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Gaelscoil na Lochanna

November 7, 2011

Cupla focal goes hi-tech with ‘app’ for children

November 7, 2011

Toddlers can now use the latest technology to say their first words in both official languages.

TG4 has developed a new Irish language application, or ‘app’, aimed at children as young as pre-school age. It provides more than 100 Irish language words and corresponding images to encourage children to start speaking Irish from the cradle. The ‘app’ also includes the pronunciation of everyday words — like dog, cat, sun and moon. The free ‘app’ is available to download on to iPhones and iPads and will be officially launched by TG4 presenter Maire Treasa Ni Dhubhghaill at today’s Oireachtas na Gaeilge Irish language cultural festival in Killarney, Co Kerry. And it doesn’t stop there. TG4 is also developing interactive web games featuring ‘Mr Men’ and ‘Olivia’ which will be available before Christmas. “As more kids gain access to mobile devices, iPads, tablets, and smart phones, we wanted to ensure that TG4 was accessible to them and for them to interact with the language in a fun way,” said a TG4 spokeswoman.

Success
The concept was developed by the TG4 graphics department following the success of the TG4 children’s weather bulletins, she added. “The cost was minimal. One of TG4’s engineering team did the development work and the TG4 graphics team did the design.” Niall Mac Uidhilin, a lecturer in IT at the Irish language school, Acadamh na hOllscolaiochta Gaeilge, at NUI Galway, said the concept was a brilliant way to get children speaking Irish. “I’m impressed. The voiceovers are obviously native-speaking children and I think it would be an excellent tool for kids and parents in the gaelscoils that may not have Irish themselves,” he told the Irish Independent. “Early immersion in the language is a huge thing and there’s a lot of research that shows the longer they’re immersed in the language in the early years, they become far more skilled in both languages later on.” The association promoting Irish language in schools, Gaelscoileanna Teo, also applauded the ‘app’. “This new resource will encourage children to learn Irish in an enjoyable way, particularly at pre-school level, which research has identified as the most important period in a child’s language acquisition,” a spokesperson said. The ‘app’ is available to download from iTunes by searching for ‘Cula4’ or ‘Irish language’.

Irish Independent – Allison Bray

Open Day – Marino Institute of Education

November 4, 2011

Sorry, this entry is only available in Irish.

Quinn supports proposal to abolish Junior Certificate

November 4, 2011

MINISTER FOR Education Ruairí Quinn has backed plans to abolish the existing Junior Certificate and replace it with what is billed as a radically changed junior cycle.

The proposals by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment for reform of the junior cycle in secondary schools were officially released yesterday. Key changes include an upper limit of eight subjects for students, up to 40 per cent of marks for continually assessed project work and optional short courses. The proposed changes will begin on a phased basis in 2014 for first examination in 2017. The proposals were designed to address issues of “curriculum overload, and rote learning”, Mr Quinn said. They would also provide for “greater creativity and innovation” and “more relevant and flexible forms of assessment”, he added. The eight-subject cap would “address the concerns about the backwash effect of the examinations” and ensure rote learning was not at the expense of gaining “critical skills”, he said. Mr Quinn encouraged schools and students to move in the direction of the subject cap “as soon as possible”.

The written exams will also be changed. All subjects will be examined at a common level with shorter exams, with the exception of Irish, English and maths. He welcomed the proposal for a “Level 2” award for students with special needs for whom the Junior Cert is unsuitable. Many of the proposals contained in the Towards a Framework for Junior Cycle document drawn up by the council had been flagged last month. The reduction in the content of the syllabus would make space for “active learning and the embedding of key skills”, he said. Concerns that Mr Quinn said needed to be considered were implications for timetable and delivery in schools, avoiding the risk of dumbing down and how time demands of literacy and numeracy would be met. The department will now begin to assess the resource implications. Resources and modern technology would allow for professional development in more cost-effective ways, he said. Chairman of the council Prof Tom Collins said the launch of the proposals with the support of the Minister represented “a historic achievement” for the council. He said the current social and economic crisis had played a part in shaping the proposals. Mr Quinn yesterday sought the co-operation of teachers and schools in implementing the proposed changes. However, teacher unions raised some concerns about the details and funding of the project. The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland said the plans must be made “fail-proof” before they were introduced.

