Centre for Academic Practice, Trinity Teaching & Learning

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Room 3.06
3-4 Foster Place
Dublin 2
Ireland

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academicpractice@tcd.ie
Dr. Claire Mcavinia

Dr. Claire Mcavinia

Academic Developer, Academic Practice

Biography

Claire is an Academic Developer working closely with colleagues to provide expertise in learning, teaching, and assessment in higher education. She has more than 25 years' experience in academic development and digital education with roles at TU Dublin, Maynooth University, and University College London. Claire has taught and led accredited academic professional development programmes and supervised postgraduate research. She has contributed to institutional and national teaching and learning projects, and recently completed a secondment with the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning. She received a Teaching Hero Award from the National Forum in 2021, and is a Fellow of the UK's Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA) and Advance HE. Together with Dr Róisín Donnelly and Dr Kevin O'Rourke, she co-edits the open access Irish Journal of Academic Practice. Claire holds a BA and PhD from Trinity College Dublin, an MA from the University of Kent, MA in Online and Distance Education from the UK Open University, and postgraduate certificates in learning and teaching from UCL and the UK Open University. Her research interests are in all aspects of academic professional development, open education, and post-digital learning spaces in higher education.

Publications and Further Research Outputs

  • Risquez, A., McAvinia, C., Desmond, Y., Bruen, C., Ryan, D., & Coughlan, A., Towards a Devolved Model of Management of OER? The Case of the Irish Higher Education Sector, The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 21, (1), 2020, p99 - 111Journal Article, 2020, DOI , URL , TARA - Full Text
  • An investigation of students' experiences of using virtual learning environments: implications for academic professional development in, editor(s)O'Farrell, C. and Farrell, A. , Emerging Issues in Higher Education III: From capacity building to sustainability, Athlone, Educational Developers in Ireland Network (EDIN), 2013, [Rísquez, A., McAvinia, C., Raftery, D., O'Riordan, F., Harding, N., Cosgrave, R., Logan-Phelan, T., & Farrelly, T.]Book Chapter, 2013
  • Jyothi, S., McAvinia, C., Keating, J., A visualisation tool to aid exploration of students' interactions in asynchronous online communication, Computers and Education, 58, (1), 2012, p30-42Journal Article, 2012, DOI
  • Donnelly, R., McAvinia, C., Academic development perspectives of blended learning, Blended Learning Environments for Adults: Evaluations and Frameworks, 2012, p1-18Book, 2012, DOI
  • The place of the university teacher in a dynamic student-centred curriculum: A snapshot of practice at NUI Maynooth in, editor(s)Hughes, J. and Tan, E. , The Dynamic Curriculum: Shared Experiences of Ongoing Curricular Change in Higher Education, Dublin, Dublin City University, 2012, [Farrell, A. & McAvinia, C.]Book Chapter, 2012
  • McAvinia, C. & Maguire, T., Evaluating The National Digital Learning Repository (NDLR): New Models Of Communities Of Practice, AISHE-J: The All Ireland Journal of Teaching & Learning in Higher Education, 2011Journal Article, 2011
  • Cosgrave, R.J., Rísquez, A., Logan-Phelan, T., Farrelly, T., Costello, E., Palmer, M., McAvinia, C., Cooper, R., Harding, N., & Vaughan, N., Usage and uptake of virtual learning environments and technology assisted learning: Findings from a multi institutional, multi year comparative study, AISHE-J, 2011Journal Article, 2011
  • The Management and Creation of Knowledge: Do Wikis Help in, editor(s)R. Donnelly, J. Harvey and K.C. O'Rourke , Critical Design and Effective Tools for E-Learning in Higher Education: Theory into Practice, Hershey, IGI Global, 2010, [Bruen, C., Fitzpatrick, N., Gormley, P., Harvey, J., & McAvinia, C.]Book Chapter, 2010
  • O'Keeffe, M., Bruen, C., Wade, V., Harvey, J., Mcavinia, C., Maguire, T., Jennings, D., Munro, M., Gormley, P., O'Leary, G., Opening digital doors through communities of practice, ASCILITE 2009 - The Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education, 2009, p710-711Conference Paper, 2009
  • Rickard, A., Quirke-Bolt, N. & McAvinia C., The challenge of change: Digital video-analysis and constructivist teaching approaches on a one year preservice teacher education program in Ireland, Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 17, (3), 2009, p349 - 368Journal Article, 2009
  • Secker, J. & McAvinia, C., Enhancing teaching and learning at UCL: the access to core course materials project and the Key Skills Web development project, Vine, 2001Journal Article, 2001
  • McAvinia, C.; Schalk, A.; Rooney, P., Exploring the concept of the digital educator during COVID-19, Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 2022, p131--143Journal Article, 2022, DOI
  • O'Riordan, F., O'Sullivan, I., Fitzpatrick, M., Keane, M., McAvinia, C. & Rísquez, A., Structured professional development for academic developers: A collaborative approach, Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 2020, p1--11Journal Article, 2020, DOI
  • The role of a virtual learning environment (VLE) in the teaching of an accredited module in information literacy skills: case study and considerations in, editor(s)B. Higgs & M. McCarthy , Emerging Issues II, Dublin, Educational Developers in Ireland Network (EDIN), 2008, [McAvinia, C., Fallon, H. & McQuaid, M.]Book Chapter, 2008
