Knowledge of current affairs an advantage as Halle Berry inspires Leaving Cert students

A good knowledge of current affairs would have been of benefit to students taking Leaving Certificate economics yesterday.

This was the view of Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) subject spokesperson Pat Collins, who said that the higher level exam seemed quite fair.

It was taken by most of the 4,800-plus who the State Examinations Commission had been notified as entered for the subject.

He said the first section of shorter questions included topics like the characteristics of a monopoly, defining complementary goods, and the economic effects of a strong euro against the dollar.

Mr Collins said it would have paid students to be in tune with matters in the news over the past year.

There were questions, for example, about the social costs and benefits of high-voltage power lines for upgrading the country’s electricity network, and about factors in property price falls and about mortgage arrears.

He thought a question on elasticity would have been welcomed by well- prepared students, and mentioned another topical issue being examined was in a question on the economic effects of austerity measures.

The Leaving Certificate design and communications graphics examination was taken by almost 5,400 students.

Michael Horan of the ASTI, a teacher in St Brigid’s Secondary School, Killarney, said the paper lived up to expectation. He said students who displayed critical thinking and problem solving skills were duly rewarded.

He said all the questions at higher and ordinary level were well structured to provide plenty of opportunity for candidates across the attainment range to express their true potential.

At higher level, he said the cap of the Halle Berry ’Reveal’ perfume bottle provided the inspiration for students attempting the intersecting planes question. Sporting themes provided a lot of the material for questions at higher level, including determining the position of a golf ball on the green struck from the fairways.

At ordinary level, he said the paper was very manageable and well suited to students.

Inspiration for questions came from objects such as a multimedia player for streaming television.

Out of date

There is a growing concern among teachers of design and communications graphics about the technology available to teach the course.

As part of the subject, which began in 2007, there is a project worth 40%. Part of that project involves CAD (computer aided design).

“Computers purchased in 2007 are now seven years old and no longer fit for purpose,” said Michael Horan of ASTI.

“Schools are reporting significant difficulties in operating the software required for the assignment and also to teach design and communications graphics.

“Efforts to have the department put in place a grant-aided purchase framework to replace these outdated machines has so far failed.”