Junior Cert 2012: Environmental & Social Studies

Bazinga_N

Environmental & Social Studies
Friday, June 8th
9.30am - 11.30am

All discussion and questions about Environmental & Social Studies goes here!

Good luck everyone!

PS - Wasn't sure if anyone here was doing it this year. But, I said I'd throw it up just in case!

spurious

Over 50 schools do it, but boards doesn't really represent a proper cross section of schools, so who knows, but we'll see.

The students doing ESS have already done two projects so there isn't as big a deal made of the exam, since it's really just add on marks.

Bazinga_N

spurious wrote: »

Over 50 schools do it, but boards doesn't really represent a proper cross section of schools, so who knows, but we'll see.

The students doing ESS have already done two projects so there isn't as big a deal made of the exam, since it's really just add on marks.

I would of loved to have done the subject if I was given the chance. I think the methods of assessment as well as the different style of teaching sounds brilliant. My geography teacher said our school was considering it but no plans yet.. Ah well, too late for me anyways.

if832uspx4eogt

What is it, exactley?

Bazinga_N

Lawson Late Radiology wrote: »

What is it, exactley?

Have a quick read through this..

http://www.ncca.ie/uploadedfiles/Factsheets/ESS_factsheet.pdf

spurious

It's kind of a mixture of the History and Geography courses with some additional bits put in and some bits left out.

For example, World War One is a large part of the ESS course, but not on the History course; ESS covers modern day Brazil as a post-colonial society but is light on physical Geography, unless the teacher chooses to cover it in the Field Study.

Overall it's just a different approach to doing the subjects. There is no text book (which terrifies many teachers and is possibly the reason it's not more widespread) as it's not about ploughing through the chapters of the books, it's about getting out there and learning by doing.

There are some really good social history projects done by ESS students - publishable quality from some schools.

The candidates go on to LC History and/or Geography afterwards, though it is intended if the Society and Politics subject ever comes in that it would feed into that.

The syllabus is here.
It has actually been updated a few years ago, but nothing has changed yet, which is a pity as some of it is kind of outdated now.

siofraban

As a teacher of ess myself i think its a great subject choice. The kids love doing the projects and they are great options and choices. the only problem i have is that there is very little info as regards what aspects of geo to teach. As whats on the curriculum is very different to the papers. plus its very annoying that u cant get exampapers from companies u have to download them urself.

As regards the exam today i thought the ordinary level was very fair no major issues at all. similar to past papers. the higher level overall was fair though i thought the revolutions section and the Brazil section was challenging. overall my kids were happy with it. I think if u study past papers well u would be sorted.

i do think that their should be a book published to help teachers as a guideline and that exampapers should be made available from de likes of edco or folens

Bazinga_N

Had a read of the syllabus there. It looks really interesting only I was under the impression you studied more Geography. Is it not difficult for students who take ESS at JC, to do LC Geography?

siofraban

Bazinga_N wrote: »

Had a read of the syllabus there. It looks really interesting only I was under the impression you studied more Geography. Is it not difficult for students who take ESS at JC, to do LC Geography?[/Quote


i think there is more history than geo. students who do geo for lc who did ess would find it way too difficult. there should be an equivalent to ess for lc Def.

spurious

Funnily, from my current students, they prefer Geography at Leaving to History, whereas in my last school they almost all went to History. Neither group were at any disadvantage compared to those who had done the standard versions, in fact many did a lot better.
It very much depends on the emphasis given in ESS - different teachers emphasise different things. The syllabus is wide enough to allow for local studies and individual preferences.

The exam companies and mock businesses won't do papers because it's not taken by enough students - you have the same problem with Italian and other subjects with a low take up. The CDVEC Curriculum Development Unit published ESS past papers a few years ago, but it turned out to be hugely expensive because of the colour printing involved and the whole run was at quite a large loss.

That said, I'd hate to go back to teaching History from the book.