Transcript The New Junior Cycle – An Introduction

The New Junior Cycle – An
Introduction
Starting in September, your son/daughter
will do the current Junior Certificate exam
in all subjects except English and Science.
CSPE is to become a short course. Those
exams will follow the same format as
currently exists, with results released in
September 2018
In English and Science, however, they
will be examined according to the new
Junior Cycle format. Students will
receive the Junior Cycle Student Award
in autumn 2018 assessing their
performance in English and Science.
This information is the most current
available but is under discussion
This group will be examined under the
new Junior Cycle format
Other subjects will move to the new
format in the years to come, but for
your son/daughter, English and Science
will be the only 2 subjects following
the new format over their three years
Why change
to the new
Junior Cycle
format?
ESRI Research showed the
following
-Large minority of these students disengaging
-This disengagement not just a phase
- Negative impact of teaching to the test on
teaching methodologies
-Narrow range of assessment activity
-Too much rote learning
PISA survey results
-A need to focus on literacy and
numeracy
-A need for connections and progression
In both English and Science, one of the big
changes is that students will now be taught
key skills in their subject.
Many teachers have taught a lot of the key
skills indirectly over the years, but now the
curriculum is being set up in a way to
promote these skills as much as possible
The key skills
In recent months, the staff have begun
to work on incorporating the first of
these key skills into all subject
department plans. This will ensure
that not only are the key skills taught
in English and Science, but that staff
can begin to teach & promote them in
all subjects for next year’s first year
students
Why are key skills so important?
- Students are more engaged
- Learning is more effective
- Students are aware of themselves as learners
- Students think critically for themselves
http://vimeo.com/ncca/review/16471534/a463328
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What are the main differences between English
and Science and all other subjects next year?
-
It is proposed that their certification at the end of the
process will be different
-
It is proposed that they will be assessed differently at
the end of their three year cycle. 40% of their marks will
be allocated for Continuous Assessment. This 40% will
be spread across second & third year
-
The remaining 60% will be assessed by one written
paper in June 2018. This will be linked to students
engagement with texts in 2nd & 3rd year
All their other subjects will follow the current Junior
Certificate model