Assessment and Reporting Assessment Assessment Assessment is the process of generating, gathering, recording, interpreting, using and reporting evidence of learning in individuals, groups or systems. Educational assessment provides information about progress in learning, and achievement in developing skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes. in education involves gathering, interpreting and using information about the processes and outcomes of learning. It takes different forms and can be used in a variety of ways, such as to record and report achievement, to determine appropriate routes for learners to take through a differentiated curriculum, or to identify specific areas of difficulty or strength for a given learner. While different techniques may be employed for formative, diagnostic and summative purposes, the focus of assessment Assessment Assessment is the process of generating, gathering, recording, interpreting, using and reporting evidence of learning in individuals, groups or systems. Educational assessment provides information about progress in learning, and achievement in developing skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes. and reporting is on the improvement of student learning. To do this it must fully reflect the aim of the curriculum. The junior cycle places a strong emphasis on assessment Assessment Assessment is the process of generating, gathering, recording, interpreting, using and reporting evidence of learning in individuals, groups or systems. Educational assessment provides information about progress in learning, and achievement in developing skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes. as part of the learning process. This requires a more varied approach to assessment Assessment Assessment is the process of generating, gathering, recording, interpreting, using and reporting evidence of learning in individuals, groups or systems. Educational assessment provides information about progress in learning, and achievement in developing skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes. , ensuring that the assessment Assessment Assessment is the process of generating, gathering, recording, interpreting, using and reporting evidence of learning in individuals, groups or systems. Educational assessment provides information about progress in learning, and achievement in developing skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes. method or methods chosen are fit for purpose, timely and relevant to the students. Assessment Assessment Assessment is the process of generating, gathering, recording, interpreting, using and reporting evidence of learning in individuals, groups or systems. Educational assessment provides information about progress in learning, and achievement in developing skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes. in Graphics at junior cycle will optimise the opportunity for students to become reflective and active participants in their learning and for teachers to support this. This can be achieved through the provision of opportunities for students to negotiate success criteria against which the quality of their work can be judged by peer, self, and teacher assessment Assessment Assessment is the process of generating, gathering, recording, interpreting, using and reporting evidence of learning in individuals, groups or systems. Educational assessment provides information about progress in learning, and achievement in developing skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes. ; and through the quality of the focused feedback they get in support of their learning. Providing focused feedback to students on their learning is a critical component of high-quality assessment Assessment Assessment is the process of generating, gathering, recording, interpreting, using and reporting evidence of learning in individuals, groups or systems. Educational assessment provides information about progress in learning, and achievement in developing skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes. and a key factor in building students’ capacity to manage their own learning and their motivation to stick with a complex task or problem. Assessment Assessment Assessment is the process of generating, gathering, recording, interpreting, using and reporting evidence of learning in individuals, groups or systems. Educational assessment provides information about progress in learning, and achievement in developing skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes. is most effective when it moves beyond marks and grades, and reporting focuses not just on how the student has done in the past but on the next steps for further learning. This approach will ensure that assessment Assessment Assessment is the process of generating, gathering, recording, interpreting, using and reporting evidence of learning in individuals, groups or systems. Educational assessment provides information about progress in learning, and achievement in developing skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes. takes place as close as possible to the point of learning. Final assessment Assessment Assessment is the process of generating, gathering, recording, interpreting, using and reporting evidence of learning in individuals, groups or systems. Educational assessment provides information about progress in learning, and achievement in developing skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes. still has an important role to play but is only one element of a broader approach to assessment Assessment Assessment is the process of generating, gathering, recording, interpreting, using and reporting evidence of learning in individuals, groups or systems. Educational assessment provides information about progress in learning, and achievement in developing skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes. . Essentially, the purpose of assessment Assessment Assessment is the process of generating, gathering, recording, interpreting, using and reporting evidence of learning in individuals, groups or systems. Educational assessment provides information about progress in learning, and achievement in developing skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes. and reporting at this stage of education is to support learning. Parents/guardians should be given a comprehensive picture of student learning. Linking classroom assessment Assessment Assessment is the process of generating, gathering, recording, interpreting, using and reporting evidence of learning in individuals, groups or systems. Educational assessment provides information about progress in learning, and achievement in developing skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes. and other assessment Assessment Assessment is the process of generating, gathering, recording, interpreting, using and reporting evidence of learning in individuals, groups or systems. Educational assessment provides information about progress in learning, and achievement in developing skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes. with a new system of reporting that culminates in the awarding of the Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA) will offer parents/guardians a clear and broad picture of their child’s learning journey over the three years of junior cycle. To support this, teachers and schools have access to online assessment Assessment Assessment is the process of generating, gathering, recording, interpreting, using and reporting evidence of learning in individuals, groups or systems. Educational assessment provides information about progress in learning, and achievement in developing skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes. support material. Along with the guide to the Subject Learning and Assessment Assessment Assessment is the process of generating, gathering, recording, interpreting, using and reporting evidence of learning in individuals, groups or systems. Educational assessment provides information about progress in learning, and achievement in developing skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes. Review (SLAR) process, this focuses on learning, teaching and assessment Assessment Assessment is the process of generating, gathering, recording, interpreting, using and reporting evidence of learning in individuals, groups or systems. Educational assessment provides information about progress in learning, and achievement in developing skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes. support material, including: formative assessment Assessment Assessment is the process