Wednesday, 24 August 2016
Thursday, 21 July 2016
Thursday 21st - Maree, Brian, Bernadette, Carolyn and Nigel.
We continued in our year level groups to continue to develop the specific year level based Unit Planning Document.
These are the current working documents
Rebecca & Gretta
Year 7 - working Document: https://goo.gl/9qI3cX
Maree & Bern
Year 8 - working Document : https://goo.gl/1ccGI8
Nigel & Brain
Year 9 Working Document: https://goo.gl/PvWykL
We continued in our year level groups to continue to develop the specific year level based Unit Planning Document.
These are the current working documents
Rebecca & Gretta
Year 7 - working Document: https://goo.gl/9qI3cX
Maree & Bern
Year 8 - working Document : https://goo.gl/1ccGI8
Nigel & Brain
Year 9 Working Document: https://goo.gl/PvWykL
Thursday 21st - Maree, Brian, Bernadette, Carolyn and Nigel.
We continued in our year level groups to continue to develop the specific year level based Unit Planning Document.
These are the current working documents
Rebecca & Gretta
Year 7 - working Document: https://goo.gl/9qI3cX
Maree & Bern
Year 8 - working Document : https://goo.gl/1ccGI8
Nigel & Brain
Year 9 Working Document: https://goo.gl/PvWykL
We continued in our year level groups to continue to develop the specific year level based Unit Planning Document.
These are the current working documents
Rebecca & Gretta
Year 7 - working Document: https://goo.gl/9qI3cX
Maree & Bern
Year 8 - working Document : https://goo.gl/1ccGI8
Nigel & Brain
Year 9 Working Document: https://goo.gl/PvWykL
Thursday, 14 July 2016
Thursday 14th July 2016 - Present Brian, Maree, Rebecca, Bernadette, Nigel, Carolyn and Gretta.
We considered the Generic Unit Planning Document and how as a domain we would begin to develop this resource. We considered how a Google document could be linked to SIMON and believe that the completed document would be able to be saved in SIMON as a PDF with hyperlinks to the GOOGLE document.
The Generic Unit Planning Document was copied into the Google Drive shared resource science.googledrive@galen.vic.edu.au. This shared resource is available as a developing tool for those within the domain to both use and contribute within.
To facilitate the orderly development of the Google Drive facility, a preliminary discussion was started regarding the addition of worksheets, videos, web links etc in structured and agreed upon format rather than any ad hoc process. This should increase the opportunity for all to access the said resources in an efficient manner.
We broke into smaller groups to begin the specific course writing for each year level. The groups are Gretta/Rebecca Year 7, Maree/Bernadette Year 8 and Brian/Nigel Year 9.
We considered the Generic Unit Planning Document and how as a domain we would begin to develop this resource. We considered how a Google document could be linked to SIMON and believe that the completed document would be able to be saved in SIMON as a PDF with hyperlinks to the GOOGLE document.
The Generic Unit Planning Document was copied into the Google Drive shared resource science.googledrive@galen.vic.edu.au. This shared resource is available as a developing tool for those within the domain to both use and contribute within.
To facilitate the orderly development of the Google Drive facility, a preliminary discussion was started regarding the addition of worksheets, videos, web links etc in structured and agreed upon format rather than any ad hoc process. This should increase the opportunity for all to access the said resources in an efficient manner.
We broke into smaller groups to begin the specific course writing for each year level. The groups are Gretta/Rebecca Year 7, Maree/Bernadette Year 8 and Brian/Nigel Year 9.
Thursday, 16 June 2016
Maree, Nigel, Brian and Carolyn. 16th June 2016.
We reviewed the curriculum requirements for Year 10 using the Victorian Curriculum content descriptions. Consideration was given to the new content that becomes part of the curriculum. Existing practical activities, worksheets and assessment task were noted - see Google sheet below
These content descriptions will be amalgamated into the new Galen F-10 Victorian Curriculum Template and include the 'AC' codes.
We had received a reply in regard to our question last meeting, about covering all F-10 Vic Curriculum.
We received an reply from John Eason - It is still a grey area, and there is no definitive answer
We reviewed the curriculum requirements for Year 10 using the Victorian Curriculum content descriptions. Consideration was given to the new content that becomes part of the curriculum. Existing practical activities, worksheets and assessment task were noted - see Google sheet below
https://goo.gl/QYqL1b
These content descriptions will be amalgamated into the new Galen F-10 Victorian Curriculum Template and include the 'AC' codes.