  • Jyothi, S., McAvinia, C., Keating, J.G., An interaction visualisation tool for a learning management system, Proceedings of the 2007 Conference of the Center for Advanced Studies on Collaborative Research, CASCON '07, 2007, p326-331Conference Paper, 2007, DOI
  • McAvinia, C., CALLers and Learning Technologists: Where do they meet, and what do they have in common?, Computer Assisted Language Learning, 2006Journal Article, 2006
  • Seale, J., Boyle, T., Ingraham, B., Roberts, G., McAvinia, C., Designing digital resources for learning, Contemporary Perspectives in E-Learning Research: Themes, Methods and Impact on Practice, 2006, p121-133Book, 2006, DOI
  • McAvinia, C., Oliver, M., Developing a managed learning environment using 'roundtables': An activity theoretic perspective, Interactive Learning Environments, 12, (3), 2004, p209-225Journal Article, 2004, DOI
  • Hughes, J., McAvinia C. & King, T., What really makes students like a web site? What are the implications for designing web-based language learning sites?, ReCALL, 2004Journal Article, 2004
  • McAvinia, C. & Hughes, J., Sharing systems, sharing language: Designing and working in a virtual department, Computer Assisted Language Learning, 2003Journal Article, 2003
  • McAvinia, C., Oliver, M., But my subject's different: A web-based approach to supporting disciplinary lifelong learning skills, Computers and Education, 38, (1-3), 2002, p209-220Journal Article, 2002
  • McAvinia, C., Key skills by design: adapting a central Web resource to departmental contexts, Research in Learning Technology, 2002Journal Article, 2002
  • McAvinia, C., From Flagship to Flotilla? Findings from a Review of Literature on Learning Spaces in Higher Education., Irish Journal of Academic Practice, 11, (2), 2024, pdoi.org/10.21427/40x2-wb98Journal Article, 2024
  • Donnelly, R., Kennelly, I. & McAvinia, C., A multimodal framework for supporting academic writers' perspectives, practice and performance., Teaching in Higher Education, 29, (4), 2022, p10.1080/13562517.2022.2048365Journal Article, 2022
  • McAvinia, C., Gabaudan, O., Freeman, O., Ryan, B.J., O'Kane, C. & Tully, R., Foundations and scaffolding: exploring literature and practice to build a new curriculum framework for TU Dublin, Irish Journal of Academic Practice, 9, (2), 2021, p10.21427/569A-1Z55Journal Article, 2021
  • Show me the Impact! A Practical Online Tool (EDIN Impact Analysis Tool) for Evidencing the Impact of Academic Development Work. in, editor(s)M. Keane, C. McAvinia & Í. O'Sullivan , Emerging Issues IV: Changing Times, Changing Contexts., Dublin, Educational Developers in Ireland Network (EDIN), 2021, pphttps://www.edin.ie/?page_id=5 , [Gormley, C., Keane, M., O'Sullivan, Í., McAvinia, C., Fitzpatrick, M.]Book Chapter, 2021
  • Finding Inspiration: Sharing Practice and Developing Authentic Multimedia Artifacts for Supervision of Undergraduate Research in Irish Higher Education in, editor(s)N.H. Hensel & P. Blessinger , International Perspectives on Undergraduate Research, New York, Palgrave Macmillan, 2020, pp147 - 175, [Donnelly, R., McAvinia, C., McDonnell, C.]Book Chapter, 2020
  • Irish Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning, 3, 2, (2018), McAvinia, C. & Rísquez, A., [Special Issue Editor]Journal, 2018
  • McAvinia, C., Ryan, D. & Moloney, D., "I don't have the time!" Analysing talk of time in lecturers' use of the VLE., Irish Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning, 3, (2), 2018, p35 - 46Journal Article, 2018
  • Rísquez, A. & McAvinia, C., The VLE versus Open Education, Irish Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning, 3, (2), 2018, p88 - 93Journal Article, 2018
  • Evaluating how engaging in Professional Development impacts on Assessment Practice: A Proposed Framework in, editor(s)M. Maguire, N. Harding, G. Noonan & T. O'Connor , Teachers as Learners: Exploring the impact of accredited professional development on learning and assessment in Irish Higher Education, Dublin, All Ireland Society for Higher Education (AISHE), 2017, [Donnelly, R., Harvey, J., McAvinia, C., & McDonnell, C.]Book Chapter, 2017
  • McAvinia, C., Online Learning and Its Users: Lessons for Higher Education, Kidlington, Chandos Elsevier, 2016Book, 2016
  • Communities of Practice: The TeachNet Experience in, editor(s)D. Butler, K. Marshall & M. Leahy , Shaping The Future: How Technology Can Lead to Educational Transformation, Dublin, Liffey Press, 2015, pp137 - 151, [McAvinia, C.]Book Chapter, 2015
  • Does accredited professional development for academics improve teaching and learning in higher education? in, editor(s)Ribeiro, F.M., Politis, Y. and Culum, B. , New Voices in Higher Education Research and Scholarship, Hershey, IGI Global, 2015, [McAvinia, C., Donnelly, R., McDonnell, C., Hanratty, O., & Harvey, J.]Book Chapter, 2015
  • 2011 in, editor(s)Land, R. and Bayne, S. , Digital difference: perspectives on online learning, Rotterdam, Sense, 2011, [McKenna, C. & McAvinia, C.]Book Chapter, 2011

Research Expertise

Academic Professional Development Educational Development Digital Education Open Education Post-Digital Learning Spaces

Recognition

  • Educational Developers in Ireland Network (EDIN), Committee Member
  • UK Advance HE (formerly Higher Education Academy), Fellow
  • UK Staff and Educational Development Association, Senior Fellow