Foras Taighde ar Oideachas
Studies of student achievement in Ireland have noted that average achievement among students from disadvantaged backgrounds is well below that of nationally representative samples (Eivers, Sheil and Shortt, 2004; Weir, 2001). Indeed, Sirin (2005) found that of all factors examined in the meta-analytic literature, family socioeconomic status (SES) at the student level is one ofRead more…
Project Maths is an initiative which involves the complete revision of the mathematics curriculum at junior and senior cycles at post-primary level. Project Maths began in 24 ‘initial’ schools in 2008 and was rolled out, on a phased basis, to all post-primary schools in the country in the autumn of 2010. Mathematics was the mainRead more…
Reviews of Oral Language Development, Reading and Mathematics (3-8 years) In response to calls for tender from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, the Centre has contributed to three recent reviews of the research on the theory and pedagogy relating to children in the 3-8 years age range in: • Oral language • Read more…
ICT Census of Primary, Post-Primary and Special Schools: Analysis of Census Data Surveys on ICTs in primary, post-primary and special schools have been carried out on a periodic basis since 1998. The one conducted in 2013 is the fifth occasion on which a census of ICTs has been implemented. The most recent one prior toRead more…
The National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy (DES, 2011) calls for greater use to be made of assessment data at both school and system levels. At school level, it is proposed that the results of standardised tests should be used to monitor aspects of student learning, to inform school self-evaluation processes, and to track the achievementRead more…
Since 2010, the Centre has been carrying out a longitudinal study of psychosocial development in adolescence with particular regard to participation in Transition Year. Participating students in selected schools participated annually in 2011 (Third Year, Transition Year, and Fifth Year students); in 2012 (Transition Year and Fifth Year students), and in 2013 (Fifth Year andRead more…
There is evidence from research conducted mainly in the United States of America that pupils’ reading proficiency declines during the summer holidays and that the decline is greater among pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. Evidence from the US and elsewhere also suggests that the gap expands over the course of primary schooling (i.e., there is aRead more…
Analysis of School Attendance Data in Primary and Post-Primary Schools Data on non-attendance in primary and post-primary schools are collected by the National Education Welfare Board (NEWB) through the Annual Attendance Report (AAR). The core of the NEWB data-set consists of four variables: (1) Total number of days lost through student absence in the entireRead more…
The Centre is currently working on the development of a computer-based testing platform, and the rollout of new and existing tests in computer-based format. Two key components are completed – the test authoring portal (how new tests are created within the system) and test delivery portal (what students see when they take a test). TheRead more…
Development of Tests for Primary and Post-Primary Levels The Educational Research Centre develops standardised tests of achievement and ability, normed for an Irish population. Some tests are for commercial use – sold to schools – and others are retained for research purposes. The tests are designed to provide high quality, accurate information on the aptitudesRead more…