Dr. Rowan Oberman
Rowan Oberman is Assistant Professor in the School of Stem Education Innovation and Global Studies and Co-Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Education. Her areas of research interest include climate change education, children’s rights and picturebooks. Her doctoral study focusses on the use of picturebooks in inquiry-based approaches to climate change education. She has developed numerous educational resources including Creating Futures, an online resource providing innovative climate change lessons for senior primary classrooms. She is a qualified Barrister with particular expertise in human rights and family law. She lectures on DCU’s BECE and BEd programmes as well as the DCU MEd in Literacy Professional Practice and MSc in Climate Change.
Research Interests
Rowan's research areas of interest include: picturebooks, climate change education and children's rights. Her research experience includes: research with children, student teachers, teachers, teacher educators and vulnerable groups. She has lead on several research projects including: research exploring young children's engagement with issues of global justice and research in climate change education. Her experience includes qualitative and mixed methods studies, systematic literature reviews and design-based studies. Her research has used a variety of methods including concepts maps, visual methodologies and children's research advisory groups.
Teaching Interests
Rowan teaches Global Citizenship Education in compulsory and specialism courses. Her teaching models the interactive, explorative approaches she encouraged her students to use in the classroom. Reflecting the theory of Global Citizenship Education, she endeavours for her students to think, experience, feel and reflect during courses as well as to increase their knowledge. Rowan's courses encourage group work and discussion and create spaces for considering different perspectives and approaches.