Qualifications & background
PG Cert in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (University of Plymouth)
PhD in Science Education (Dublin City University)
Diploma of Licentiate - Drama Teaching (Irish Board of Speech and Drama)
BSc in Analytical Science (Dublin City University)
Professional membership
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA)
Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Teaching interests
I currently teach on a range of modules on the BEd in Primary Education and also on the BA in Education Studies. On the BEd, I teach on the core and specialist science modules as well as the drama module. On the BA, I teach on the Research in Education module. I also teach drama on the PGCE primary programme.
Teaching related grants and awards:
UoP TQEF Research-informed Teaching Award 2009-2010 (£10,000) with K.Gresty, A. Edwards and C. Pettinger. Plymouth Student e-journals: embedding and disseminating good practice
UoP TQEF Research Informed Teaching Award 2008-2009 (£13969)
with Dr. Karen Gresty (Faculty of Science), Prof. Ray Jones (Faculty of Health and Social Work) and Andrew Edwards (Research Assistant) for the development of two new Plymouth Student e-journals
UoP Teaching Fellowship Award 2007-2008 (£5000) with Dr Roger Cutting, to implement problem-solving units into our 1st year science module Foundations of Science
Research interests
Problem-based learning in science
Students approaches to learning
The use of drama/art to teach scientific concepts
Research related grants:
HEA Physical Sciences Centre Development Project Grant 2009 (£3900) with James Lovatt (Dublin City University) to research how novice and expert learners solve problems in the chemistry laboratory
Awarded Chemistry Education Activating Research grant (£1400) from the Royal Society of Chemistry in March 2008 to attend the 20th Biennial Conference on Chemical Education in Indiana University, Bloomington
Publications
Anderson, J., Dodd, D., Huggins, V., Kelly, O., Knight, H. & Wickett, K. (2011): Using mixed methods: Frameworks for an integrated methodology, Journal of Education for Teaching, 37:4, 501-503
Kelly, O. and Cutting, R. (2011) 'Understanding places and society through history and geography outside the classroom', in Waite, S. (ed.) Children Learning Outside the Classroom From Birth to Eleven. London: Sage, pp. 106-118
Kelly, O.C. and Finlayson, O.E. (2010) Easing the transition from secondary school to higher education through recognition of the skills of our students. New Directions in the teaching of Physical Sciences, 6 (51-55) [ISSN 1740-9888] Available at: http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/ps/documents/new_directions/new_directions/newdir6_bookmarked.pdf
Cutting, R.L. and Kelly, O.C. (2010) Science for sustainability: contextualising problem based learning. In Dolinšek, S. and Lyons, T. (Eds.) Socio-cultural and Human Values in Science and Technology Education. Proceedings of the XIV IOSTE Symposium, Bled (Slovenia), Institute for Innovation and Development of University of Ljubljana. 296- 306. [ISBN 978-961-92882-1-4] Available at: http://www.ioste.org/pdf/proceed14.pdf
Kelly, O.C. and Finlayson, O.E. (2009) A hurdle too high? Students’ experience of a PBL laboratory module. Chemistry Education Research and Practice, 10 (1) 42-52 [ISSN 1765-1108] Available at: http://www.rsc.org/delivery/_ArticleLinking/DisplayArticleForFree.cfm?doi=b901459b&JournalCode=RP
Kelly, O. and Cutting, R.L. (2008) Going up alleys to see if they are blind: The use of problem-solving as basis for teaching undergraduate science programmes. In Cavas, B. (Ed.). The Use of Science and Technology Education for Peace and Sustainable Development. Proceedings of 13th IOSTE Symposium, Kusadasi (Turkey), Palme Publications, Ankara. 944-952. [ISBN 978-605-5829-16-2] Available at: http://www.ioste.org/pdf/proceed13.pdf
Kelly, O. and Finlayson, O.E. (2007) Providing solutions through problem-based learning for the undergraduate 1st year chemistry laboratory. Chemistry Education Research and Practice, 8 (3) 347-361 [ISSN 1765-1108] Available at: http://www.rsc.org/images/Kelly%20final_tcm18-94355.pdf
Kelly, O. (2007) Snowballs, Sugar Paper and Students - Enhancing Learning for Non-Chemists. In K. NESMERAK, ed. Proceedings of the 2nd European Variety in Chemistry Education, 28-30th June 2007 Prague. Prague: Charles University, 108-112 [ISBN 97689-1129-1] Available at: http://web.natur.cuni.cz/eurovariety/Proceedings_EuroVariety_Prague_2007.pdf
Kelly, O., Finlayson, O. and Wilson, A. (2005). Investigation into Gender Differences in Approach to Learning of Undergraduate Science Students. In R. Pintό et D. Couso, (Eds.), Proceedings of the Fifth International ESERA Conference on Contributions of Research to Enhancing Students’ Interest in Learning Science. (pp 1445-1449). Barcelona, Spain. [ISBN 689-1129-1]
Finlayson, O. and Kelly, O. (2005) Student experiences of a laboratory-based problem-based learning module for 1st year undergraduate chemistry students. In R. Pintό et D. Couso, (Eds.), Proceedings of the Fifth International ESERA Conference on Contributions of Research to Enhancing Students’ Interest in Learning Science. (pp 1202-1205). Barcelona, Spain. [ISBN 689-1129-1]
Kelly, O. and Finlayson, O. (2005) Microscale chemistry - Evidence of its effective use in teaching practical chemistry to senior second level students. In R. Pintό et D. Couso, (Eds.), Proceedings of the Fifth International ESERA Conference on Contributions of Research to Enhancing Students’ Interest in Learning Science. (pp 1219-1222). Barcelona, Spain. [ISBN 689-1129-1]
