(2), 129–141. https://doi.org/10.14742/ajet.7316 
  • Gray, G., Cooke, G., Murnion, P., Rooney, P. and O’Rourke, K.C. (2022) Stakeholders' insights on learning analytics: Perspectives of students and staff. Computers & Education DOI: 10.1016/j.compedu.2022.104550. 
  • McGoldrick, N., Rooney, P., Johnston, J., O’Farrell, C., Concannon, J., Hamill, D., (2021) Gateway to Digital Assessment. The Irish Learning Technology Association’s EdTech conference (online). May 2021. http://www.tara.tcd.ie/bitstream/handle/2262/98680/Edtech2021_Gateway%20to%20Digital%20Assessment.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y 
  • Gray, G. Schalk, A., Rooney, P., Lang, C. (2021) A Stakeholder Informed Professional Development Framework to Support Engagement with Learning Analytics. LAK21: 11th International Learning Analytics and Knowledge Conference April 2021. https://doi.org/10.1145/3448139.3448162 
  • Rooney, P., & Dodd, D. (2020) Using Bongo Group Tools for Peer and Team Evaluation. TECHNOLOGY TOOLS FOR TEACHING IN HIGHER EDUCATION, THE PRACTICAL HANDBOOK SERIES. https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/techtoolsforteaching/front-matter/technology-tools-for-teaching-in-higher-education/  
  • Gray, G. & Rooney, P. (2020) Visualising Student Activity Logs using Tableau. TECHNOLOGY TOOLS FOR TEACHING IN HIGHER EDUCATION, THE PRACTICAL HANDBOOK SERIES. https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/techtoolsforteaching/front-matter/technology-tools-for-teaching-in-higher-education/ 
  • Gray, G. & Rooney, P. (2020) Evidence Based Decision Making in the Classroom (EBDM20). Learning Analytics and Knowledge Conference 2020. 
  • Deegan, C, Gray, G, Rooney, P (2019) Educator voices on learning analytics: Exploring staff perspectives on potential, challenges and professional development needs. International Conference on Engaging Pedagogy. Limerick, 13 December. 
  • Rooney, P.,Gray, G., Cooke, G., Murnion, P., Rooney, P. and O’Rourke, K.C. (2019) Developing Data Literacy for Data Enabled Student Success, Poster session presented at Edtech 2019, Annual Irish Learning Technology Association Conference, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Ireland. **WINNER OF BEST POSTER EDTECH2019** 
  • Rooney, P, Gray, G, O’Farrell, L, O’Rourke, KC (2019) Developing all learners through analytics: a collaborative consultative approach to professional development and support. SEDA Spring Conference. Belfast, 9-10 May. https://www.seda.ac.uk/resources/files/42_Rooney.pdf  
  • McAvinia, C, Rooney, P, Donnelly, R, Harvey, J (2019) When staff are the students: engaging staff as student partners in the design of academic professional development programmes. SEDA Spring Conference. Belfast, 9-10 May. https://www.seda.ac.uk/resources/files/11_McAvinia.pdf  
  • Rooney, P, Gray, G, O’Farrell, L, O’Rourke, KC (2019) The challenge of Open: empowering students or eroding privacy. OER19 Conference. Galway, 10-11 April. https://arrow.dit.ie/ltcoth/69/  
  • McAvinia, C, Rooney, P, O’Keeffe, M, & Donnelly, R (2019). Open practices in academic professional development programmes. OER19 Conference. Galway, 10-11 April. https://arrow.dit.ie/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1048&context=ltccon  
  • Rooney, P and NiShe, C (2018). Assessment strategies to promote peer learning in an online course. In ALT Online Winter Conference, December 12, 2018. https://eu.bbcollab.com/recording/532b5b090149443dbfe49fcd9602c9c1  
  • Rooney, P and Whitton, N (Eds) (2016) Game Based Learning and the Power of  Play: Exploring Evidence, Challenges and Future Directions. Cambridge Scholars Publishing: Newcastle upon Tyne; Cambridge Scholars Publishing.  
  • Healy, JP, Cullen, C, Rooney, P (2016) “Towards a Framework for Computer-Mediated Debriefing in Interactive Game-Based Exhibits” in Irish Symposium on Game Based Learning, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, June 2016.  
  • Rooney, P (2015) “Facilitating Online Continuing Professional Development Opportunities in Technology-Enhanced Learning: the TELTA approach”, International Journal of Advanced  Corporate Learning.8 (4). http://online-journals.org/index.php/i-jac/article/view/5308  
  • O’Rourke, KC Rooney, P and Boylan, F (2015) “What’s the Use of a VLE?,”  Irish Journal of Academic Practice. 4 (1). http://arrow.dit.ie/ijap/vol4/iss1/10  
  • Rooney, P (2014) ‘Serious games in higher education: What do our “digital natives” really think?’ in P. Felicia (Ed.) Game-Based Learning: opportunities and challenges. Newcastle upon Tyne; Cambridge Scholars Publishing.  
  • Rooney, P (2013) ‘Harnessing serious games for higher education: an exploration of current drivers, strategies and emerging issues’ in J. Jovanovic and R. Chiong (Eds.) Technological and Social Environments for Interactive Learning. Santa Rosa, California: Informing Science Press. 
