The junior certificate curriculum
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Transcript of The junior certificate curriculum
Junior Cycle Education
A new curriculum
Opportunities and Challenges
Aims of the module
• Reflect on the “why” of the new
proposals
• Examine the required curriculum
changes
• Plan a new curriculum with particular
emphasis on “Short Courses”
School MattersResearch tells us that students who
risk disaffection at school respond best
to a curriculum that is holistic, that
actively engages them, that is
responsive to their needs, interests and
learning styles, that combines
integrated academic, social skills, and
vocational education with career
development and work-based learning.
Improving the Curriculum and Learning
Experience
All learners should also have regular opportunity to engage with those learning approaches, including
cooperative learning differentiated learning
active learning problem-solving activity
which we know not only contribute to more effective learning but increase learners’ participation and enjoyment of the learning process
L&N Strategy p.43
Present Junior Cycle
Year Learning Challenge
First year Progress
Second year Purpose
Third year Product
The New Junior Cycle
• Innovation teachers and school
leaders as agents of
change
• Identity continuation from
primary school and
preparation for senior
cycle
Values
• Equality and inclusion
• Justice and fairness
• Freedom and democracy
• Respect for human dignity
• Identity
Vision
“Junior cycle places students at the
centre of the educational experience,
enabling them to actively participate in
their communities and in society and to
be resourceful and confident learners in
all aspects and stages of their lives.”
Leaders of Learning
How, as a Leader of
Learning, can I influence
changes to the curriculum
and timetable?
Group Discussion 1
Challenges
Number of periods in the week
Teacher allocation and class size
Existing arrangements
A. Ps. On 18 hours
Room availability
Teacher with a single subject
Lack of teachers for a specific subject
Issues for Schools Reduced allocation - guidance?
Changing to a 28 hour week
Prior use of resource hours
Class viability – what size? Eg 26 students opt H.Ecs.
PLC late uptake
Lack of qualified SEN teachers
Can school afford to drop a minority subject
Smaller intake in first year
More time for maths, 140 points!
SPHE at senior cycle
PE for all yeargroups
Other ???
Curriculum ……Principles
Breadth covering a range of experiences
Challenge engage and motivate
Coherent draws different strands together
Depth develop learner’s full capacity
Personalisation allows for aptitudes and talents
Progression builds on previous learning
Relevance present and future
NCCA…..Key Principles
• Quality
• Creativity and innovation
• Choice and flexibility
• Continuity
• Engagement, relevance and enjoyment
• Lifelong learning
Group Discussion 2
More of the same
or
improved teaching
and learning etc.
Framework Premise
• All schools moving at the same time
• All schools moving in the same direction
• All schools arriving at the same end point
Reduced Content
• Time for deeper understanding
• Active learning and research
• Varied teaching methodologies
• Interdisciplinary themed learning
• Emphasise literacy and numeracy
• Practical relevant focus
• Real linkage with Primary school
Question
What is the most useful
thing you ever learned ?
Student Answers
• How to communicate
• How to listen
• How to stand up for myself
• How to cope in different situations
• How to mix with people
• How to cook
The 1680 minute week
42 periods v 45 periods
42 x 40 minutes
or
15 x 38mins. + 30 x 37mins.
Core Subjects ?
• Irish
• English
• Mathematics
• Science
• Language
• History and/or Geography
Additional Core Subjects ?
• Physical Education
• Religious Education
• ICT
• Guidance
• C.S.P.E.
• S.P.H.E.
Core Subjects
Time Allocation
• Irish, English, Mathematics a minimum of
240 hours over 3 years,(say 96 weeks)
240 / 96 = 2.5 hours = 150 minutes
5 x 40 mins. = 200 minutes (320 hrs.)
5 x 37 mins. = 185 minutes (299 hrs.)
Other Subjects
Time Allocation
• 200 hour subjects
4 x 40 mins. = 160 mins.(256 hours)
4 x 37 mins. = 148 mins. (238 hours)
Short Courses……why?
