australian curriculum information for parents. background
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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
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
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