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Tá Gaeilge agam. Tá Gaeilge agam.       
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Professor Damian Murchan

Professor In (Education)
ARTS BUILDING
Tá Gaeilge agam. Tá Gaeilge agam.       
Profile Photo

Professor Damian Murchan

Professor In (Education)
ARTS BUILDING

 Damian.Murchan@tcd.ie

 3531896 1237


Damian Murchan is a Professor in Education and a Fellow of Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin. He is President of the Association for Educational Assessment-Europe (AEA-Europe) and a Fellow of the Association. His experience, teaching and research interests span Primary, Secondary and College levels, including initial and continuing education for teachers. Damian"s research interests include educational reform, assessment methods, e-learning, and professional development for teachers, with particular emphasis on evidence-informed policy and practice. His current research focuses on regulatory and ethical implications of using data analytics in digital assessments and on the process of assessment reform at secondary level. Damian has held a number of advisory roles in relation to the development of assessment policy and practice in Ireland and internationally. He has organised many conferences internationally and co-chaired major international education conferences in Ireland, including the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI, January 2024) and the Annual Conference of AEA"Europe (November 2022). Damian"s research is widely disseminated through books, journals and conference presentations internationally and he recognises the value of communicating educational ideas to wider audiences. He is a frequent contributor to print and broadcast media in both the English and Irish languages. He tweets @damianmurchan. Formerly a teacher and principal in primary schools, Damian has maintained roles, including Chair, on Boards of Management of primary schools. He has held University leadership positions as Head of the School of Education and Head of the School of Creative Arts in Trinity College. Damian is available to supervise Doctoral students in the areas of Educational assessment and testing; Evaluation; and Educational reform.
  Assessment of student learning   Curriculum reform in primary and post-primary education   Educational Evaluation/Assessment   Educational Reform   Educational Testing/Measurement   Elementary/Secondary Education   International surveys of student achievement   Junior and Leaving Certificate Examinations
Project Title
 Assessment in the re-developed primary curriculum
From
2019
To
2019
Summary
In my role as Research Associate at the Centre for Assessment Research, Policy and Practice in Education (CARPE) at Dublin City University, I have collaborated on this project designed to inform policymakers' decisions about assessment as part of ongoing review of the national primary curriculum. This work resulted in a discussion paper (Lysaght, Scully, Murchan, O'Leary & Shiel, 2019) that aims to present for discussion a number of issues that can be used to frame the role of assessment in primary education, highlighting the importance of aligning assessment, learning and teaching in curricular reform and implementation.
Funding Agency
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment
Project Title
 Exploring the process of Junior Cycle Reform
From
2013
To
Present
Summary
With colleagues in the Research in School Education group in the School of Education I have investigated issues surrounding efforts to reform Junior Cycle (lower secondary) curricula in Ireland. This included two conferences (2013, 2014) that brought together a range of stakeholders, including students, associated with this reform. Outputs include three conference presentations, a 2018 paper in the journal Educational Assessment Evaluation and Accountability and a forthcoming Co-edited book.
Funding Agency
Trinity College Dublin
Project Title
 Virtual Schooling in Upper Secondary Mathematics - Evaluation of Clevermaths Pilot Study.
From
2013
To
2013
Summary
This project explored implementation of an online e-learning and computer-based assessment solution designed to provide support for students of mathematics in the Senior Cycle in Ireland. In partnership with Apierian e-learning Limited, I headed a research team within TCD exploring the efficacy of a virtual education programme designed to cater to students in upper secondary school in Ireland. The funded programme involved a combination of e-learning and online tutorials and the research aimed to ascertain participant experiences and views along with impacts of the programme on students
Funding Agency
Apierian e-Learning
Project Title
 Promoting Key Skills in Junior Cycle Classrooms through Bridge 21
From
2010
To
2014
Summary
I collaborated with colleagues in the TCD Centre for Research in IT in Education (CRITE) on the Bridge 21 project. My work focused on evaluating the success of the initiative in enabling teachers and post-primary students to develop 21st Century key skills in classrooms, a priority educational target of government. The project found encouraging evidence of success using teamwork, technology and action research as mediating pedagogical tools. A number of conference presentations, reports and peer-reviewed publications have emerged from this research.
Funding Agency
Google; SUAS Educational Development; National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.
Project Title
 Strengthen the Assessment of Learning Outcomes in the Republic of Kosovo
From
2011
To
2011
Summary
The Republic of Kosovo has undertaken restructuring of various aspects of its primary and secondary Education system. Developing a nationally-agreed set of school-based assessment standards and enhancing teachers' capacity in relation to the standards are key priorities. I provided technical advice and on-site training and support to national policymakers, NGOs and Principals and Teachers in schools involved in a pilot process. Through a process of policy development and practitioner action research, the process was designed to facilitate the enactment of statutory assessment standards, with corresponding evidence-based teacher professional development in assessment suited to the local context.
Funding Agency
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

