New junior cycle framework for PCS
Download as PPTX, PDF1 like844 views
The document outlines changes being made to the Junior Cycle education framework in Ireland. It discusses moving from preparing students for the Leaving Certificate exam to making junior cycle a learning experience in its own right. New specifications for subjects and short courses will be introduced from 2014 based on 24 Statements of Learning and 6 Key Skills. Assessment will include coursework, portfolios and exams, with a focus on skills and creativity over content. Teachers will receive training on short courses and begin transitioning to the new framework.
New junior cycle framework for PCS
- 1. New Junior Cycle Framework CHANGING THE WAY WE DO JUNIOR CYCLE EDUCATION PORTMARNOCK COMMUNITY SCHOOL AUGUST 2012
- 2. Why change? Changing the Junior Cycle student experience...from a dress rehearsal for the Leaving Certificate to a learning experience in its own right... Evidence base from the NCCA‟s own consultation process ESRI PISA All the educational partners are on-board to date... Donal O' Mahony
- 3. From late August 2014 we will teach subjects and / or short courses for the Junior Cycle Donal O' Mahony
- 4. Central to the subjects and short-courses 24 Statements of Learning and 6 Key Skills Continued emphasis on literacy and numeracy Look at the handout... That is the key message – 24 statements form the new core of learning... Donal O' Mahony
- 5. Assessment Students present evidence of learning in: Eight subjects OR Seven subjects and two short courses OR Six subjects and four short courses Evidence of learning must be presented in the subjects English, Irish and Maths. Any other subject can be one of the six, seven, or eight... Donal O' Mahony
- 6. Taught over Two Years ...the evidence of learning from First-year will not feature in the assessment for qualification (Read the ESRI research) ...whatever flexibility you want within First-year, as a transition from Primary to Secondary Donal O' Mahony
- 7. Higher level? The only subjects with Ordinary and Higher levels will be Irish, English and Maths No written exam will be longer than two hours There will be five grading points (for subjects and short courses) Donal O' Mahony
- 8. National Framework of Qualifications Award aligned with NFQ Level 2 for students with particular educational needs (centred around Priority Learning Units) Award aligned with NFQ Level 3 will replace the existing Junior Certificate The NFQ Level 3 is “...smaller than the Junior Certificate...” ...allows focus on “...learning, skills, innovation and creativity...” Donal O' Mahony
- 9. The Subject Teacher – assessment – current thinking 60% of marks for coursework taught over Second and Third Year. 40% of marks for portfolio work (digital or otherwise) gathered over Second and Third Year – assignments, projects, case-studies, performances, practical- activities/tasks... The SEC will set the exam for the 60%, We will assess the 40% with SEC moderation Donal O' Mahony
- 10. Starting? Now...Some schools may have reduced the number of JC subjects this school year and started to develop short courses At the latest... August 2014- students going into Fifth Class next week Teachers, Parents, Students, the Board have all to be consulted about our start date... Donal O' Mahony
- 11. Subjects English has been announced as the first subject to be revised. Existing junior cycle subjects will be reviewed and new specifications developed to reflect the new Framework for Junior Cycle. They term „specification‟ will replace what we previously called a „syllabus‟ and will apply to both subjects and short courses. Donal O' Mahony
- 12. Subjects The subject specifications will be shorter partly in response to concerns that existing syllabuses are in some cases just too extensive to contribute to creating the space for the school to develop its junior cycle programme. Donal O' Mahony
- 13. Subjects Most new subject specifications will be designed for approximately 200 hours of learner engagement. Specifications in the subjects English, Irish and Mathematics will continue to be designed with a minimum allocation of 240 hours in mind. All existing subjects will be revised and their new, shortened specifications will be made available in advance of their introduction in the new junior cycle. Subject content will remain familiar. Donal O' Mahony
- 14. Short-courses Short courses (100 hours approximately) will be less familiar Both an NCCA template for particular short-courses and the opportunity for custom-built school courses Assessment of short courses is school-based on a portfolio of work - assignments, projects, case-studies, performances, practical-activities/tasks... The school will issue the results to the SEC for inclusion on the NFQ award... Donal O' Mahony
- 15. Examples of short-courses History – local oral history project Chinese language and culture Geography - Development education Web design P.E. - Sports Science (hurling / camogie focus) Home Economics – restaurant menu development Art - Animation Music – instrument tuition Engineering – a course in robotics Materials Technology Wood – a wood design project Business – personal finance Irish, English and Maths teachers may want to teach short - courses Donal O' Mahony
- 16. The Teacher Generating and gathering evidence of learning Judging and reporting evidence of learning New report-card templates for communication with parents Donal O' Mahony
- 17. What now? You all received an invitation to join JC2.0, the JC Network Look in on what is happening particularly under the tab, Resources and FAQ’s Introducing Key Skills Thinking about Short Courses Programme Planning Consulting with your students Donal O' Mahony
- 18. What now? Management issues: subjects timetabling teachers, parents, students and the Board of Management Evaluation of existing Junior Cycle: identification of strengths and challenges, what we want to keep... Discussion amongst ourselves - to be on agenda for Subject meeting 4 – 5 PM Tues. 4th September Looking at what other schools are doing... Donal O' Mahony
- 20. What now? Subjects piloting aspects of short-courses Short-course training by the NCCA – teachers in- service on 5th and 7th November Thinking through Portfolio development Report back to the NCCA on progress Donal O' Mahony
- 21. Smith. E. 2006. Junior Cycle Education: Insights from a longitudinal study of students. NCCA:Dublin. Frequently Asked Questions. JC2.0. Online: http://juniorcyclenetwork.ning.com/page/faq Towards a Framework for Junior Cycle. NCCA: Dublin. 2011. Donal O' Mahony
- 22. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Ireland License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ie/. Donal O' Mahony