We had received a reply in regard to our question last meeting, about covering all F-10 Vic Curriculum.
We received an reply from John Eason - It is still a grey area, and there is no definitive answer
"According to current guidelines schools can use their judgement as to whether they emphasise or reduce certain areas - e.g. specialist art schools, science schools already do this. We do not have official CECV guidelines on this, however most schools generally follow the curriculum between years 7-9 and then have electives at year 10 as students start to specialise. As such students who do VCE subjects in year 10 are unable to follow all of the curriculum areas - I always use that as my example if the question comes up at year 10.....
The other option to think about is whether reducing or not exposing the students to the domain will narrow their pathways as they haven't got the necessary prereqs to do a senior subject. If you refer to a school like Templestowe college, where there are no year levels, the whole idea of 'covering all aspects of the curriculum' may or may not be done depending on the student.
While this doesn't give you a definitive answer - sticking to the spirit of the curriculum framework - students getting a range of experiences in early years 5. Whatever the mode of delivery, schools should be able to demonstrate how the teaching and learning program includes the content of the learning area.
36. This means that when an elective structure is in place, schools should be able to demonstrate how the school timetable ensures every student is able to access the full range of the curriculum and not completely ‘self-select’ out of particular learning areas.
This won't completely answer your question but I will keep following up when we will get the specific guidelines given,
have a great long weekend,
kind regards,
John"
In writing our documents we have to remember we are preparing our students for success, both academically but also in offering a wide variety of subject choices and experiences. Which will hopefully set them up for success in their senior studies.
Meeting was declared the last one for the term, and we look forward to next term to continue our development of science units in the Junior area.
Thursday, 9 June 2016
Maree, Bernadette, Brian and Nigel 9th June 2016
We reviewed the curriculum requirements for Year 9 using the Victorian Curriculum content descriptions. Consideration was given to the new content that becomes part of the curriculum. Existing practical activities, worksheets and assessment task were noted. see google sheet below
https://goo.gl/QYqL1b
Correspondence was sent to Marie Salinger and Anthony Batters seeking clarification re requirement to offer learning content vs mandated learning content.
Our Question…. Raised at our Junior Sci PLT: is our understanding/ argument correct..
We reviewed the curriculum requirements for Year 9 using the Victorian Curriculum content descriptions. Consideration was given to the new content that becomes part of the curriculum. Existing practical activities, worksheets and assessment task were noted. see google sheet below
https://goo.gl/QYqL1b
Correspondence was sent to Marie Salinger and Anthony Batters seeking clarification re requirement to offer learning content vs mandated learning content.
Our Question…. Raised at our Junior Sci PLT: is our understanding/ argument correct..
Just say:
we offer micro biol elective – this covers a few of the F-10 curric dot points.
SO…. Does this mean as a school we have offered that outcomes -even though it is via an elective – does this count in the big web/grid of the F-10 curric offered at Galen ??
eg: covering the Arts / drama outcomes – not all students select them.. So not all students will get every “dot point” - BUT Galen offers ALL the dots points!!
Hmmmm…
2/6/16 - Maree, Brian, Rebecca, Bernadette and Nigel.
We continued in a similar direction to the previous week, this time focusing on the Year 8 curriculum.
Resources that are currently used or will be created will need to be added into the template (when refined). To facilitate use of the resources, the documents need to be hyperlinked.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1hfcHyN6n8SY9xLS2heblFkgDRqZNyARB1Beiy_7N_Ag/edit?ts=57469100#gid=1636437591
We continued in a similar direction to the previous week, this time focusing on the Year 8 curriculum.
Resources that are currently used or will be created will need to be added into the template (when refined). To facilitate use of the resources, the documents need to be hyperlinked.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1hfcHyN6n8SY9xLS2heblFkgDRqZNyARB1Beiy_7N_Ag/edit?ts=57469100#gid=1636437591
Thursday, 26 May 2016
Meeting of 26/5/16 : Brian, Maree, Rebecca, Bernadette and Nigel.
Meeting of 26/5/16 : Brian, Maree, Rebecca, Bernadette and Nigel.
We broadly considered the Year 7 topics and then started to develop an outline of the 'Key Knowledge' that needs to be covered in each broad topic. This lead to varied discussions about the order that the broad topics should be taught based on prior learning that students would develop through the previous topic.
