Maths

AIMS OF SUBJECT:

a) Development of the individual

  • Develop Problem Solving Skills
  • Develop Communication skills to articulate and interpret
  • Develop Teamwork and Collaboration
  • Develop ability to handle abstractions, generalisations and logic argument
  • Relating Maths to their Environment and the World about them
  • Allowing them to view Mathematics in a positive light and appreciate its power as a subject

b) Provision for Skills, Knowledge and the means to help them in Life.

  • Provide students with the tools to deal with Mathematics in Work and Life
  • Provide students with the base skills to further their knowledge of understanding of Maths
  • Provide students with the skills to link into other subject areas

 

RATIONALE FOR SUBJECT:

  1. Knowledge              – ability to recall terms, skills and concepts
  2. Comprehension       – ability to Understand their acquired knowledge
  3. Application               – ability to use the acquired skills accurately
  4. Analysis                    – ability to make judgements on individual parts of the application and to take corrective                                                    measures if required
  5. Synthesis                 – ability to provide solution and conclusions by combining the different parts
  6. Evaluation                – ability to view different strategies and draw conclusions based on same

 

ASSESSMENT:

Learning is assessed in a number of different ways as follows

• Oral Questioning
Here students are asked to contribute to a discussion on the methods of a particular skill, or the means to solve a particular problem. It is best to differentiate the questioning in recognition of the different ability levels within the classroom. This method of assessment is particularly important in helping to promote students literacy skills.

• Homework
As mentioned already above, students abilities and understanding can be evident in the quality and accuracy of their homework. Feedback is given on students work, what they did well, where they can improve and how they can improve

• Class Tests

A quick short informal test in class can be a useful indicator of class assessment. Here we could involve peer correction as a means of speeding up the process.

• Common Year Tests
Introduced successfully in 2016 at 1st Yr level, we are aspiring in the Dept to further develop this method at the different levels in each year group. Last year we held common tests for students at Higher Level in 2nd Year. For the 2018-19 school year we hope to hold common class tests at the different levels in 3rd and 5th Yrs.

• Christmas and Summer Assessment
Full sit-down examinations are held at Christmas and Summer for all Year Groups (with the obvious exception of Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert students at Summertime). Reports are prepared and sent home for these examinations. A Halloween Mid-Term report is also given for Leaving Cert students.

• Mock Examinations.
Mock Examinations are held in February each year for students in Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert. The results of same are usually posted by mid-March.

• Examination Papers.
Teachers use examination papers as a classroom aide in the latter part of Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert courses. Students and Teachers are able to access progress and learning by the feedback received from Exam Questions.

• Comment Assessment
We plan to give one or two tests per year to our classes (class specific) where we will provide comment on each question and the solution given rather than a numeric/grade value. It is hoped students take onboard teacher feedback which is not overshadowed by a grade. This would be a new departure for the Maths Dept and it would be interesting to observe the outcome of such a practice.

Final Exam:

Available at Foundation, Ordinary and Higher Level

Higher Level - Two Papers (each 2 hours and 30 minutes). An extra 25 points is available for any pass grade and above at Higher Level.

Ordinary Level - Two Papers (each paper is 2 hours).

Foundation - One Paper (2 Hours)

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