David Gaul
Lecturer
Email: david.gaul@tudublin.ie
Tel: +353 1 2207291
Discipline: Sports Management & Coaching
Current role & Experience
Dr David Gaul is a lecturer on the BA Sports Management and Coaching within the School of Global Business at Technological University Dublin. David is currently Operations Lead on the STLR (Student Transformative Learning Record) project. David qualified as Physical Education and Biology teacher from Dublin City University. David was awarded funding to conduct his Masters (Research) into fine motor skill development in Irish Primary School children. David secured a Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship to complete his PhD which investigated the influence of obesity on coordination of movement. David’s current research interests lie in the area of physical activity, play and skill acquisition. David believes that by creating a friendly, fun and challenging environment students fulfil their potential as learners.
In the news
David has featured as a panellist on RTE Brainstorm Podcast speaking about why Risky play is good for children (25/07/2019) https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2019/0724/1064894-why-risky-play-is-good-for-kids/
Operation Transformation Guest Expert (21/02/2018) - https://ot.rte.ie/news/limiting-screen-time/
Independent.ie Article “Sixth Class Pupils Losing their Grip “ 8/06/2017) https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/education/going-to-college/sixth-class-pupils-are-losing-their-grip-35796115.html
Teaching & Supervision
David primarily lectures on the Research Methods, Research Project and Skill acquisition modules of BA Sports Management and Coaching. David has also delivered on numerous other modules including Coaching Children and Youth and Long Term Athlete Development. Dr Gaul is currently supervising 5 postgraduate students (4 PhD and 1 MA) who’s research topics centre around physical activity, play and motor skill. Prior to working at TU Dublin, Dr Gaul has lectured in Dublin City University (DCU), Dublin Business School (DBS) and Colaiste Dhulaigh FTE.
In 2020, Dr Gaul has also previous worked as Work Package Lead for the HEA funded IMPACT Project which looked at maximising the impact of TU Dublin’s teaching and learning practices on the student and staff experience. Dr Gaul also was engaged as a Work Package Lead for the TransformEDU Project which was funded by the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.
Research
Dr Gauls research is multidisciplinary and believes in conducting engaged research for societal impact. His research interests lay primarily in the area’s of physical activity, play and motor skill development.
Journal Publications:
Armstrong, F and Gaul, D. (2023) Review of the international play policies and their contribution to supporting a child's right to play. Children and Society, 1:17. https://doi.org/10.1111/chso.12773
Hollywood, L., Issartel, J., Gaul,D., McCloat, A., Mooney, A., Collins, CE., and Lavelle. F (2022) Cook like a Boss Online: an adapted intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic that effectively improved children’s perceived cooking competence, movement competence and wellbeing. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 19 (1):146. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-022-01378-x
McLean, L., Gaul, D. and Penco, R. (2022) Perceived Social Support and Stress: a Study of 1st Year Students in Ireland, International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction.1-21. doi: 10.1007/s11469-021-00710-z.
Dean, M., O'Kane,C., Issartel, J., McCloat, A., Mooney,E., Gaul, D., Wolfson, J. and Lavelle, F. (2021) Guidelines for designing age-appropriate cooking interventions for children: The development of evidence-based cooking skill recommendations for children, using a multidisciplinary approach. Appetite, 161; doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105125
Gaul, D,. & Issartel, J. (2018) Getting into the Swing of things: An investigation into rhythmic unimanual coordination in typically developing children. Neuroscience Letters, 3;671:148-153.doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.01.005
Gaul, D,. Fernandez, L & Issartel, J. (2017) “Its not what you it’s the way that you do it”: The influence of obesity on the speed and accuracy of a discrete aiming task. Experimental Brain Research 36(10):2703-2711. doi: 10.1007/s00221-018-5330-3
Gaul, D., Mat, A., O’Shea, D, and Issartel, J. (2016) Impaired Visual Motor Coordination in Obese Adults. Journal of Obesity, 2016, 1-8.doi:10.1155/2016/6178575
Gaul, D,. & Issartel, J. (2015) Fine motor skill proficiency in typically developing children: On or Off the maturation track? Human Movement Science, 46, 78-85.doi: 10.1016/j.humov.2015.12.011
Professional Experience
David is currently engaging in collaborative projects with the Players Football Association of Ireland (PFAI) and Fingal Local Sports Partnership. Prior to joining TU Dublin, David worked as a Project Coordinator with Get Ireland Walking and was involved in the development of Schools Walking Routes in partnership with Active School Flag. Dr Gaul has recently completed the Campus Engage Engaged Research for Societal Impact Programme and believes in a collaborative and open approach to research impact. Dr Gaul has a keen interest in soccer and is a former chairperson of DCU Soccer Club and Executive member of the Irish Universities Football Union. David also served on the committee for the College and Universities International Team and helped in the securing of International Caps for players who represent Ireland at this level.