  • Rooney, P (2013) (Ed.) Proceedings of the Third Irish Symposium on Game Based Learning, Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland, 6-7 June 2013.  
  • Rooney, P (2012) ‘A theoretical framework for serious game design: exploring pedagogy, play and fidelity and their implications for the design process’. International Journal of Game Based Learning 2 (4).  
  • Rooney, P (2012) ‘Exploring higher education students’ attitudes towards serious games in the classroom’ Irish Symposium on Game Based Learning, Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland June 7, 2012.  
  • Rooney, P (2012) ‘Creating Serious Games Through Multidisciplinary Teams At Third Level: Evaluating The Implications Of An In-House Approach’ in 6th European Conference on Games Based Learning, University College Cork, October 4, 2012.  
  • Rooney P, Igbrude C, Kenna P, O’Toole M (2011) ‘The challenge of managing staff in the workplace: exploring the affordances and opportunities of machinima for supporting managers in higher education’ in ALT-C 2011, University of Leeds, UK, 6-8 September 2011. http://tinyurl.com/85yrrdb  
  • Rooney, P (2011) ‘Harnessing serious games in higher education: a case study. EdD Thesis, University of Sheffield.  
  • Murphy A, O’Rourke KC, Rooney P (2009) ‘The Learn@Work Socrates-Minerva Research Project 2005-2007: what did it do and what has happened with it since?’ Journal of applied research in workplace e-learning 1 (1) 154-168.  
  • Rooney P, MacNamee B, O’Rourke KC, Burke G, Igbrude C (2009) ‘Cross-disciplinary approaches for developing serious games in Higher Education’ in VS-Games ’09 Games and Virtual Worlds for Serious Applications, Serious Games Institute, Coventry University, 23-24 March 2009.  http://tinyurl.com/7e2qdyt) 
  • Boylan F, Rooney P, McConnell J, Luby A, Maughan R, Shanahan D, King D, and Kiely T (2008) ‘Untying the Accountancy Knot II’ National Academy for Integration of Research, Training and Learning Conference, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, November 2008.  
  • Murphy A, O’Rourke KC, Rooney P (2007) ‘The digital partnership divide: can eLearning pedagogical designers understand worker-learners? in 37th Annual SCUTREA Conference, Queen’s University, Belfast, 3-5 July 2007.  
  • Murphy A, O’Rourke K, Rooney P, Dixon N (2007) ‘Designing eLearning for the workplace: challenges for worker-learners, e-designers and academic staff’ Annual Irish Educational Technology Users Conference, Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland, May 2007.  
  • Rooney P, Mac Namee B (2007) ‘Students @ Play: Serious Games for Learning in Higher Education’ INTED2007 International Technology, Education and Development Conference, Valencia, March 7th-9th 2007. http://tinyurl.com/6qyvzll  
  • Rooney P, Mac Namee B (2007) ‘Using Serious Games for Learning in Higher Education – “False Dawn” or Untapped Resource?’ CAL ’07 Development, Disruption & Debate – D3, Trinity College Dublin, 26th-28th March 2007.  
  • Murphy A, Rooney P (2006) ‘Learn @ Work: an eLearning perspective’ 17th Scottish Forum on Lifelong Learning, University of Stirling, UK, November 2006. 
  • MacNamee B, Rooney P, Lindstrom P, Ritchie A, Boylan F, Burke G (2006) ‘Serious Gordon Using Serious Games To Teach Food Safety in the Kitchen’ in 9th International Conference on Computer Games: AI, Animation, Mobile, Educational & Serious Games, Dublin Institute of Technology Dublin, 22-24th November 2006.  
  • Rooney P (2006) ‘Learning technologies and dyslexic students at third level’ in Fourth Annual Conference on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, National University of Ireland Galway, June 2006.  
  • Rooney P, Mac Namee B (2006) ‘Games and Simulations in Education’ in Innovations in Learning Technology: New Frontiers Irish Learning Technology Association eLearning Symposium Trinity College Dublin, 12th December 2006.  
  • Rooney P (2005) Researching from the inside: does it compromise validity? Level 3 Online Journal, Dublin Institute of Technology. 
  • Rooney P (2005) ‘Generating knowledge or improving practice? A critical analysis of the relationship between theory and practice in “action research”. University of Sheffield Department of Educational Studies. http://tinyurl.com/77eljny  
  • Rooney P (2004) ‘Converting a face-to-face course for online delivery — tips for success’ in Annual Irish Educational Technology Users Conference June 2004. 
  • Rooney P and Stack M (2004) ‘An interactive online gallery of histological images’ in Annual Irish Educational Technology Users Conference June 2004. 
  • Rooney P and O’Brien F (2004) ‘Implementing learning technologies on an institutional scale: reflections on the change process’ in AISHE Inaugural Conference September 2004. 

