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Changing Geography in the Republic of Ireland

Explore the changing landscape of teacher education in Ireland, from the current Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) to the new Professional Masters in Education (PME). Dive into the revamped Junior Cycle and the proposed Junior Cycle Student Award (JCSA), focusing on revised curriculum, assessments, and student engagement strategies.

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Changing Geography in the Republic of Ireland

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  1. Changing Geography in the Republic of Ireland Shelagh Waddington National University of Ireland, Maynooth

  2. Outline • Introduction • Teacher Education • PDE to PME • Junior Cycle • JCSA

  3. 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 .

  4. The new programme Professional Masters in Education • Two years • Level 9 course • 120 credits Principles • reflective practice • developing pedagogical capabilities • preparation for lifelong learning

  5. 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 1

  6. Geography methods • Year 1 – similar to current programme • with focus on Junior Cycle • Year 2 - deepening experience • with more focus on Senior Cycle • Assessment rethink • must be level 9 standard • more substantial? • more?

  7. 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.

  8. ‘The system isn’t working well – so hard choices have to be made’ • Almost no students leave school after the JC • so 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.

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. Subjects

  12. Junior Cycle Student Award – what will they be doing? 2012 December 2013

  13. Assessment Core 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??

  14. 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]

  15. Conclusions A time of change and uncertainty • PDE to PME • introduces some very positive changes • cost implications for student recruitment • Junior Cycle • future for subject at this level? • and for recruitment beyone? • acceptance that change was needed but.....

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