I am a Research Fellow linked to the EUROSHIP: Closing gaps in social citizenship. New tools to foster social resilience in Europe project.
Background
I have worked within the education sector for over 30 years. As a teacher in different settings where I taught a range of subjects, ages and levels, anything from how to get your nursery aged child ready for school to university access courses. I began researching within educational settings to engineer change. This resulted in my involvement in a range of projects which took my interests beyond the classroom to an examination of the wider contributing factors and barriers to perceived success.
Research Interests
- Social justice and social mobility
- How issues surrounding, ethnicity, gender and class interact with and are influenced by environmental factors, including government policy, poverty and the rise in digitalisation, in the pursuit of individual success, and the transition to adulthood.
Research articles
McDonnell, A. (2018). Group dynamics and the impact on learning. In K. Safford-Ramus, J. Keogh, J. O’Donoghue & T. Maguire (Eds.), Adult Learning Mathematics – A Research Forum. Celebrating 25 years: A lot done, a lot more yet to do (pp. 22-27). London: Adults Learning Mathematics – A Research Forum. http://www.alm-online.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ALM-Monograph-Final-2018-06-29.pdf
McDonnell, A. (2004) Group dynamics and the impact on learning. In L. Lindberg (Ed.), ‘Bildning’ and/or Training: ALM 11. Proceedings of the 11th International Conference of Adults Learning Mathematics in Kungälv (Göteborg, Sweden) (pp. 194-199). Göteborg: Göteborg University Department of Education in association with ALM.
McDonnell, A. (2003) Interactive whole class teaching. In J. Maaß & W. Schlöglmann (Eds.), Learning Mathematics to Live and Work in Our World. ALM-10. Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Adults Learning Mathematics in Strobl (Austria) (pp. 183-186). Linz, Austria: ALM and Johannes Kepler Universität Linz.
Book chapters
Bussi, M., McDonnell, A., Schøyen, M. A., Solstad Vedeler, J., O’Reilly, J. & Lewis, C. (2019) ‘Social resilience in facing precarity: Young people ‘rising to the occasion’ in B. Hvinden, J. O’Reilly, M. A. Schøyen & C. Hyggen (eds.) Negotiating Early Job Insecurity: Well-being, Scarring and Resilience of European Youth. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
Krasteva, V., McDonnell, A. & Tolgensbakk, I. (2019) ‘Mobile young individuals: subjective experiences of migration and return’ in B. Hvinden, J. O’Reilly, M. A. Schøyen & C. Hyggen (eds.) (2019) Negotiating Early Job Insecurity: Well-being, Scarring and Resilience of European Youth. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar
Ayllion, S., Bussi, M., O’Reilly, J., Schøyen, M. A., Tolgensbakk, I., McDonnell, A. (2019) ‘Drug use and early job insecurity’ in B. Hvinden, J. O’Reilly, M. A. Schøyen & C. Hyggen (eds.) Negotiating Early Job Insecurity: Well-being, Scarring and Resilience of European Youth. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/negotiating-early-job-insecurity
Unpublished reports
Coben, D., O’Hagan, J., Newmarch, B., & McDonnell, A. (2009, unpublished). Making Adult Numeracy Work: A proposal for a two year research and development programme to underpin numeracy achievement at and below Entry Level 3. London: NCETM/Tribal.
Coben, D., Newmarch, B., McDonnell, A., & O’Hagan, J. (2008, unpublished). Meeting the Numeracy Challenge: Research and development strategy to underpin the implementation of the Numeracy for Employability Plan at or below Entry level 3, 2008-11. London: National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics.
McDonnell, A., (2008, unpublished) ‘The evaluation of a pilot project examining the effectiveness of a tool to identify young people who are deemed vulnerable of becoming NEET’. London: London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.
House of Lords Committee cites Digit associate fellow’s evidence
The written evidence was submitted for the inquiry 'Designing a public workforce fit for the future'.
Digit researchers at the SASE 2022 conference
Digit researchers discussed their work at the SASE cofnerence, 9-11 July 2022 in Amsterdam.