tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38545607.post8059475688475676355..comments2024-03-09T10:26:48.789+00:00Comments on economics, psychology, policy: Brian Hayes on Irish Education PolicyEmma Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11466193733741012673noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38545607.post-77774628649675909702010-11-09T20:58:33.347+00:002010-11-09T20:58:33.347+00:00Vincent,
That's really interesting to get an ...Vincent,<br /><br />That's really interesting to get an insight into students who have gone through A-level education. <br /><br />I like your link between Seymour Skinner and non-cognitive skill. I'll have to investigate that further!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38545607.post-86505966086388963642010-11-09T12:08:49.326+00:002010-11-09T12:08:49.326+00:00Hi Martin, very interesting post. Having taught pe...Hi Martin, very interesting post. Having taught people with A levels for the past number of years, the differences between them and Irish students is quite pronounced. <br /><br />The Leaving Cert is very much a memory test. People can get a good result based on above average ability to memorize and regurgitate.<br /><br />THere is probably a selection effect with Warwick students (I hope!) but they did seem to have really good problem solving skills and to a certain extent, a good overall perspective and critical awareness in relation to their subjects. <br /><br />On the positive side, the leaving Cert does reward sheer hard work and in the words of Principal Seymour Skinner, "stick-to-it-tive-ness". It would be great to combine the reward for hard work with a reward for problem solving, creativity and critical thinking. <br /><br />On the plus side there are more subjects in the leaving cert and less specialization than with the A levels - I know of people in the UK doing maths and hard sciences at university but who have problems writing emails and letters because they haven't written English composition since the age of 15.Vincent O Sullivannoreply@blogger.com