  • Schalk, A., Rooney, P. & Gray, G. (2021). Continuous professional development for learning analytics: a needs analysis. National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching in Learning in Higher Education. https://daltai-he.ie/resources/  
  • Johnston, J. & Rooney, P. (2021) Open-Book Assessment: a Handbook for Academics. Trinity College Dublin. http://www.tara.tcd.ie/handle/2262/95650  
  • Rooney, P (2012) ‘Are you game? Exploring game-based learning for higher education’ in 10th Annual Dublin eLearning Summer School, Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland, June 21, 2012.

Projects 

  • Education for Sustainable Development at Trinity, 2022-present. Funded by National Forum/Higher Education Authority.  
  • Digital by Design: Building Capacity for Digital Education at Trinity, 2021-22. Funded by National Forum/Higher Education Authority. 
  • Gateway to Digital Assessment, 2020-21. Funded by National Forum/Higher Education Authority. 
  • Enhancing Digital Teaching & Learning in Irish Universities (2018-2022). Funded by the Higher Education Authority.  
  • DALTAI (Developing All Learners through Learning Analytics), 2018-2019. Funded by National Forum/Higher Education Authority. 
  • TELU – Open online resources for teaching with technology, 2015-16. Funded by National Forum/Higher Education Authority. 
  • Learning Resources and Open Access, 2014-2015. Funded by National Forum/Higher Education Authority. 
  • Blended learning solutions for continuing professional development among architects and engineers, 2014. Funded by Enterprise Ireland.  
  • Learn@Work, 2005-2008, Funded by European Commission (Socrates Minerva). 

Awards & Honours

  • Fellow of UK Staff Educational Development Association (2015-present).  
  • Winner of an IELA (International eLearning Association) Award (2015) for the design and delivery of #DITTELTA an online professional development course on technology-enhanced learning. 
  • Winner of UCISA Award (2011) for the Dublin eLearning Summer School. 

Memberships

  • Associate Member of the International Federation of National Teaching Fellows (IFNTF).  
  • Member of Educational Developers in Ireland Network (EDIN). 
  • Member of AISHE (All Ireland Society for Higher Education) 
  • Associate Member of ALT (Association of Learning Technologies) 
  • Member of ILTA (Irish Learning Technology Association) 
  • Member of DiGRA (Digital Games Research Association), 2011-2014.  

Representations

  • External Review Panel Member, Teaching Excellence Awards, University College Cork (2024).  
  • Trinity’s Academic Lead on IUA Steering Committee for the National Enhancing Digital Teaching & Learning in Irish Universities project (2020-2022).  
  • Member of Learning Analytics Advisory Group for the National Form for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (2018-2019). 
  • Member of Conference Executive Committee, Playful Learning, Manchester UK (2015-2019).  
  • Member of Conference Executive Committee, European Conference on Game-based Learning (2014).  
  • Journal Reviewer for Innovations in Education and Teaching International 
  • Journal Reviewer for International Journal of Game-Based Learning 
  • Journal Reviewer for International Journal of Social Research Methodology 
  • Journal Reviewer for MERLOT Journal of Online Learning and Teaching 
  • Journal Reviewer for Simulation & Gaming 
  • Journal Reviewer for Qualitative Research Journal 
  • Journal Reviewer for Electronic Journal of eLearning 
  • Reviewer for EdTech (annual conference of the Irish Learning Technology Association) 
  • Reviewer for Irish Symposium on Game Based Learning (annual event) 
  • Reviewer for European Conference on Game Based Learning (annual event)