AusVELS: Constructing the new learner SLAV Conference 20 March 2015 Dr David Howes Executive Director, Curriculum

Update AusVELS Senior Secondary

Extended investigation Eltham High School In what way does Virginia Woolf use metaphor in ‘A Room of One’s Own’ to discuss the concept of ‘truth’? Does the portrayal of women in American Apparel advertisements influence the perceptions of physical appearance amongst girls aged in a Victorian northern zone high school in? Brauer College What are Australia’s responsibilities regarding East Timor in the context of the neo-liberal theory of international relations? Warrnambool College What impact does Indonesian language education have on attitudes, understandings and potential prejudices in students towards the Hijab worn by Indonesian Muslim women?

And more … John Monash Science School Are smaller, more compact constructed wetlands a viable alternative to full-scale systems with regard to urban stormwater treatment? A comparative case study. University High School How does synthetic DNA compare against hard disk drives, solid state drives and magnetic tapes as a storage medium for digital data? How do enclosure conditions impact the behaviour of the Eastern Barred Bandicoot? A comparison of the stress indicated by the Eastern Barred Bandicoot when kept in an open range enclosure type, as opposed to the stress indicated by the Eastern Barred Bandicoot when kept in smaller, solitary enclosures.

And more … independent investigations in the Sciences: Area of Study 3 Practical investigation A student-designed or adapted practical investigation related to energy and/or food is undertaken in either Unit 3 or Unit 4, or across both Units 3 and 4. The investigation relates to knowledge and skills developed across Unit 3 and/or Unit 4. The investigation requires the student to identify an aim, develop a question, formulate a hypothesis and plan a course of action to answer the question and that complies with safety and ethical requirements. The student then undertakes an experiment that involves the collection of primary qualitative and/or quantitative data, analyses and evaluates the data, identifies limitations of data and methods, links experimental results to science ideas, reaches a conclusion in response to the question and suggests further investigations which may be undertaken.

Not just science …

TIMSS …

Social and emotional skills Social and emotional skills are powerful drivers of well-being and social progress. Children can learn some of these skills which would help them achieve long-term goals, work better with others and manage their emotions.

Social and emotional skills Today’s children will need a balanced set of cognitive, social and emotional skills in order to succeed in modern life. Their capacity to achieve goals, work effectively with others and manage emotions will be essential to meet the challenges of the 21st century. While everyone acknowledges the importance of socio-emotional skills such as perseverance, sociability and self-esteem, there is often insufficient awareness of “what works” to enhance these skills. Teachers and parents don’t really know whether their efforts at developing these skills are paying off, and what they could do better.

Social and emotional skills While international research has come up with some measures that can help to improve teaching and parenting practices, they can be better conceptualised and validated.

AusVELS: next iteration LEARNING AREASGENERAL CAPABILITIES o English o Mathematics o Science o Health and physical education o Languages o Humanities and social sciences (History, Geography, Civics and citizenship, Business and economics) o The Arts o Technologies (Design and Digital technologies) o Critical and creative thinking o Personal and social capability o Intercultural understanding o Ethical understanding

Implementation By 2017

The circle of life, the universe and everything … AGREED COMMON CONTENT Subjects General Capabilities REPORTING LEARNING ACHIEVEMENT TARGETS School Class Individual EFFORT Support Extension S

Most effective strategies

Constructing the new learner Encouraged to be interested and curious Able to ask a good question Able to explore how to answer their question Willing to develop answers Persistent, resilient, self-aware