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irishsciteach.bsky.social @irishsciteach.bsky.social · May 24

Congratulations to the ISTA Chairperson Humphrey Jones on his @astiunion.bsky.social Teacher Achievement Award.

Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland @astiunion.bsky.social · May 23

Humprey Jones, teacher @sccdublin, receives an ASTI Achievement Award for his contribution to education and science education @IrishSciTeach @researchEDDub

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irishsciteach.bsky.social @irishsciteach.bsky.social · Apr 15

The ISTA, in a meeting with Department of Education officials yeaterday, proposed a compromise solution to address our concers around Additional Assessment Components in Senior Cycle Science: ista.ie/ista-propose...

ISTA Proposes Postponement of Additional Assessment Components in Senior Cycle Sciences – ISTA

ista.ie

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‘Chele Morris @drmkck.bsky.social · Feb 7

Enjoyed the first in-person meeting (in a few years) of the Carlow/KK branch of @irishsciteach.bsky.social with a great #cogscisci talk by @humphreyjones.bsky.social. Left laden down with resources after great chats and yummy treats. 🧁 #edchatie

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irishsciteach.bsky.social @irishsciteach.bsky.social · Mar 2

Tickets for the ISTA Annual Conference are now on sale. Visit www.ista.ie/conference2025 for more info.

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irishsciteach.bsky.social @irishsciteach.bsky.social · Jan 27

Many thanks to all who participated in the ISTA Dublin NQT night, hosted by Sandford Park School tonight. Lots of great teaching ideas shared and friendships forged.

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irishsciteach.bsky.social @irishsciteach.bsky.social · Jan 13

The winners of the ISTA Special Award at the BT Young Scientist were Aimee & Ashlee Keogh from Tallaght Community School pictured here with Aodhagan O’Suilleabhain and Rory Geoghegan. Congratulations to the girls on their fantastic project.

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irishsciteach.bsky.social @irishsciteach.bsky.social · Dec 20

This decision to adopt and integrate a fledgling & ever-evolving technology right into the core of schools without any research base is extraordinarily irresponsible and bordering on stupidity. Is there anyone in the DE offering a dissented voice or are they all lemmings?

irishsciteach.bsky.social @irishsciteach.bsky.social · Dec 20

We are deeply concerns at the naive and negligent attitude of the Department of Education towards the integration of AI into teaching and learning and, in particular, project based work for assessment. t.co/2qaQWXoHqX

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irishsciteach.bsky.social @irishsciteach.bsky.social · Dec 17

Science teachers say Leaving Cert project work places 'extraordinary' burden of responsibility on them | @irishexaminer.bsky.social

www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41...

Science teachers say Leaving Cert project work places 'extraordinary' burden of responsibility on them

Irish Science Teachers’ Association has unanimously decided to formally dissociate the organisation from incoming 'additional assessment components' proposed for the revised Senior Cycle science speci...

www.irishexaminer.com

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John Warner @biblioracle.bsky.social · Dec 14

We can't simultaneously decry that students can't seem to do anything for themselves and then make a bunch of digital tools that do things for students. Either we're helping them develop their practices (skills, knowledge, attitudes, habits of mind) of a field, or we're not.

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The Irish Times @irishtimes.com · Dec 15

Norma Foley’s approach to AI in the classroom is breathtakingly naive

There is no incentive for students to admit to using AI and every incentive to cheat, while teachers have been woefully underprepared for a revolution likened to Gutenberg’s printing press

www.irishtimes.com

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irishsciteach.bsky.social @irishsciteach.bsky.social · Dec 15

The ISTA statement is quoted in today’s Sunday Independent m.independent.ie/irish-news/l...

Leaving Cert changes in doubt as science teachers act on concerns over new proposals

Science teachers have raised fresh doubts over the government’s ability to introduce Leaving Cert reforms after the educators dissociated themselves from syllabus changes to allow students to earn mar...

m.independent.ie

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Patrick Hickey @aiteachingguru.bsky.social · Dec 14

Mentioned in Breda O'Brien's Irish Times piece: After working with thousands of teachers, my position is clear - only when all educators truly understand AI's capabilities can we properly redesign the future of LC curriculum & assessment. CPD and Knowledge first - then reform #edchatie #aieducation

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irishsciteach.bsky.social @irishsciteach.bsky.social · Dec 13

On the contrary … as we said in our statement, we want for forge a closer, collaborate relationship with the Oide Science Team. We obviously want to delay the introduction of the AACs until their fairness, integrity and resourcing issues are resolved.

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irishsciteach.bsky.social @irishsciteach.bsky.social · Dec 13

We are not asking members not to engage with the process, training etc. It’s just a formal recognition of our opposition to the proposed assessment. We don’t think our points are unreasonable; we’d argue anyone with an informed view on education would realise all our points are valid.

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irishsciteach.bsky.social @irishsciteach.bsky.social · Dec 13

There is no prejudice - we have tried hard to engage in meaningful discussion on the AACs but all of our concerns (reasonable, informed and evidenced based concerns) have been ignored. Dissociation is a formal step, saying we formally disagree with the structure of the assessment.

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irishsciteach.bsky.social @irishsciteach.bsky.social · Dec 13

Not sure what you mean? The guideline documents were published last week and the structure of the AAC is publicly accessible. On the grounds outlined in the statement, we make it clear that the proposed assessment is impractical, inequitable, open to abuse and potentially unsafe.

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irishsciteach.bsky.social @irishsciteach.bsky.social · Dec 13

I won’t comment on your point but the Oide Science Team have been kindly asked to not misrepresent the views of the ISTA in those training days, or use the ISTA to support any decision.

irishsciteach.bsky.social @irishsciteach.bsky.social · Dec 13

Full statement here: ista.ie/wp-content/u...

ista.ie

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irishsciteach.bsky.social @irishsciteach.bsky.social · Dec 13

This follows a similar decision made by the ASTI and IUA representatives on those subject development groups to dissociate from the Additional Assessment Components.

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irishsciteach.bsky.social @irishsciteach.bsky.social · Dec 13

The ISTA Council have unanimously decided to formally dissociate from the Additional Assessment Components until such time as the concerns around its feasibility, fairness and integrity are addressed meaningfully.

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irishsciteach.bsky.social @irishsciteach.bsky.social · Dec 13

The ISTA has issued an important statement on the Additional Assessment Components proposed for Senior Cycle Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

ista.ie/ista-stateme...

#edchatIE

ISTA Statement on the Additional Assessment Components in Senior Cycle Biology, Chemistry and Physics – ISTA

ista.ie

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irishsciteach.bsky.social @irishsciteach.bsky.social · Dec 4

Our first digital newsletter summarises a busy period in Irish science education: ista.ie?post_type=ne...