Introduction to the Australian Curriculum: History

1. Introduction to the Australian Curriculum: History Curriculum K-12 Directorate

2. Consultation A period of public consultation, with the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft Australian Curriculum in English, Mathematics, Science and History, will occur from: 1 March until 23 May 2010. 150 schools across Australia will be trialling the new curriculum over the next three months.

3. Consultation • The purpose of the Department’s consultation process is to initially: • Brief teachers about the draft Australian Curriculum: History • Seek feedback from teachers about the draft Australian Curriculum • Identify issues for implementation of the Australian Curriculum: History for teachers

4. Consultation • This round of consultation must focus on the Draft Australian Curriculum that has been presented. • This consultation process provides the opportunity to ensure that the Australian Curriculum: History • Is a quality Curriculum • Is clearly understood and can be implemented by teachers at all stages of their career

5. Consultation ACARA: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/ Board of Studies: http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/australian-curriculum/ Department of Education and Training: http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/home/consultation.htm

6. Consultation

7. Consultation Online Consultation forums have been established so that you can have a say

8. Consultation

9. Implementation • The process of implementing the Australian Curriculum is a matter for each state. • Commencement of implementation will depend on: • extent of difference with existing curriculum • alignment with existing credentialing arrangements • provided the K–10 Australian Curriculum is implemented by 2013.

10. Time allocation • There is no time allocation identified for the Australian Curriculum: History • Your feedback should be based on how successfully the curriculum can be taught in the current time allocated to history

11. Curriculum Structure • The Australian Curriculum History: • is developed for K-10 and Years 11 and 12 • is described in years not stages • is described around content descriptions NOT outcomes • no stem to content i.e. students learn... • includes content addressing 10 General capabilities • includes content addressing Cross curriculum dimensions

12. Curriculum Structure • Australian Curriculum identifies essential content that all students should be taught, by year of schooling. The content descriptions will incorporate, where appropriate: • the 10 general capabilities e.g. ICT, literacy, numeracy, thinking skills, creativity • and cross-curriculum dimensions in ways appropriate to each learning area

13. Curriculum Structure The General Capabilities:

14. Curriculum Structure • The Cross-Curriculum Dimensions: • Indigenous perspectives, to ensure that all young Australians have the opportunity to learn about, acknowledge and respect the history and culture of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders • a commitment to sustainable patterns of living which will be reflected in curriculum documents • skills, knowledge and understandings related to Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia

15. Curriculum Structure • Australian Curriculum is described around content descriptions NOT outcomes • Each learning area includes: • Content descriptions which specify what teachers are expected to teach • Elaborations which are examples that illustrate each content description

16. Curriculum Structure • Achievement standards that describe the quality of learning (the depth of understanding, extent of knowledge and sophistication of skill) expected of students at each year level • Annotated student work samples will illustrate the achievement standard at each year level.

17. Achievement Standards An achievement standard is an expectation of the quality of learning that students should reach by a particular point in their schooling (e.g. the depth of their understanding, the extent of their knowledge and the sophistication of their skills).

18. Achievement Standards • For K-10, they will be represented at every year by: • a statement of the learning typically expected of students for that year • a set of work samples that will illustrate achievement of the standard. • They will be linked to the A-E reporting framework.

20. Broad enquiry questions Each year has a focus • The Year 7 curriculum focuses on history from the time of the earliest human communities to the end of the Ancient period (c. 60 000 BP - c.500AD). and broad enquiry questions • what are the defining characteristics of societies? • how did people live in other times and places? • who should rule in a society?

21. World history approach An understanding of world history will enhance students’ appreciation of Australian history. It will enable them to appreciate Australia’s distinctive path of social, economic and political development, its position in the Asia-Pacific region, and global interrelationships that are essential to an informed and active participation in Australia’s diverse society

22. Overview and Depth Studies Years 7 – 10 includes • An overview designed to introduce the broad content and contexts for study • Depth studies investigate studies in greater depth providing scope for the development of historical skills • School developed depth studies in Years 7 - 9

23. Content Strand Descriptors The history curriculum is organised into two interrelated strands • Historical knowledge and understanding • Historical skills

24. What historical skills will be taught? This strand includes skills that are used in the process of historical inquiry associated with: • historical questions and research; • the analysis and use of sources; • perspectives and interpretations; • comprehension and communication. There is an increasing emphasis on historical interpretation and the use of evidence within this strand.

25. What will students learn in Kindergarten to Year 6 Kindergarten to Year 2 students begin to look at the stories of their families and communities • Examples include: • how families commemorate past events that are important to them • terms that are used to express time such as tomorrow and a long time ago • significance of local place names

26. Years 3 - 6 • The content of Years 3 to 6 broadens to regional and national history. • It includes life in Australia before 1800, the building of the Australian nation and Australia’s links with other nations.

27. Year 7 • Year 7 focuses on history from the time of the earliest human communities to the end of the Ancient period (c. 60 000 BC–c.500 AD).

28. Year 8 • Year 8 focuses on history from the end of the Ancient period to the beginning of the Modern period (c.500–1750).

29. Year 9 • Year 9 focuses on the history of the Modern World and Australia from 1750 to 1901 • The history of Australia is 40% of course time

30. Year 10 • Year 10 focuses on the history of Australia and the Modern World from 1901 to the present. • The history of Australia is 60% of course content

31. Your feedback • Broad feedback on the curriculum is sought in relation to: • Content coverage • Content clarity • Content placement and sequence • Manageability for teachers • The digital format and layout

32. More specific feedback on the curriculum is sought in relation to: • Content descriptions • Content elaborations • Achievement standards • Structure of the curriculum • General capabilities • Cross-curriculum dimensions

33. Your feedback is important • Use the Curriculum Support forum • Send your feedback to Pauline Sheppard SCA HSIE 7-12 Phone 9886 7692 pauline.sheppard@det.nsw.edu.au Brian Elliott Manager HSIE Phone 9886 7603 brian.elliott@det.nsw.edu.au