VCAA Update
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN VICTORIA? 2
Revised VCE science studies -‐ 6melines Page 12 of the November 2014 VCAA BulleDn includes the following informaDon: Publica6on of VCE study designs for implementa6on in 2015 and 2016 • The revised and new VCE study designs for implementaDon in 2015 and 2016 will be published progressively • Studies for implementaDon in 2016: Biology; Chemistry; Environmental Science; Psychology; Physics
This informaDon may be ambiguous: The VCAA Board meet in December 2014, at which Dme a decision regarding full or staged implementaDon will be made. Schools will be informed of the Board’s decision via a subsequent BulleDn. 3
Revised VCE science studies -‐ 6melines • All VCE science studies (Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physics and Psychology) have been revised and are pending VCAA curriculum commiXee, followed by VCAA Board approval • The VCAA Board will also make a decision about full or staged implementaDon • If approved by the VCAA Board, the study designs will proceed to the VQA for approval • Expected online publica6on date, assuming approvals granted, is January 2015 4
VCE sciences – review – consulta6on (1 of 2) The VCE science study designs were made available for consultaDon between 20 August and 19 September 2014. VCAA consultaDon responses VCE Study Number of responses Biology 24 Chemistry 83 Environmental Science 4 Physics 28 Psychology 62
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VCE sciences – review – consulta6on (2 of 2) The VCAA are appreciaDve of the submissions received from a number of subject associaDons, teacher professional organisaDons and other educaDonal and industry-‐based organisaDons including: • Australian InsDtute of Physics (Vic branch) EducaDon CommiXee (organised 12 consultaDon forums across the state involving 116 teachers) • The Australian Synchrotron • Chemistry EducaDon AssociaDon (organised 18 consultaDve meeDngs involving 153 teachers from 108 schools) • Victorian AssociaDon for Environmental EducaDon (organised a cross-‐state focus group meeDng) Independent teacher and academic reviewers were also involved in the process. 6
WHATS HAPPENING NATIONALLY? 7
Na6onal Curriculum The Australian Government recently released two documents: • Final Report of the Review of the Australian Curriculum • IniDal Australian Government Response to the Review
www.studentsfirst.gov.au/review-‐australian-‐curriculum The Victorian Minister for EducaDon has asked the VCAA to review both the Report and the Response. As a result, the planned release of the second iteraDon of AusVELS will be delayed unDl 2015. For VCE science studies, reviews are proceeding as scheduled. These have taken into account earlier Victorian feedback regarding published Australian Curriculum senior science subjects 8
AusVELS Years F-‐10 • In 2015, schools should conDnue to use the advice provided in the F-‐10 Curriculum Planning and ReporDng Guidelines available on the VCAA website. • Consistent with previous advice, in 2015 schools will have the opDon to use AusVELS for whole school curriculum planning and implementaDon. • The first year of required full implementaDon of the fully revised curriculum will conDnue to be 2017. Further info: NoDce to schools 124/2014 – October 2014 9
Australian Curriculum Review: F-‐6 science Review undertaken by Professor Ken Wiltshire and Dr Kevin Donnelly Main findings: • F-‐6 curriculum: considerably overcrowded due to inappropriate imposiDon of high-‐level disciplines (Biology/Chem/Earth & Environmental Science/Physics) to lower years • FormaDve years should be dominated by core literacy, numeracy, social and physical development • SuggesDon that science instrucDon begin in Year 3 with one hour per week, increasing by one hour per year up to Year 6 • The six overarching ideas (maXer &energy; scale and measurement; form & funcDon; paXerns, order & organisaDon; stability & change; and systems) are not used much in a substanDve part of the document 10
Australian Curriculum Review: 7-‐10 science Review undertaken by Professor Ken Wiltshire and Dr Kevin Donnelly Main findings:
• Years 7-‐10 curriculum generally robust • Support for the three interrelated strands (Science Understanding; Science as a Human Endeavour; Science Inquiry Skills) • Some omissions • Some sequencing issues • Not all general capabiliDes apply to science • Only ‘sustainability’ has obvious science links 11
Australian Curriculum Review: senior sciences science Subject Main points Biology
• Rigour is very good and covers most elements, though does not include reproductive biology • Clarity required as to extent of teaching expected from the ‘science understanding’ strand descriptors
Chemistry
• Overall ideas logical and well sequenced • Some ‘holes’ in academic rigour, balance and sequencing in units, especially Units 1 and 2
Earth and Environmental Science
• Vastly different from the VCE Environmental Science course • Multi-disciplinary approach • Sequence and scope well developed
Physics
• • • • •
Academic rigour is good Three strands not useful Inconsistent usage of notation Inclusion of Standard Model section is a concern Achievement standards should be ignored 12
Assessment “ … the fundamental purpose of assessment is to establish where learners are in their learning at the 6me of assessment.”
(Geoff N. Masters. “Reforming EducaDonal Assessment:
ImperaDves, principles and challenges" Australian Educa6on Review. 2013: 5-‐6)
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SWOT analysis – VCE science examina6ons
What should future VCE examinaDons look like? Note that a re-‐introducDon of mid year examinaDons is not under consideraDon. 14
Where can I find AusVELS?
VCAA websites
Curriculum website: hXp://ausvels.vcaa.vic.edu.au/ Resources and implementaDon support website: hXp://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/ foundaDon10/curriculum/index.aspx
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Contacts
Maria James Curriculum Manager, Science Email:
[email protected] Telephone: 9032 1722
Lore\e Dobb Email:
[email protected] Telephone: 9032 1605
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