australian curriculum information for parents. background

Australian CurriculumInformation for parents

Background

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA)

• 2008 National Curriculum Board (NCB).

• 2009 ACARA became responsible for national curriculum, assessment and reporting.

ACARA website

Why an Australian Curriculum?

• A COAG decision.• Provides skills, knowledge and capabilities for

young Australians.• The combined efforts of states and territories

focused on improving student learning.• Offers greater consistency for the mobile student

and teacher population.

Melbourne Declaration (2009)

Learning areas

English

Mathematics

Science (inc. physics, chemistry and biology)

Humanities and Social Sciences (inc. history, geography, economics, business, civics and citizenship)

Languages (focus on Asian languages)

The Arts (performing and visual)

Health and Physical Education

Information and Communication Technologies

Design and Technology

Australian Curriculum — Learning areasAustralian Curriculum Learning Areas

Phase 1 Year K(P)–10 11 & 12

English 4 courses

History 4 courses

Science 4 courses

Mathematics 2 courses

Phase 2

Arts GeographyLanguages

Phase 3

Health and Physical Education K(P)–10

Others may be announced

Developing Australian

Curriculum

Australian Curriculum development

Stage ActivityCurriculum framing Confirmation of directions for writing curriculum

Curriculum development

Two-step process for development of curriculum documents:• Step 1 – broad outline; scope and sequence• Step 2 – completion of “detail” of curriculum

Consultation National consultation and trialing

Publication Digital publication

TimelinesPhase 1

English, mathematics, science and history

Phase 2

Geography,languages

and the arts

Phase 3

‘The whole

curriculum”

TBA

Development stage K(P)–10 Years 11–12 K(P)–122010

Advice is being

sought regarding ACARA’s

approach to the development of

the whole curriculum and those learning

areas not currently being developed by

ACARA

Curriculum framing April 2009 April 2009 June 2010

Curriculum development

May – Dec 2009

June 2009 – Feb 2010

Begin late 2010

National consultation and trial

1 March –

23 May 2010

April – June 2010

Early 2011

Digital publication September 2010

September/

October 2010

Mid-2011

Australian Curriculum structure• Rationale

• Aims

• Organisation of the learning area

– strands

– content descriptions

– content elaborations

• Achievement standards

– samples of student work

Content descriptions and elaborations

• Content descriptions are explicit statements about what all students should be taught.

• Content elaborations are designed to support teachers’ understanding of the content descriptions.

General capabilities

Literacy Self-management

Numeracy Teamwork

ICT Intercultural understanding

Thinking skills Ethical behaviour

Creativity Social competence

Cross-curricular dimensions

Indigenous history and culture

Sustainability

Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia

What will the Australian Curriculum look like?

Years K(P)–10

K(P)–10 Strands

Learning area Strands

English LanguageLiteratureLiteracy

History Historical knowledge and understandingHistorical skills

Science Science inquiry skillsScience as a human endeavourScience understanding

Mathematics Number and algebraStatistics and probabilityMeasurement and geometry

K(P)–10 Achievement standards

• The quality of learning expected of students who are taught the content.

• Specified for each learning area by year of schooling.

• Students who have reached the standard are well able to progress to the next level.

Years 11 and 12

Years 11 and 12Learning area Senior courses

English EnglishLiteratureEnglish for life and the workplaceEnglish as an additional language or dialect (EALD)

History Ancient historyModern history

Science Biology ChemistryPhysicsEarth and environmental science

Mathematics Essential mathematicsGeneral mathematicsMathematical methodsSpecialist mathematics

English: four courses

English for life and the workplaceFocus on further students’ literacy and language skills for effective participation in work, training and community, social and civic life.

English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D) Focuses on students for whom English is an additional language.

English

Focuses on extending students use of language and literature and meeting the demands for further study, work and community, social and civic life.

Literature A two-year course focusing on the study of literature.

Science: four courses Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Earth and environmental science

History: two courses Modern history

Ancient history

Mathematics: four courses Essential mathematicsFocuses on applied mathematics for everyday life.

General mathematicsFocuses on mathematics suitable for preparation for further study with a moderate demand in mathematics.

Mathematical methodsFocuses on substantial development of mathematical knowledge and higher level mathematics.

Specialist mathematicsFocuses on mathematics for further study in mathematics or engineering and students with a strong interest in mathematics.

Assessment — processes and certification will remain a state/school responsibility

• States and territories will be responsible for:− assessment− certification− quality assurance− tertiary entrance.

• Where there is a nationally developed course states/territories will cease to offer any comparable existing course.

• The number of courses may grow over time.

Providing feedback

Providing feedback

Queensland’s alignment with the national approach

Excellence and equity through:• clarity about content• clarity about standards• valuing teacher professionalism.

Keep in touch

Australian Curriculum contacts

General enquiries

australiancurriculum@qsa.qld.edu.au

Subscribe to ACARA Update

http://www.acara.edu.au

Sign up for QSA’s Australian Curriculum Latest e-newsletter

http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au