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Details Date
Manuscript reviewer for journals: Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy and Practice; Irish Educational Studies; International Journal of Research and Method in Education. 2012 -
Member, Governing Body & Academic Council, Marino Institute of Education 2013 - 2016
Roles as Chairperson/member of Boards of Management in a number of primary schools. 1994 - Present
Assessment Advisor to Kosovo Education Centre on implementation of the Kosovo Basic Education Programme: Strengthening school-based formative assessment systems. 2011
Assessment Advisor to Macedonian Civic Education Centre, Macedonia, the agency contracted by Macedonian Education authorities to reform student assessment in primary and lower secondary education. 2007 - 2008
Member, Primary Assessment Sub-committee, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. during the development of the revised Primary School Curriculum. 1995 - 1997
Language Skill Reading Skill Writing Skill Speaking
English Fluent Fluent Fluent
French Medium Basic Basic
Irish Fluent Fluent Fluent
Details Date From Date To
Association for Educational Assessment - Europe [Co-Chair, Conference Local Organising Committee 2020-2022; Council Member 2022-Present; Vice-President 2022-2024; President 2024-2026] 2009 Present
National Council on Measurement in Education (US) 1989 Present
American Educational Research Association 1989 Present
Educational Studies Association of Ireland 1992 Present
International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement [Co-Chair, Conference Local Organising Committee 2022-2024] 2022 Present
Irish Federation of University Teachers 2002 Present
Centre for Assessment, Research Policy and Practice in Education (CARPE), Institute of Education, Dublin City University [Research Associate] 2019 2022
Siddiq, F. & Murchan, D., Towards a code of ethics for using technology-enabled data and related analytic approaches in educational assessment, Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 31, (5-6), 2025, p376 - 400, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  URL
Murchan, D. & Shiel, G., Understanding and applying assessment in education Second edition, Second, London, SAGE, 2024, 1 - 362pp, Book, PUBLISHED
Yang, X., & Murchan, D., Promoting and enhancing the use of digital formative assessment and feedback amongst high-school chemistry teachers in International Schools in China., International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement, Dublin, 9-12 January, 2024, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED
Siddiq, F. & Murchan, D., Towards ethical standards for employing user-generated data in educational assessment., 20th Biennial Conference of the European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction, Thessaloniki, 22-26 August, 2023, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED  URL
Exploring contemporary assessment policy and practice in the context of Dewey's philosophy of education in, editor(s)J. Ávila, AG Rud, L. Waks & E. Ring , The Contemporary Relevance of John Dewey's Theories on Teaching and Learning. Deweyan Perspectives on Standardization, Accountability, and Assessment in Education, New York, Routledge, 2022, pp221 - 238, [Murchan, D.], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED
Murchan, D. & Likhovtseva, E., How do school systems respond to examinees who experience illness or bereavement at the time of exit examinations in secondary education?, Annual Meeting of the Association for Educational Assessment " Europe, Dublin, 9-12 November, 2022, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED
Siddiq, F. & Murchan, D., Time to add ethical standards for using process data in educational assessment?, Annual Meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education, San Diego, 22-25 April 2022, 2022, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED
Murchan, D., & Likhovtseva, E., A review of arrangements internationally to accommodate examinees who are bereaved or ill at the time of scheduled second-level school leaving examinations, State Examinations Commission, June, 2022, p1 - 106, Report, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  URL
Murchan, D. & Johnston, K., Curriculum Change within Policy and Practice - Reforming Second-Level Education in Ireland, 1, Switzerland, Palgrave Macmillan, 2021, 1-277pp, Book, PUBLISHED  DOI
Bearding the lion: Reforming assessment in Junior Cycle in, editor(s)Murchan, D. & Johnston, K. , Curriculum Change within Policy and Practice. Reforming Second-Level Education in Ireland, Switzerland, Palgrave Macmillan, 2021, pp161-187 , [Murchan, D.], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED
  

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Murchan, D., & Ní Chearúil, E., 'Analysis of 2020 Leaving Certificate results (radio interview)', Raidió na Life - An Bricfeasta Blasta (Liffey Radio - The Tasty Breakfast), Dublin, 2020, -, Broadcast, PUBLISHED
Murchan, D., Bombs, buses and exams: A selected journey through education policy in Ireland since the 1916 rising., RTÉ Reflecting the Rising, Trinity College Dublin, 28 March 2016, 2016, RTE Radió Teilifis Éireann, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Murchan, D., 'Assessment at Junior Cycle', Newstalk FM Radio, 02-12-2014, 2014, -, Broadcast, PUBLISHED
Murchan, D., 'Reforming the Junior Certificate', Newstalk FM Radio, 27-03-2014, 2014, -, Broadcast, PUBLISHED
Murchan, D, 'Exam process designed for a different era, says professor. Interview with Damian Murchan', Dublin, Irish Independent Newspaper, 28-05-2014, 2014, 17 - 17, Broadcast, PUBLISHED
Murchan, D. & Murphy, C., Education in the 21st Century: Student perspective on Junior Cycle Reform, 21 May, 2014, Trinity College Dublin, Meetings /Conferences Organised, PRESENTED
Murchan, D., 'RTE Primetime Interview Junior Cert Exam', RTE Television, 2013, -, Broadcast, PUBLISHED
Murchan, D., Role of the teacher in the context of reformed views of and approaches to assessment at Junior Cycle., Second Level Subject Associations' Representative Group (SARG), Collins Barracks, Dublin, 23 November, 2013, Subject Associations' Representative Group (SARG), Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Murchan, D., Loxley, A., & Johnston, K., Promoting best practice in professional development for teachers, Trinity Today, 11, 2006, p30 - 30, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Murchan, D. , Assessment and the primary school curriculum, 2002, Notes: [Unpublished report prepared for the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), Dublin.], Report, SUBMITTED

  


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Award Date
Fellow, Trinity College Dublin: I was elected as a Fellow of Trinity in recognition of my scholarship, contribution to the academic life of the College, and contribution to the development of my discipline nationally and internationally April 2024