Sammy Taggart

Sammy Taggart is a Lecturer in Education at Ulster University's School of Education within the Faculty of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. He serves as a Teacher Educator in Technology and Design Education with expertise in educational technologies and their application in Northern Ireland's educational system. His work bridges academic research with practical implementation in schools across Northern Ireland.

His research interests focus on leveraging educational technologies to enhance learning experiences, with particular emphasis on creating blended and balanced digital environments that stimulate creativity and critical thinking. Taggart has contributed extensively to teacher professional learning, digital safeguarding measures, research, and policy development related to educational technology. His work examines the intersection of technology, design, and engineering education within the specific context of Northern Ireland's educational landscape.

Taggart's publication record shows a clear trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated applications of technology in education, with recent work focusing on generative AI implementation in schools, blended learning effectiveness, and teachers' digital competences. His research consistently centers on the Northern Ireland context while addressing universal challenges in educational technology adoption.

• Distinguished Education Excellence Award (2021)
• Learning and Teaching Awards 2023 - Educator of the Year Award (Shortlisted, 2023)

As Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator on multiple research projects since 2018, Taggart has secured consistent research funding with a notable increase in project volume since 2022. His current projects include the NI Schools | GenAI Pilot - MS and TRANSFORMING EDUCATION FINAL PHASE, demonstrating his leadership in cutting-edge educational technology research. He also serves as an External Examiner at the University of Roehampton since 2020.

Taggart collaborates extensively with examination authorities, STEM-focused charitable groups, and local organizations to promote education, design, and engineering across Northern Ireland. His work aims to create practical pathways for technology integration that respect the unique characteristics of Northern Ireland's educational system while preparing students for a technologically advanced world.