Union general secretary Pat King said there was “an urgent need to fill the significant information gaps” in the document, which would be immediately evident to teachers who read it. There had been “dozens” of questions from teachers to the union’s head office. The Teachers Union of Ireland said it accepted the need for reform but this must be “underpinned by a full commitment to the availability of the necessary resources for the implementation of any change”. General secretary Peter MacMenamin said there was a “real fear” among teachers that without these resources, reform “could do more harm than good at a time when the education system is struggling to tread water”.

MAIN POINTS: JUNIOR CERT REFORM:

The maximum number of subjects for assessment in the junior cycle will be eight, or seven subjects plus two short courses, or six subjects plus four short courses. Subjects will be assessed through a written examination, which will generally make up 60 per cent of marks. Some 40 per cent of marks will be through a portfolio marked by the class teacher, moderated by the school and subject to external moderation. Subjects will be reduced to 200 hours, expect for the core subjects of Maths, Irish and English, which will be 240 hours. Six key skills will be embedded in subjects: managing myself, staying well, communications, being creative, working with others and managing information and thinking. All students will be required to cover 24 statements of essential learning in such areas as communications, mathematical concepts, critical thinking, citizenship, environmental knowledge, consumer skills and appreciating art.

Details of proposals at ncca.ie/juniorcycle

The Irish Times – Genevieve Carbery

Exam focus to be reduced in Junior Cert overhaul

November 4, 2011

JUST six written exams worth 60% of total marks, points for extracurricular activities and a course for students with special needs are among the options for the qualification to replace the Junior Certificate.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn yesterday gave his backing to the major overhaul of the new three-year programme proposed to him in September. The first students to experience it will not start second level until 2014, meaning it applies to those currently in fourth class at primary level. Last month, the minister rowed back on earlier plans that a limit of eight subjects in which students could be examined would begin for next year’s first-year class, although he is encouraging schools to do so if they can. Instead, the entire revised programme drawn up by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) will be rolled out in three years’ time and the first award of the qualification to replace the Junior Certificate will begin in 2017.  Among the changes, reported by the Irish Examiner in September after the NCCA finalised its proposals, are:

* The use of portfolio, continuous assessment and project work, which will be worth 40% of final marks in every subject, removing the focus on written exams at the end of third year and to be marked by teachers in schools.

* The introduction of short courses prescribed by the NCCA or designed by schools, to demonstrate innovation, creativity and critical thinking. These may include subject areas such as cultural studies, development education, book clubs, personal finance, web design, or participation in a school show.

* English, Irish and maths will be compulsory, and science may also be added.

* The three core subjects will be offered at higher and ordinary level but all others will only be examined at common level.

* The grading system A to No-Grade is to be replaced by awards of distinction, merit, pass or ‘not achieved’.

There is an option for a student to replace one or two mainstream subjects with two or four short courses, which could mean a student sits final exams in just six main subjects. The changes will be introduced on a phased basis, meaning English, and probably art, will be the first subjects in which the new qualification will be awarded in 2017.  An alternative qualification will be available to students with mild to moderate categories of learning disability, who will be assessed in curriculum covering five areas: communication and literacy, numeracy, looking after myself, living in a community and preparing for work. The emphasis in reforming junior cycle has been to developing young people’s ability to learn and develop important skills, the overhaul also aims to reduce dependence on rote learning for the exam and to make experience of junior cycle more positive. NCCA chief executive, Anne Looney, said schools will have to start work on timetabling and other issues from next year. “Being ready is a big ask for a system more used to a slower pace of change and to change of a modest scale. Supporting schools and supporting teachers who will lead the change will be critical to getting these proposals from the paper and from the screen into the learning and lives of students,” she said.

