Why don’t we have continuous assessment here?

Package ah crips

We’re probably the only jurisdiction in Europe that focuses the entire grade on a single exam .

Surely the benefits speak for themselves.

mtoutlemonde

Package ah crips wrote: »

We’re probably the only jurisdiction in Europe that focuses the entire grade on a single exam .

Surely the benefits speak for themselves.

Most subjects except Maths and English and some science subjects have a project/oral/practical element. Just because others do it, doesn't make it right.

Muinteoir1994

With the new JC we have continuous assessment of sorts and guess what, the students hate it. Nearly every week in 2nd and 3rd year they have some sort of CBA thing to do or a portfolio work, normal class tests, house exams etc. There is just no respite from it.

This current cohort in LC had the experience of continuous assessment also in the first term. They were stressed out by all the tests that teachers were giving, many of us trying to scrape together some data in the event of having to calculate grades again for LC 2021.

I think most teachers would agree that those tests are not a true reflection of a student's ability either. All we are doing with that kind of system is teaching to tests. A disaster for education.

godtabh

Muinteoir1994 wrote: »

With the new JC we have continuous assessment of sorts and guess what, the students hate it. Nearly every week in 2nd and 3rd year they have some sort of CBA thing to do or a portfolio work, normal class tests, house exams etc. There is just no respite from it.

This current cohort in LC had the experience of continuous assessment also in the first term. They were stressed out by all the tests that teachers were giving, many of us trying to scrape together some data in the event of having to calculate grades again for LC 2021.

I think most teachers would agree that those tests are not a true reflection of a student's ability either. All we are doing with that kind of system is teaching to tests. A disaster for education.

What’s wrong with stress? Stress is life and dealing / coping with it is very important.

mtoutlemonde

godtabh wrote: »

What’s wrong with stress? Stress is life and dealing / coping with it is very important.

I agree - we all need stress - it builds and shapes us. The old junior cert was changed to reduce the stress of having to 10/11 exams over three weeks but in fact it has done the opposite - it has put a greater workload on students who are essentially children and the maddening thing - the CBAs are almost worthless. You'll be hearing a lot of stress from the Leaving Certs in the next few weeks

spurious

LCA has continuous assessment.

Treppen

Package ah crips wrote: »

We’re probably the only jurisdiction in Europe that focuses the entire grade on a single exam .

Surely the benefits speak for themselves.

What do you means by continuous assessment?
Graded by teacher or Department?

wirelessdude01

Package ah crips wrote: »

We’re probably the only jurisdiction in Europe that focuses the entire grade on a single exam .

Surely the benefits speak for themselves.

Ahh practicals, orals, aurals. Off the top of my head I think only English and Maths are the only mainstream subjects that only has the final exam.

meeeeh

Muinteoir1994 wrote: »

With the new JC we have continuous assessment of sorts and guess what, the students hate it. Nearly every week in 2nd and 3rd year they have some sort of CBA thing to do or a portfolio work, normal class tests, house exams etc. There is just no respite from it.

This current cohort in LC had the experience of continuous assessment also in the first term. They were stressed out by all the tests that teachers were giving, many of us trying to scrape together some data in the event of having to calculate grades again for LC 2021.

I think most teachers would agree that those tests are not a true reflection of a student's ability either. All we are doing with that kind of system is teaching to tests. A disaster for education.

I had continuous assessment from the age of 7. It's now from age of 10 where I come from. I never struggled in school but I'm lazy student and continuous assessment was great because it forces you to work through all the schooling period. I studied for about 3 weeks for the version of leaving we had and had very enjoyable last year in school. I got enough points for all but medicine, law and some courses that require specialist exams. I can guarantee you that someone like me would be complete flop doing Leaving Cert because I always did only last minute studying. Exams made sure I didn't fall behind. I agree with Irish approach for primary school but after that I think some sort of continuous assessment should be used. I don't think Irish kids do that well in different mental health surveys in comparison to other European nations. So maybe a bit of stress spread through the years isn't that bad.

As someone who always had continuous assessment I think it's incredibly unfair to pile that much pressure on one exam. Of course nobody will be happy if they have to do a bit of work through years but it's hugely beneficial when you are preparing end of year or end of school exams covering longer periods.