of generating, gathering, recording, interpreting, using and reporting evidence of learning in individuals, groups or systems. Educational assessment provides information about progress in learning, and achievement in developing skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes. planning for and designing assessment Assessment Assessment is the process of generating, gathering, recording, interpreting, using and reporting evidence of learning in individuals, groups or systems. Educational assessment provides information about progress in learning, and achievement in developing skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes. ongoing assessments for classroom use judging student work – looking at expectations for students and features of quality reporting to parents and students thinking about assessment Assessment Assessment is the process of generating, gathering, recording, interpreting, using and reporting evidence of learning in individuals, groups or systems. Educational assessment provides information about progress in learning, and achievement in developing skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes. : ideas, research and reflections a glossary. The contents of the online support material include the range of assessment Assessment Assessment is the process of generating, gathering, recording, interpreting, using and reporting evidence of learning in individuals, groups or systems. Educational assessment provides information about progress in learning, and achievement in developing skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes. supports, advice and guidelines that enable schools and teachers to engage with the new assessment Assessment Assessment is the process of generating, gathering, recording, interpreting, using and reporting evidence of learning in individuals, groups or systems. Educational assessment provides information about progress in learning, and achievement in developing skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes. system and reporting arrangements in an informed way, with confidence and clarity. Assessment for the JCPA The assessment of Graphics for the purposes of the Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA) will comprise of: two Classroom-Based Assessments; Communicating through sketching and Graphical presentation skills a project a final examination. CBA 1: Communicating through sketching The teacher’s judgement is recorded for the purpose of subject learning and assessment review, and for the school’s reporting to parents/guardians and students. This CBA is to be completed within 3 weeks. CBA 2: Graphical presentation skills The teacher’s judgement is recorded for the purpose of subject learning and assessment review, and for the school’s reporting to parents/guardians and students. This CBA is to be completed within 3 weeks. Project (30%) Will be specified and marked by the State Examinations Commission. This project will be completed within a four-week window in term one of third year. Final examination (70%) Two-hour examination set and marked by the State Examinations Commission. Rationale for the Classroom-Based Assessments in Graphics Classroom-Based Assessments are the occasions when the teacher assesses the students in the specific assessments that are set out in the specification. Classroom-Based Assessments are similar to the formative assessment that occurs every day in every class. However, in the case of the Classroom-Based Assessments, the teacher’s judgement is recorded for the purpose of subject learning and assessment review, and for the school’s reporting to parents and students. Over the three years of junior cycle students will be provided with opportunities to stimulate their curiosity and interest in Graphics. The Classroom-Based Assessments link to the key priorities for learning and teaching in Graphics. It is envisaged that through the Classroom-Based Assessments students will actively engage in practical and authentic learning experiences. The Classroom-Based Assessments will provide an opportunity for students to: research information using a range of methods analyse data and evidence to make informed value judgements and decisions organise information and plan logically communicate clearly and effectively collaborate with others on tasks reflect on their contributions to the work and their own learning. Through these Classroom-Based Assessments they will develop their knowledge, understanding, skills, and values, thereby achieving the learning outcomes across the strands. Assessing the Classroom-Based Assessments More detailed information related to assessment of the Classroom-Based Assessments will be available in separate Assessment Guidelines. This will include, for example, the suggested length and formats for student pieces of work, the features of quality to be applied to the assessment , and support in using ‘on balance’ judgement in relation to the features of quality. The assessment section of www.ncca.ie will also include substantial resource material for use and reference in ongoing classroom assessment of Graphics at junior cycle, as well as examples of student work and guidance for the Subject Learning and Assessment Review process. Classroom-Based Assessment 1: Communicating through sketching This Classroom-Based Assessment will provide students with the opportunity to develop their skills to become competent in communicating through sketching. Students will be asked to graphically communicate their ideas using two-dimensional and three-dimensional sketching techniques in response to a chosen stimulus theme. Through this Classroom-Based Assessment , students will develop their skills in using effective sketching methods and media to accurately communicate their vision, design and solution. This Classroom-Based Assessment is an opportunity to instil in students a curious disposition where they are free to experiment, allowed to take risks, encouraged to explore new and challenging opportunities and to reflect on the process. Students can communicate their work through any appropriate media Classroom-Based Assessment 2: Graphical presentation skills This Classroom-Based Assessment will focus on how effectively students present their research graphically. It will inform the project assessment element (see below). Through this CBA, students research and investigate the domain in which the project is situated and present their findings graphically through any appropriate graphical media. This enables them to develop the concepts for their final project in a real-life context prior to starting their work on the project. This Classroom-Based Assessment is an opportunity to instil in students a curious disposition, where they are free to experiment, encouraged to explore new and challenging opportunities and to reflect on the process. Students can communicate their work through any appropriate media Features of quality The features of quality support student and teacher judgement of the Classroom-Based Assessments and are the criteria that will be used by teachers to assess the pieces of student work. Features of quality for the Classroom-Based Assessments will be provided in the Assessment Guidelines document. SEC Project On completion of the Classroom-Based Assessments, students undertake a project as part of their final assessment . The project is completed after the second Classroom-Based Assessment in third year. The brief for the project is set and marked by the State Examinations Commission. Students will be required to complete three outputs: Output 1: Responding to a theme informed by the work of Classroom-Based Assessment 2 Output 2: Dimensioned drawings Output 3: Three-dimensional computer-aided design modelling Final Examination Students will sit a two-hour examination at the end of third year and this will be offered at a common level. The examination will be prepared and marked by the State Examinations Commission. Inclusive assessment practices This specification allows for inclusive assessment practices whether as part of ongoing assessment or Classroom-Based Assessments. Where a school judges that a student has a specific physical or learning difficulty, reasonable accommodations may be put in place to remove, as far as possible, the impact of the disability on the student’s performance in Classroom-Based Assessments. The accommodations, e.g. the support provided by a Special Needs Assistant or the support of assistive technologies, should be line with the arrangements the school has put in place to support the student’s learning throughout the year.
