PME2CR

Visual Art The junior certificate programme is completely changing, as part of this Art is also changing to reflect a more realistic and connected study of the subjects, that reflects its use in modern society. The subject title is changing from Art, Craft, Design to Visual Art, as this encompasses the modern reality of the subject. It is much more than the mere study of fine Art, craft and design, now it includes video, sound, installation and performance also.  Visual Art has three strands to it; Art, Craft, Design, however along with these strands there are five elements : Critical and visual language, drawing, visual culture and appreciation, art elements and design principles (AEDP) and media.   The assessment of Visual Art  (JCPA) will comprise two classroom based assessments (CBA). There is no final examination. The first CBA will take place in second year - process and realisation - Students, either individually or in a group, choose one scenario from a list prepared fro

Today is 12th of January 2018, and this blog is open to all!

Methodologies are different activities teacher use to aid student learning. Art has many methodologies that are student specific. 1. Brainstorming:   When introducing a new topic, teachers can use brainstorming sessions to  determine what students already know / wish to learn. Stimulates fluent and flexible thinking, and can also be used to extend problem solving skills. Especially useful at the start of a project, where students can use a combination of words and sketching to think 'visually' about their topic. Allows for students to easily explore a topic through a visual means. Brainstorms now form a core part of the new visual art for junior cert, and students are being encouraged to document the research process completely in their sketchpads, a brainstorm is the perfect example of them. 2. Conference:   Provides teachers with an opportunity to guide and support learners, and a forum for students to demonstrate their learning through discussion, sketchbooks o

Finally, Irish students are receiving a new art syllabus, after almost 20 years of requests for change, Irish art teachers and students have been listened too. A new syllabus is being implemented now, which is much more realistic in its expectations, and much more closer, to what the third level experience of studying Art is like. The name is also changing from Art, Craft, and Design, to Visual Arts to encompass its more broader approach to the study of Art. Teachers, students and artists alike were all consulted in the fabrication of the new syllabus, giving it a much more broad and contemporary focus. Literacy and Numeracy have also been included in the formation of this new syllabus for the new curriculum, for the first time it has been formally recognised that these elements are not stand alone subjects, but actually key elements of everyday life, that need to be improved upon in school. The new junior cert will be assessed in two stages, eliminating the exam. Students will be e

The Foundations of education are vitally important aspects of the professional development of a teacher. Studying curriculum and assessment, history, sociology, psychology, and philosophy form a corner stone of teacher education. They inform the teacher on how they can resolve questions both given by staff and students, to understand their particular school’s role in the local community and wider society, promoting all forms of literacy both academic and social, make all lessons inclusive for students of all abilities, instead of having a narrow educational focus. People have many reasons for becoming teachers, many reasons are admirable such as developing student literacy, or love for a specific subject, however, there can be a view in wider society that many people pick teaching, for the shorter hours, and holidays. This is far from the truth from what I have witnessed in my own teaching practise. Many teachers work incredibly hard to make