• Open up a new area of learning
• Deepen students learning in areas
associated with existing subjects
• Develop the skills and capacities of
students
• Frame learning in specific activities, ie
Young Scientist
Short Courses…examples
• Information and Communication Tech.
• Physical and Health Education
• Coastal Studies
• The Arts
• D. I. Y.
• Entrepreneurial Studies
Short Courses
Time Allocation
100 hours
Over 3 years….....2 weekly periods
Over 2 years……..3 weekly periods
First Year
A general introduction to
second level education ?
Group Discussion 3
Option Subjects
• Normal subjects offered by the school
• New short courses, replacing or derived
from an existing option subject
• Retain the same number of option lines
• 2 short courses equal 1 subject
• If 2 option lines then students could
choose 0 or 2 or 4 short courses
Sample Curriculum (1) ?
Irish 5
English 5
Mathematics 5
Language 4
Science 4
History/Geography 5 ?
Total 28
Sample Curriculum(2)
R.E.
P.E.
S.P.H.E.
C.S.P.E.
I.C.T.
Rotation/Option1
Rotation/Option 2
Rotation in 1st year allows students to sample all option subjects
• DO 3 OPTION SUBJECTS IN 1ST
YEAR 1
• PICK 2 OPTION SUBJECTS OUT OF THOSE 3 IN 2ND AND 3RD YEAR
2
• CHOOSE BETWEEN HIST OR GEOG AT END 1ST YR.
3
TIMETABLE SAMPLE 1
SAMPLE 1No. of
periods per week
No. of periods per
week
No. of periods per
week
Total periods over 3 years
CORE SUBJECTS Yr 1 Yr 2 Yr 3
English 5 5 5 15
Irish 5 5 5 15
Maths 5 5 5 15
Religion 3 3 3 9
French / German 4 4 4 12
Science 4 4 4 12
History 3 3 3 9
Geog 3 3
SPHE/ CSPE 2 2 3 7
P.E. 2 2 2 6
0
TOTAL CORE 36 33 34
OPT1 2 4 4 10
OPT2 2 4 4 10
Opt3 2
TUTORIAL ??? 1
TOTAL PERIODS 42 42 42
OPT1, OPT2 & OPT3 IN FIRST YEAR BUT PICK 2 OUT OF
THESE THREE AT THE END OF 1ST YEAR
• DO 4 OPTION SUBJECTS IN 1ST
YEAR 1
• PICK 2 OUT OF THESE 4 OPTION SUBJECTS IN 2ND
AND 3RD YEAR
2
• CHOOSE BETWEEN HIST OR GEOG AT END 1ST YR.
3
TIMETABLE SAMPLE 2
SAMPLE 2No. of
periods per
week
No. of periods per
week
No. of periods per
week
Total periods over 3 years
CORE SUBJECTS Yr 1 Yr 2 Yr 3
English 5 5 5 15
Irish 4 4 5 13
Maths 5 5 5 15
Religion 2 2 2 6
French / German 4 4 4 12
Science 4 4 4 12
History 2 4 4 10
Geog 2 2
ICT 2 2 1 5
P.E. 2 2 2 6
SPHE/ CSPE 2 2 2 6
TOTAL CORE 34 34 34
Opt1 2 4 4 10
OPT2 2 4 4 10
Opt3 2
Opt4 2
TOTAL PERIODS 42 42 42
References• School Matters : The Report of the Task Force on Student Behaviour
2006 Department of Education and Science
• Moving Up : The Experiences of First-Year Students in Post-Primary
Education 2004
Smyth, Emer / McCoy, Selina / Darmody, Merike
Liffey Press in association with the ESRI
• Pathways through the Junior Cycle : The Experience of Second
Year Students 2006
Smyth, Emer / Dunne, Allison / McCoy, Selina
/ Darmody Merike The Liffey Press in
association with the ESRI
– Towards a Framework for Junior Cycle : NCCA 2012
– Slides 33 to 36 : Ms. Rita McCabe