The way forward for LC2021

Bobtheman wrote: »

For an LC exam to go ahead -LC students must be back early March latest. Childcare subsidy must be provided to teachers who need it in some form if primary schools still shut.
The 3 day model might work.
At the moment it does not look like the lockdown will be finished by early March

The Taoiseach was on Primetime last night but I just stumbled upon the programme so missed a good bit of the early part of the interview. Did anyone see if he said anything about the LC?

My instinct generally is that, while you'll always have the 'oh the numbers are down, what's the problem' angle being promoted, the potential of the variants to be a big problem in transmissibility is regarded as a big issue which the figures will not show of course. I know that the Scottish authorities (who are not as secretive as ours) have acknowledged that transmission among late teens has been a big problem. Getting back to school, even in part, could defy the received logic of reducing figures providing guarantees.

I presume the Taoiseach did not say much about the LC last night as I can find no mention of it anywhere.

Standardised centralised assessments every term.....maybe reduce cost by having most online ...maybe some could be done like the driver theory test for some subjects to reduce cost, admin hassle sheer time that would have to be dedicated to doing continuous assessment via traditional exam type assessment methods - could tech form part of the solution or is this like the fairytale technological border proposed by the UK for the north?

Gradually ratchet up the percentage being awarded so if you crash and burn at the start it isn't the be all end all

But if you are showing a consistent pattern of doing **** all....then let you crash a burn...theres too much not letting people crash and burn going on.....thats the best way for you to learn you actually have to do something yourself.

Just spitballing.......Im not saying this is some genius idea and I'm expecting holes to be shot in it and if I was still teaching I'm sure it would just degenerate into more and more admin burden or time spent teaching to a bank of questions if not implemented properly etc but maybe a bit of a talking point.

Smacruairi wrote: »

Technology could be an answer, but only to certain questions. First of all, the investment in IT would be significant - they can't even suggest a centralised remote platform for the country let done design one for exams.

Secondly, to be honest, your crash and burn analogy sits odd with me. I would say crashing in one exam block as it currently stands is far less detrimental to your psyche than watching it slowly evaporate over 5th and 6th. If student x only gets 60% in the first test and mummy thinks he should be getting 95%,the teacher now has 2 years of headaches and student has 2 years of pressure on them on a consistent basis.

I think I agree to be honest but there's always a call for continuous assessment out there as if it will solve problems..........the one positive I was thinking is they would be assessed on smaller portions of the course and have to keep up to date and really work/apply themselves in class rather than do nothing (in terms of working to gain understanding) and then blame everyone but themselves and cite stress etc at the end afyer they spent the best part of the two years doing SFA.....and there woukd be a record showing they are not working or don't have the aptitude from the start.

I was envisioning it more as a set up where there are much less excuses or hiding places for them and the responsibility and focus shifts to them because each unit could be broken down into tasks that are achievable if you are putting effort in but I can see how it woukd degenerate into what you have mentioned

French Toast wrote: »

All good points you've raised.

I would've initially said run exams at the end of 5th Year exactly as the LC is ran, however thinking now that would require twice as many rooms/invigilators/correctors each year. Could be a logistical nightmare.

Costs money... Answer is no.... Unless abolish Junior Cycle

km79 wrote: »

http://twitter.com/Education_Ire/status/1357738260458598402

Friday evening
Not too much concrete info anyways tbh

I suppose either system can’t favour its students. I think the sit the exam option will be there for high achievers who don’t want to risk dropping points to predicted grades. Everyone else will take the non exam road with predicted grades based on class work and assessments and engagement between now and end of may

"some cognisance of performance in “additional component” elements of examinations (coursework, orals, practicals, and so on)"

I can't see the Orals happening at all. No recruitment of teachers by the SEC yet. I wonder if we're going to be asked to divide the calculated grade into written/oral etc? What a nightmare that would be. Unless they're going to run the Orals very late in the year.....

some cognisance of performance in “additional component” elements of examinations (coursework, orals, practicals, and so on)"

I'm a parent who hasn't the slightest clue what the above statement means. Could anyone put that in plain language for me? Thanks.

carr62 wrote: »

some cognisance of performance in “additional component” elements of examinations (coursework, orals, practicals, and so on)"

I'm a parent who hasn't the slightest clue what the above statement means. Could anyone put that in plain language for me? Thanks.

To be fair we have no idea what it means either.

Haha at least it's not just me then! Would it be fair to assume then, from what has been announced, that there will definitely be an alternative to the written exam offered?

History Queen wrote: »

You'd think so, but honestly, you just cannot tell with the Dept. The alternative could be framed as a plan 'b' in case of a fourth wave or something like that. (I don't necessarily think so but really treat anything hinted at like this with a healthy level of scepticism)

Indeed
https://www.rte.ie/news/education/2021/0205/1195375-leaving-cert-exams/

Possible
Could


Hhhmmmmm

I'm confused, I thought she was going into talks with stakeholders.

Why is she making pronouncements now.

I could reply to a few people but I'll just put the few thoughts on one email.

I, too, was under the impression that these talks were underway for some time. But this looks like an announcement of their start, with a strange hint at what their conclusion might be.

Secondly, I feel anyway like I have been reading this story in the media for weeks now. This has the sense of the Dept trying to wrest back some level of control of the whole narrative, or to give the illusion that this is all their idea. Good luck with that - they'll have move a lot faster to even catch up with the dust trails of the discussion.

I think the comment about the "some cognisance of the.....components" is creatively meaningless. As in it's bullsh*t but meant to be just that. In there just to try to keep those particular hounds from the door, as for those in teaching, as distinct from the media, as the cliché goes the devil will be in the detail. Journalists seem more interested in the political fallout or as we have seen in one or two reports don't quite understand the implications for different subjects and courses. For example, if the media had got the whole significance of no orals or practicals examiners having been appointed or even advertised for when that process is usually underway in early December, with conferences starting around now, they'd really have smelled a rat and had a story. But that went over their heads completely. That's a clear sign the LC has been seen as a doubtful starter since maybe November.

Getting back to that detail.....for example, what about choosing levels? I have people in my LC OL Irish class ready to choose HL if there's a hint of Oral marks being awarded like last year. (Not saying that'll happen, just saying what the real discussion among real people actually is). A very conspicuous absence too of any reference to time lines for getting back to school. Big change from "schools are safe, schools are safe". Should we read something into that? There's elephants all over the room.

This was a Friday PM holding statement which says nothing in particular and confirms the lack of strategy we, in our more sceptical moments, probably always assumed was there. But announcing the start of talks now.......in early February? What on earth gave they been doing all day every day for the last few months?

rainbowtrout wrote: »

I just had a look at examinations.ie. Recruitment for examiners opened last night.

EDIT: my apologies, it’s only open for LCA. Not for the rest of them.

Those lca tasks were already open, so there’s no material change in the sec recruitment. They have updated the wording though, which said recruitment would begin in January up to last night.

I don’t understand (or maybe I do) why they don’t open recruitment up on an open plan basis, so apply for the orals, without knowing exactly when they would be. At least they’d know if they had enough examiners.