So what’s been keeping the NCCA busy in post-primary education?

Presentation to SDPI: 24/08/05 Dr. Sarah FitzPatrick

NCCA About the NCCA    NCCA (1987) Statutory body (2001) Representative structure (25 members) – representing teachers, school managers, parents, employers and trade unions  Enabling Structures of Council

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NCCA Structures

NCCA Council Overarching committees Steering committees Subject/area committees NCCA Executive

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NCCA and ADDIE… Analyse Design Develop Implement Evaluate/Review

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NCCA Curriculum development/review   Curriculum review – Primary Curriculum Review: Phase 1  Subject review – Mathematics Programme review – Senior Cycle Review

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What is the NCCA’s Junior Cycle Review all about?

Junior Cycle: Issues  Extensive consultations on the development of Junior Cycle identified 4 issues: – Curriculum overload and overlap – Curriculum planning – Assessment for Learning (AFL) – Students’ experiences in Junior Cycle

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Issues

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Junior Cycle: Curriculum overload/overlap  

Issue

: Repetition of topics across subjects  Analysis of syllabus documents Model template for all

Phase 1

: Business studies, English, history, home economics, music.



Phase 2

: Art, craft and design, Environmental and social studies, Gaeilge, geography, mathematics

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Junior Cycle: Curriculum planning

Issue

: Planning JC curriculum in schools  Tools to assist schools in reviewing and planning for the curriculum 

School Development Planning: Curriculum review at Junior Cycle

(2002)

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Junior Cycle: Assessment for Learninng

Issue

: Assessment neglected in professional and in-career development of teachers  AFL initiative based on 3 principles – Sharing learning intention – Sharing success criteria – Providing focused feedback

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Junior Cycle: Assessment for Learning

Phase 1 – 20 teachers, (2003/2004)

 Effectiveness of AFL in classrooms in Cork and Sligo (English and Geography)

Phase 2 – 108 teachers (2004/2006)

 Effectiveness of AFL in reporting to students and parents  Development of web-based support for initiative.

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Junior Cycle: Students’ experiences

Issue

: Absence of information concerning students’ experiences of JC 

Phase 1

: ESRI research (2002/2003)

Moving Up: Experiences of first year students in post-primary education

(2004) 

Phase 2

: ESRI research (2003/2004) Experiences of second year students

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Junior Cycle: Students’ experiences     Findings – phase 1  Curriculum discontinuity School culture and integration Taster subjects in first year Practical subjects Lower ability students  Mixed ability groups versus streaming

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What is the NCCA’s review of Senior Cycle all about?

Senior Cycle: Background  

Developing Senior Cycle education: Directions for development

(2003) 

Developing Senior Cycle education: Consultative paper on issues and options

(2002)

Proposals for the future of Senior Cycle in Ireland: Overview advice

(2004) 

Proposals for the future development of Senior Cycle Education in Ireland

(2005)

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SC: Programme of Study

     is a combination of transition units, short courses and subjects taken by a SC student subscribes to general aims SC education characterised by choice and flexibility can be a 2-year or 3-year programme should meet interests, needs, aptitudes of individual student

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SC: Programme of Study

   2-year programme of study: requirements  study of Irish language  inclusion of 1 transition units meeting matriculation requirements generation of points score completion of 1 transition unit as part of matriculation requirement

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SC: Programme of Study

   3-year programme of study: requirements  study of Irish language  inclusion of 11 transition units, 2 short courses meeting matriculation requirements generation of points score completion of 1 transition unit as part of matriculation requirement

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SC: Curriculum Components Subjects        Review subject list Agree syllabus template Examine structure of syllabus Develop assessment options Explore potential for unitisation Explicate key skills Illustrate differentiation

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SC: Curriculum Components Short Courses   Course descriptions Assessment and certification Transition Units    Teaching and learning Development of transition units Assessment and certification

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SC: Curriculum Components What’s new: Summary  For students – More flexible, better assessed and certificated – Improved learning experiences/environment  For schools – clear direction and realistic milestones – co-ordinated and well-resourced approach to change – Rethinking professional development and educational change

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SC: Next steps

    Structures to review subjects School-based development of transition unit Ongoing review of subjects Subjects awaiting implementation: – Art – Technology subjects – Economics

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Review Mathematics Education: Background 

Primary School Curriculum

– Mathematics Curriculum (1999)  

Junior Cycle

– Higher (A), Ordinary (B), Foundation (C), (1987) – Revised syllabus at all 3 levels (2000)

Senior Cycle

– Higher, Ordinary (1992) – Foundation (Ordinary alternative) (1990)

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Review Mathematics Education Issues    Low levels of mathematics skills Uptake and participation Methodologies – Problem solving, modelling, investigating…    Syllabus style Examinations Difficulty of questions

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Mathematics: Next steps

 Initiate consultation activities for root-and branch review of mathematics education based on issues identified in discussion paper

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Review of Languages: Background 

Languages in the Post-Primary Curriculum: Discussion paper

(2003) 

Survey on Languages in the Post-Primary Curriculum

(2004)

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Review of Languages: Issues        need for a language policy an integrated language curriculum Gaeilge: T1 and T2 greater diversity in the languages curriculum practices in language teaching and learning assessment engagement with the Common European Framework for Languages and the European Languages Portfolio

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Languages: Next steps

    Initiate second phase of review to address:  assessment of language syllabuses syllabus for native (T1) speakers of Irish pilot studies on integration, language awareness and language proficiency ICT in teaching and learning of languages developments at European level

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A quick update on the NCCA’s…

Interculturalism Guidelines ICT Framework Special Educational Needs Framework

Go raibh maith agaibh!

www.ncca.ie

Junior Cycle [email protected]

Senior Cycle [email protected]