Learning to Learn - Teacher Manual Introduction

Assessment:
“Assessment at Junior Cycle places the student at the centre
of the learning process and allows for new ways of learning
and a broader range of skills to be assessed.” www.juniorcycle.ie
Within the Junior Cycle there
are a range of opportunities
for assessment. The purpose
of assessment is to support
the student in their learning by
providing appropriate feedback
to the student enabling them to
understand how they may wish
to improve. Assessment at the
Junior Cycle is both:
Formative (ongoing) assessment – where students and
teachers reflect on the student’s learning and plan the next
steps. As part of this process students are encouraged
to complete the end of section reflections which provide
opportunities for discussion with the teacher on how the
student feels they are progressing with their own learning
to date.
Summative (classroom based) assessment – where the
teacher assesses the student’s in a specific assessment
associated with the content of the course. Students are
expected to prepare for summative assessments. The teachers’
judgement which is in line with set out criteria is used as part
of the school reporting to parents and students and is recorded.
Each school should develop Features of Quality as part
of their work to support teachers’ judgements.
Schools and teachers have the
flexibility to adapt this short
course to suit their particular
needs and context and design
a Classroom Based Assessment
which is reflective of the learning
which the students undertook.
In line with the Junior Cycle
Profile of Achievement (JCPA), the
assessment of short courses will:
In line with guidelines set down
by the NCCA and Department
of Education and Skills, there
should be one Classroom
Based Assessment which can
be undertaken in second or
third year. A recommended
form of assessment for this
course may be:
Project and reflection.
Be carried out in the school
by the teacher
Be based on work
undertaken by students in
second and/ or third year.
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