A?Study and Follow-on Review of the Early Enactment of Junior Cycle Irish Specifications (T1 & T2)
Principal Investigators: Dr Aisling Ní Dhiorbháin & Dr Sarah O'Grady
Research Team: Dr Seán Mac Risteárd & Pearse Ahern
This research has been commissioned by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA).
What is the research study about?
A model of differentiated provision for the teaching and learning of Irish at Junior Cycle was introduced in 2017. Following on from the Early Enactment Review of Junior Cycle Irish L1 & L2 (Mac Gearailt & ? Duibhir, 2023), this research will carry out a study and follow-on review of the early enactment of Junior Cycle Irish specifications in post-primary schools in Ireland. It is a mixed methods, multi-dimensional study commissioned by the NCCA. The research will explore the experiences of those engaging with and enacting the Junior Cycle Irish specifications (T1 & T2) over a three-year period. It aims to capture the experiences and opinions of post-primary teachers of Irish, students and other school-based professionals (e.g. Irish language assistants; Irish Department Coordinators, Special Needs Assistants, Principals) concerning the enactment of the Junior Cycle Irish specifications (T1 & T2) in the areas of teaching, learning and assessment. It will also gather insights from parents/guardians and submissions from wider educational stakeholders.
The research will focus on the student cohort in a number of case-study schools who have commenced Junior Cycle in September 2023. Data will be collected from focus group interviews/interviews with teachers of Irish and other school-based professionals in case-study schools in Year 1 and Year 3. Students in the case-study schools will be invited to participate in focus group interviews in school in Year 2 and Year 3. Parents/guardians in case-study schools will have an opportunity to share their views in an anonymous survey in Year 3. Educational stakeholders will be invited to submit written submissions regarding the provision for the specifications for Irish at Junior Cycle in Year 3. All post-primary teachers of Irish will be invited to participate in a nationwide survey in Year 2 and in Year 3. This research has received ethical approval from DCU Research Ethics Committee (REC): DCU REC/2023/263.
The research questions guiding the study are:
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What are teachers and students' experiences of the implementation of the Junior Cycle Irish language specifications (T1 & T2) in the areas of teaching, learning and assessment and what are their opinions regarding this?
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What are stakeholders’ experiences of the supports available in relation to the implementation of and provision for the specifications, and what obstacles, if any, exist?
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Does the implementation of the specifications align with the rationale and aims of the updated specifications for Junior Cycle Irish (T1&T2), and the Framework for Junior Cycle (2015) more broadly?
If you are a principal and your school is interested in participating in this study please email sealbhu@dcu.ie by 5pm on February 29th 2024.
Please note that an expression of interest does not guarantee that your school will be selected as a case-study school. SEALBH? will contact you regarding the outcome of your expression of interest.
If you have any questions about the study, please contact: sealbhu@dcu.ie
Further Information about the research
Who is conducting the research?
Following a competitive tender process, a team of researchers at SEALBH?, DCU Research Centre for the Learning and Teaching of Irish was commissioned by the NCCA to carry out this research study.
The research team at SEALBH? have a wide range of research experience in conducting research in schools and with stakeholders in education. SEALBH? have a proven track record of successfully completing educational research projects through the medium of Irish. A number of advisors with expertise in curriculum research, Irish language research and research methodologies will also support the research team.
What does “T1" and “T2” refer to?
There are currently two specifications for Irish in the Junior Cycle. T1 and T2 refer to the main language of the school - Teanga 1 schools and Teanga 2 schools. The T1 specification for Irish is implemented in T1 schools that operate through the medium of Irish and in which Irish is the communicative language of the school. The T1 specification is also followed in some T2 schools in cases where there is an Irish-medium strand or unit. The T2 specification is implemented in schools in which English is the medium of instruction and where Irish is taught as a subject. The majority of schools at post-primary level are T2 schools.
What does mixed-methods mean?
Mixed methods means that the study will gather both quantitative and qualitative data. It will employ a range of different research tools, including online/face-to-face interviews/focus groups with teachers and other school-based professionals, face-to -face focus groups with students, anonymous online surveys with post-primary teachers of Irish, an anonymous online survey with parents/guardians and invited written submissions from relevant stakeholders.
What does multi-dimensional mean?
Multi-dimensional means that the study will capture the experiences and opinions of different voices including teachers, students, other school-based professionals (e.g. Irish language assistants; Irish Department Coordinators, Special Needs Assistants, Principals), parents/guardians and from wider educational stakeholders. There are three Phases in this three-year study.
What data is collected in each stage of the phase of the study?
Using this design, the study will have the potential to tell us about the lived experiences of students, teachers and other school-based professionals concerning the enactment of Junior Cycle Irish specifications (T1 & T2) in post-primary schools in Ireland. It will have the potential to provide insights into the experiences of stakeholders regarding the supports available for the implementation and provision for the specifications, and what obstacles, if any, exist. It will provide insights into the alignment of the implemented curriculum, with the rationale and aims of the updated specifications for Junior Cycle Irish (T1 & T2), and the Framework for Junior Cycle (2015) more broadly.
How will case-study schools be recruited?
An expression of interest form will be sent by SEALBH? email to all post-primary schools inviting them to indicate their interest in participating in the study.
How will schools be selected?
A number of post-primary schools will be identified by the research team that are representative of a diversity of language learners and language learning contexts at post-primary level. Categories may include T2 schools T1 schools (which teach through the medium of Irish) within and outside the Gaeltacht, Urban/Rural/ small/large schools; DEIS status; schools with an Irish Unit/Stream, schools in different areas. Purposive sampling will be used, meaning that schools will be invited to participate to fulfil the criteria of having a diversity of schools.
How will data be stored and managed?
Where relevant, any personal data provided by participants in the course of this research will be managed in accordance with the Dublin City University's Data Privacy Policy. All data will be collected on the basis of the consent of the participants and any queries in relation to how data will be used and managed can be directed to the principal investigators.
Who should I contact if I have questions about the study?
If you have any questions about the research study, please contact: sealbhu@dcu.ie (Subject line: T1/T2 Research Project).