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Leaving Cert 2021 - A thread:
We know that the looming school year is going to be very hard, with lots of disruptions. We need to plan for that NOW.
We know that the looming school year is going to be very hard, with lots of disruptions. We need to plan for that NOW.
Even if it goes perfectly, the deficits accrued during the final term of 5th Year will undoubtedly leave many students and teachers struggling with uncertainty as they try and plan ahead. To get back to level par, they basically need to complete 1.25 years of work in 1 year.
We need for the NCCA/SEC to clarify exactly what steps they will be taking to mitigate these difficulties for next year's exams. And we need to know them sooner, rather than later...
So here are some suggestions, based on the three subjects that I teach to Leaving Cert Higher Level (History, English, and Politics & Society)
History: Research Study Report remains unchanged.
History: Research Study Report remains unchanged.
The optional topics all have 6 (or even 8) essay titles from which to choose, rather than the original 4. This guarantees the students will maintain the depth of study.
Document-Based Study.
Document-Based Study.
As a one-time only situation, the SEC should specific exactly which of the 3 Case studies will be selected to allow teachers and students to complete the specified topic while still allowing for meaningful interrogation and interaction with the source materials.
English: Paper One remains unchanged. Paper 2: Single Text - 3 essay titles from which to choose, rather than just the usual 2.
Comparative: All 3 'modes' to be made available on the paper, rather than two out of three. Maintain a choice of 2 essays in each mode.
Comparative: All 3 'modes' to be made available on the paper, rather than two out of three. Maintain a choice of 2 essays in each mode.
Poetry: 6 Poetry questions to choose from, rather than the traditional 4. This means students need to cover 3 in detail to be guaranteed an essay they can answer. Students who do 4 are, therefore, guaranteed a choice of questions, and can show their strengths more easily.
Politics & Society: Short Questions. Students are given an option of 15 questions (instead of 12), where they still answer 10.
Document-Based Study: The final 50-mark question in this section should have 2 options, rather than one obligatory question.
Essay questions.
Document-Based Study: The final 50-mark question in this section should have 2 options, rather than one obligatory question.
Essay questions.
Instead of selecting 2 essays from 4 topics (with a choice of essay in two topics), students should have a choice of essays in every topic. Therefore complete 2 out of 8 essays (still not doing 2 in the same topic)
I don't think that these steps are perfect, but if we have the kind of disrupted school year that I, and many others, are anticipating, then at least we will have set out our stalls that we are trying to bring out the best in our students and mark what they've done,
...not punish them for what them missed. If, as in many cases, their inability to access digital learning during lockdown was not their own fault, why not give them clear expectations now...???
Perhaps teachers of other subjects should be making suggestions, now too!
ENDS
Perhaps teachers of other subjects should be making suggestions, now too!
ENDS
