Changing Geography in the Republic of Ireland

Shelagh WaddingtonNational University of Ireland,

Maynooth

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Outline

• Introduction

• Teacher EducationPDE to PME

• Junior Cycle JCSA

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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

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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?

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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.

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‘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.

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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

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Junior Cycle Student Award – what will they be doing?

2012Number of subjects

Number of short courses

8 7 26 4

December 2013

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Number of subjects

Number of short courses

10 9 9 28 48 27 47 26 4

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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

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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??

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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]

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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

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