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Trinity joins elite colleges to offer free online courses
TRINITY College Dublin is linking up with top universities around the world to offer free online courses.
These three weeks sap your adrenaline stocks
Yesterday, I sat my final physics exam. Like any subject involving numbers, I'm glad to be finished it. You should be glad, too. In fact, it's probably better for society as a whole. Essentially, if people like me were the physicists: we'd still be looking at black-and-white TV.
Hard-working pupils would have been rewarded
A return to more maths on the Leaving Certificate Physics higher level paper was noted by teachers.
UCD and art college join forces
DUN Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology (IADT) and University College Dublin (UCD) have signed a deal to build a strategic alliance, writes Katherine Donnelly.
Unexpected elements divide teachers
Teachers' views varied on the Leaving Certificate Accounting higher-level paper.
Wood wallet question was right on the money
With most of the marks already accounted for in project work, Junior Certificate Materials Technology (Wood) wrapped up assessment yesterday with "nicely pitched" papers at both levels, according to one teacher, Noel Scott of the Association of Secondary Teachers' Ireland said the higher-level paper was student friendly.
Positive spin-off expected in classes
THE way students were challenged to apply their knowledge on the Junior Certificate Technical Graphics papers will have a positive spin-off in the classroom, said teacher John O'Sullivan.
CAO expecting surge of changes in college choices
THOUSANDS of Leaving Cert students are expected to change their mind about college choices now that the exams are winding up.
Helping students think outside the box
TWO radically different college courses stand out for the way they can equip students with the "thinking outside the box" skills that they will need both for work and life itself, a fascinating new study has found.
Students happy with higher level Chemistry
Students were very happy with the Leaving Certificate Chemistry Higher Level paper, according to Dr Martina Audley of Yeats College, Galway.
LC German: Challenging but fair
The exam complemented Easter's oral exam well, which was a welcome change for students. Grammar proved the trickiest as did a few curve balls in vocabulary.
Lockout the key to success for many
Higher level allowed students to showcase their knowledge, but those who successfully gambled on the 1913 Lockout also had to be up to speed on land agitation.
Dail committee gets taught lesson
AS candidates sat down to their exam, members of the History Teachers' Association of Ireland were appearing before the Oireachtas Education Committee arguing for the retention of it as a core subject in the reformed junior cycle.
Exam Diary: 'I wish I could push a button to get results now'
THE pile of books beside my desk is starting to get smaller. I am now more than halfway through my exams! While only a week has passed, it seems like I've been doing them for months. I'd love if there was a button I could press to get my results. If that were too hi-tech, I'd have no problem paying a higher fee to the State Examination Commission and get my papers corrected sooner.
Horse-meat topic tricky but pupils pleased overall
THE horse-meat scandal was one of the topics that came up on the Leaving Certificate French higher level paper and while topical "it would have perhaps been one of the most challenging questions on the paper", said one teacher.
Familiar writing tasks leave scribes puzzled
WRITING a letter to a penpal is a familiar task in Junior Certificate French papers but this year higher level candidates were left puzzled by this question.
1D back anti-bullying campaign
One Direction have launched a range of nail polish and stationery to help fund an anti-bullying campaign in the US.
Facebook agrees to help schools tackle cyberbullies
SOCIAL media giant Facebook has agreed to work directly with Irish schools to help combat cyberbullying.
Don't let stress get better of you in the exam hall
Exercise, study techniques and a balanced diet can keep students calm
'Longest day' turns into a walk in the park
Some Leaving Certificate students spent six hours and 20 minutes in the hall
Jobs race may force us abroad, say graduates
THE gruelling life of junior doctors may force many young medicine graduates to move overseas.
'A dream paper – the most settled for many years'
A "delightful, dream paper" and the "most settled English Paper 2 for many years" were among the comments of teachers to what Leaving Certificate higher-level candidates were treated to yesterday afternoon. Even Sylvia Plath obliged.
Paying customers finally get what we want
The FIRST exam of the day was engineering. I don't do engineering so I didn't have to clock in until 2pm. To be completely honest, I didn't even know engineering was a subject!
Pupils happy with a 'fair and varied' exam
pupil-friendly with the expected topics turning up. That was how teacher Sinead Caslin, of Yeats College Galway, summed up the Leaving Certificate English ordinary-level Paper 2.
Social media references not a hit with everyone
EXAMINERS had hoped to engage pupils with references to Twitter, YouTube and social networking – however, it might have been a stretch too far.
Relevant paper with good opportunity to put concepts into context
LEAVING Certificate engineering students, at both higher and ordinary levels, should have been happy with their papers, according to teachers.
Shannon forced to miss Junior Cert due to 'lack of support'
SHANNON McCabe should have been among almost 57,000 students starting the Junior Cert written exams yesterday.
Colourful and challenging paper that let creativity shine through
A very fair paper that allowed for a lot of creativity to shine through, was how one teacher described higher-level English Paper 1.
Uplifting and humour-based questions give candidates plenty to smile about
Leaving Certificate English ordinary-level candidates had plenty to smile about in their first exam, which was on the theme of humour.
Wide choice with a few surprises
A CHALLENGING paper at higher level, however students were given a wide range of choices – albeit with surprises.
I left the exam hall fairly exhausted – but happy
WITH a very gratifying (and slightly aggressive) swish of the pen, I crossed out the first of 10 examinations. Happily, yesterday was a bit of an anti-climax. In spite of the Facebook posts and general hype surrounding the exams, it surprised me how normal they were. I signed in at my centre and waited around for my paper. It landed on my desk half an hour later.
