Changing Geography in the Republic of Ireland
description
Transcript of Changing Geography in the Republic of Ireland
Changing Geography in the Republic of Ireland
Shelagh WaddingtonNational University of Ireland,
Maynooth
1
Outline
• Introduction
• Teacher EducationPDE to PME
• Junior Cycle JCSA
2
Teacher Education: the current programme
Professional Diploma in Education [PDE]• One academic year• Level 8 course• two subjects involved.NUIM version• All year
two days in school – 8 periods per week three days in NUIM
• January block teaching practice for three weeks – 20 periods
per week
.3
The new programmeProfessional Masters in Education• Two years• Level 9 course• 120 creditsPrinciples• reflective practice• developing pedagogical capabilities• preparation for lifelong learning
4
School placement• reflecting totality of school experience• 40 credits over two years• two different schools
single sex/ co-ed urban/ rural type of management DEIS
• Year 1 – 4 periods per week increasing to 8 observation of teachers experience of examination preparation for
Junior Cycle• Year 2 – 8 periods per week increasing to 10
focus on Senior Cycle – otherwise as year 15
Geography methods
• Year 1 – similar to current programmewith focus on Junior Cycle
• Year 2 - deepening experiencewith more focus on Senior Cycle
• Assessment rethink must be level 9 standardmore substantial?more?
6
The Junior Cycle: revision from 2011!
Junior Cycle – ‘rebalancing’ of individual subjects
• up-dating of content• reworking of aims and objectives• addition of learning outcomes• reduction of amount of material
what should be removed?
• draft ‘rebalance’ completed 2008 but never officially released to community, so only speculation available about this.
7
‘The system isn’t working well – so hard choices have to be made’
• Almost no students leave school after the JCso no longer a terminal examination
• Many students ‘disengaged’ from learning, especially in 2nd and 3rd year
• 3rd year focussed on ‘test’ so rote learning and practice questions are the focus so students become even more ‘disengaged’.
• Little focus on key skills and on learning how to learn and on creativity.
8
So what changes are proposed for the Junior Cycle?
– changes announced in 2012, implementation to begin in 2014
New JC curriculum focusing on:• Students making a greater connection
with learning• Improving the quality of learning that
takes place• Better literacy and numeracy outcomes
and a strong profile for key skills• Launch of the Junior Cycle Student Award
What is this Junior Cycle Student Award [JCSA]?
• Subjects will continue to play an important role in the JCSA and short courses will also be available.
• Core [compulsory] will be English, Irish and Maths
• Schools will plan their own curriculum• Short courses [approximately 50% of regular
courses] will be introduced• Schools may develop some courses of their
own• Curriculum specifications will be less detailed
than currently.• Major changes in assessment
Subjects
11
Junior Cycle Student Award – what will they be doing?
2012Number of subjects
Number of short courses
8 7 26 4
December 2013
12
Number of subjects
Number of short courses
10 9 9 28 48 27 47 26 4
13
1)Food Science (A thematic module) 2 + 1 + 1+ 1Rotating
Designing eating spaces and menusFood in ArtART
Science of FoodDigestionMolecular gastronomySCIENCE
CookingNutrition and Health(element of JCPE)H EC
Eating OutMake a BookFamily BudgetRunning a BusinessBUSINESS
Food Food SourcesSourcesHIST/HIST/GEOGGEOG
2)Me in my Community(SPHE/History/Geog)Rotating
Local History
My My environment- environment- local local GeographyGeography
Me and my school community
Healthy relationships
Active Citizenship(CSPE)RotatingMight relate to Geography
Human Rights for all
Sustainable Living/Green School
Being a citizen in my local community
Reaching out/Global citizenship
14
15
AssessmentCore subjects• 60% terminal examination
set and marked via State Examinations Commission [SEC]
• 40% school-based assessment based on work in years 2 and 3
Other full subjects• 60% terminal examination
set via State Examinations Commission [SEC] BUT school-based marking
• 40% school-based assessment based on work in years 2 and 3
Short courses – all school-based??
16
So what is the reaction so far?• Programme issues
transfer between schools/comparability of experience?
• Assessment issue Inequalities between schools
• ‘to be introduced at a rate that would allow schools, students and teachers the time to embed the changes’
[Ruari Quinn – Minister for Education]
• ...the emphasis ... was on individual achievement and not on performance in public examinations’
[Michael Moriarty – General Secretary Education and Training Board Ireland]
17
Conclusions
A time of change and uncertainty• PDE to PME
introduces some very positive changescost implications for student
recruitment
• Junior Cycle future for subject at this level?and for recruitment beyone?acceptance that change was needed
but.....18
19