As you may know from the update in August, the Department of Education has been working on refining the Tasmanian curriculum framework to make it easier to understand, and more manageable for teachers and principals. In 2006 there was a two month period of consultation during which teachers and parents were invited to comment on what was proposed. This update is to tell you about decisions that have been made after considering all of the feedback received.
The proposal for the refined framework was strongly supported with some constructive suggestions for final changes to ensure it can be successfully implemented. The curriculum framework is important because it shows the areas of learning from which each child’s program is drawn. For your child’s learning, his or her school activities are even more important and the refined framework will not limit a teacher’s ability to make your child’s school experience innovative and challenging.
What has been happening?
During September and October teachers and parents were invited to comment on proposed changes to refine the curriculum framework.
The overwhelming response has been very positive with some helpful suggestions that will allow us to go on to implementation with confidence.
Keeping the best of the Essential Learnings approach was widely supported. For example, developing students’ thinking skills was strongly supported and this will still be at the heart of the framework and will be a part of everything students do.
There was also strong support for students to continue to be assessed against state standards, which means that you can clearly see how your child is going compared to others in the same year group in state schools. Teachers thought it was especially important that they continue to meet together across schools to moderate student achievement against standards. This gives comparability across schools and grades and confidence to parents that assessments are fair.
There was very strong support for the development of teaching guides (a syllabus) for each curriculum area to guide teachers and provide consistency across schools. This will also be particularly helpful to parents who face moving their children between schools.
What has been decided?
The refined framework will be made up of the following areas:
- English/Literacy
- Mathematics/Numeracy
- Science
- Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
- Society and History
- Arts
- Health and Wellbeing
- Vocational and Applied Learning
This simpler approach replaces the 18 curriculum components under Essential Learnings. As well as being easier to understand, it will be easier to report back to you. The Ministerial Taskforce on Reporting to Parents has presented its recommendations to the Minister for Education and further information will be provided during Term 1.
How will the new curriculum affect your child?
The sorts of activities that your child is doing at school will not change significantly.
Your child’s progress will now be assessed against a smaller, but more clearly understandable, number of areas. There is now also a simpler assessment process.
Primary
In primary school your child will be assessed against state standards in:
- English/Literacy;
- Mathematics/Numeracy;
- Science; and
- Society and History.
Health and Wellbeing and the Arts will be assessed by your child’s teacher by a comment based on his or her judgement of progress being made. Teachers will monitor ICT progress across the years with state assessment by a skills check at year 6.
Secondary
In secondary school your child will be assessed against state standards in:
- English/Literacy;
- Mathematics/Numeracy;
- Science;
- Society and History;
- Health and Wellbeing; and
- Arts.
Learning in the Vocational and Applied Learning area will be assessed by your child’s teacher by a comment based on his or her judgement of progress being made or by an assessment alternative that matches the specific learning program. Teachers will monitor ICT progress across the years with state assessment by a skills check at year 10.
The refined curriculum framework does not affect students in Years 11 and 12.
What is different from the original proposal?
In a direct response to feedback the name Personal Development has been changed to Health and Wellbeing. People believed this was a better description of this important area. Vocational and Applied Learning has been added to cover the many technology, enterprise, business and community learning opportunities secondary students currently have. Because these areas can contribute greatly to literacy and numeracy and to development of highly valued employment skills, further work will be done on them. There was concern that Languages other than English (LOTE) were not represented clearly enough in the curriculum framework. This has now been covered. While language teaching is encouraged, it is not compulsory.
What does the Curriculum Framework look like?
A useful summary of the Tasmanian curriculum framework is this diagram.
What happens now?
Work on implementation will begin immediately with the aim of full implementation by the end of 2008 to give schools enough time.
There will also be a brief period of consultation about which areas of the curriculum framework should be compulsory in which years of schooling. Parents’ views are being sought through the Tasmanian State School Parents and Friends Inc. This consultation will not hold up implementation planning.
You are, of course, welcome to talk to your child’s teachers at any time during the school year. Please don’t hesitate to do so.
23 February 2007
Adult Education