* ncca.ie/juniorcycle

Real test
MAJOR discussions on implementing the reforms have yet to take place between the Department of Education, State Examinations Commission, teacher unions and school managers. Among the chief concerns of unions are the need to properly train teachers to deliver redesigned courses and to ensure schools with fewer resources to offer short courses are not disadvantaged. Mr Quinn acknowledged these concerns yesterday, but told the NCCA council that the transition year programme has shown that schools can develop their own innovative programmes and modules, sometimes in partnership with other organisations. More difficult to overcome, however, may be industrial relations issues about the planned marking of students’ continuous assessment work in their own schools. While the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland fears the impact of relations with students if members have to award marks to their own students for any elements of state exams, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland has an additional policy requiring payment for such work. Meanwhile, schools are to be allowed to re-employ teachers preparing exam classes for next June who are due to retire before the end of February.

Irish Examiner – Niall Murray

COMÓRTAS EALAÍNE na NOLLAG le Cló Iar-Chonnacht

November 3, 2011

Sorry, this entry is only available in Irish.

Plean na bliana don Straitéis Teanga foilsithe inniu

November 3, 2011

Sorry, this entry is only available in Irish.

Groups apply for school patronages

November 3, 2011

THE Department of Education has received applications from eight groups to be patrons of 13 new primary schools due to open in the next two years.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn announced in June that the new schools will open in major population growth areas in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Kildare. His department invited interested bodies to apply for the patronages up to early last month, with a newly formed, independent New Schools Establishment Group to recommend a patron in each case to the minister. There were just two applicants for almost half the planned schools, but there are four prospective patrons for three of them. The multi-denominational schools group Educate Together has applied to become patron to all but one. The Vocational Education Committees (VECs) in counties Cork, Dublin and Kildare and in Galway city have applied to open community national schools in 10 areas. An Foras Pátrúnachta, which is already patron to 58 multi-denominational, Catholic, and inter-denominational all-Irish schools, has also expressed willingness to be patron to 10 of the 13 new schools. The applicants do not include any of the denominational patrons who account for more than 95% of almost 3,200 mainstream primary schools, including almost 90% under the patronage of Catholic bishops. The areas for new schools were chosen by the Department of Education based on rapid population growth and, in most cases, already have provision for Christian ethos primary education.

The Redeemed Christian Church of God is offering itself as the patron of choice for two schools in Tallaght and one school in Lucan. The church was founded in Nigeria and has more than 100 parishes in Ireland, describing itself as the fastest growing non-denominational church in Ireland. “The intention is that our schools would be all-inclusive and improve on existing situations in these areas, helping children to reach their potential,” said Dr John Dosu, pastor of one of the church’s parishes in Lucan, where three Educate Together schools operate. Lifeways Ireland Ltd is offering to meet demand for a Steiner school in Galway city. “We have suggested that the department look at the idea of a primary education campus that would optimise the use of public resources and allow parents a choice of schools with different patrons,” said Lifeways Ireland chairman Pearse O’Shiel. All applicants have to demonstrate local demand for their model and show that it would add greater diversity to local education provision.

Irish Examiner – Niall Murray

Cluiche nua – Ardrí

November 3, 2011

Sorry, this entry is only available in Irish.

The future of Irish in the classroom to be discussed at Oireachtas Seminar

November 2, 2011

The challenges faced by teachers, and issues concerning the teaching of Irish in the coming years will be focus of attention at this year’s annual Oireachtas na Gaeilge seminar in Kilarney this Saturday.

The seminar, which is organised by Conradh na Gaeilge, will be discussing the question, “Will our teachers be trained sufficiently?”.

The guest speakers attending are Áine Lawlor, chief executive of An Comhairle Múinteoireachta, Muireann Ní Mhóráin, chief executive of An Comhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, Seán Ó Coinn, who is deputy chief executive and director of educational services of Foras na Gaeilge, and Treasa Ní Mhainín, chief executive of Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta. Conradh na Gaeilge’s president, Donnchadh Ó hAodha will act as chairperson for the seminar.

The seminar will begin at 11 a.m on Saturday, 5th November, in the Gleneagle Hotel in the Inisfallen room. There will be a reception after the seminar at 1 p.m  where Rith 2012 will be officially launched.

©Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com

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