We then discussed possible practical activities, assessment tasks, that would support the learning. As this is a big task we focused on what type of assessment items we currently do for each topic - this was added to a google sheet - where we can all access and start adding resources to.
Plenty of discussion related to assessment tasks: how many, type, variety, choice , what to asses/comment on for SIMON, yet still remain "sane" - do we have to assess and comment on all items for SIMON, key assessments tasks to add on SIMON, Practical reports -assess each one, or do an overall summary for each semester, Cheat sheets - should we use them or not, what year levels if we do use them, lots to chat about for future meetings.
Link to google sheet - Year 7 Science planning https://goo.gl/buL0Mv
We broadly considered the Year 7 topics and then started to develop an outline of the 'Key Knowledge' that needs to be covered in each broad topic. This lead to varied discussions about the order that the broad topics should be taught based on prior learning that students would develop through the previous topic.
We then discussed possible practical activities, assessment tasks, that would support the learning. As this is a big task we focused on what type of assessment items we currently do for each topic - this was added to a google sheet - where we can all access and start adding resources to.
Plenty of discussion related to assessment tasks: how many, type, variety, choice , what to asses/comment on for SIMON, yet still remain "sane" - do we have to assess and comment on all items for SIMON, key assessments tasks to add on SIMON, Practical reports -assess each one, or do an overall summary for each semester, Cheat sheets - should we use them or not, what year levels if we do use them, lots to chat about for future meetings.
Link to google sheet - Year 7 Science planning https://goo.gl/buL0Mv
Monday, 23 May 2016
Present: Nigel, Marie, Bernadette, Rebecca, Brian and Carolyn - 19/5/16.
Shared information and resources gathered at the Oxford Uni press - Education Conference - with the rest of the PLT team.
Discussed development of Inquiry Based Learning (consideration of Bentley Secondary School template from Oxford PLT). Look at the Inquiry Investigation Template - the example inquiry investigation
The concept of 'What if ..... ' type learning to be explored.
Agreed that these resources are useful and we can use them - tweak/refine to suite our learning needs.
Confirmed hat we need to start putting units together for next week's meeting
NOTED ** States of Matter need to be covered in Y7 and Light/Sound to be covered in Y8 this year due to curriculum changes in 2017.
Next meeting look at the 'States of Matter' & 'Separating Mixtures' in Y7 this year.
BYO resources ideas to share...
** still to contact Discovery re: year 9 units...
Shared information and resources gathered at the Oxford Uni press - Education Conference - with the rest of the PLT team.
Discussed development of Inquiry Based Learning (consideration of Bentley Secondary School template from Oxford PLT). Look at the Inquiry Investigation Template - the example inquiry investigation
The concept of 'What if ..... ' type learning to be explored.
Agreed that these resources are useful and we can use them - tweak/refine to suite our learning needs.
Confirmed hat we need to start putting units together for next week's meeting
NOTED ** States of Matter need to be covered in Y7 and Light/Sound to be covered in Y8 this year due to curriculum changes in 2017.
Next meeting look at the 'States of Matter' & 'Separating Mixtures' in Y7 this year.
BYO resources ideas to share...
** still to contact Discovery re: year 9 units...
Saturday, 14 May 2016
Oxford University Press Education Conference - Attended by Nigel and Maree
Nigel and I went to Melb for the OUP Education Conference.
The Conference was put on by looking at OUP - so they could promote their new textbooks and digital resources for the new F-10 curriculum.
Keynote 1
Turia Pitt
amazing story of resilience, determination - burnt 70% of her body, while doing a marathon in the Kimberly - now motivational speaker - and "iron woman" - had just competed in an event the week before.
http://www.saxton.com.au/turia-pitt/#speaker-profile
Keynote 2:
VCAA Executive Director, Dr David Howes, who spoke about the new Vic F-10 Curriculum, why it was changed from AusVELs and the major changes.
Aus Curric mainly content.
Victoria wanted Critical thinking, metacognition, social skills, resilience recognised - OECD Report Want these to be included and to be explicitly taught and assessed. Also learning is a continuum not static in year levels -up to 4-5 year levels in one class - F-10 curric in two year bands attempt to recoginise this. Having year levels can limit "top end" students ( Gratten Report)
Student with Disabilities - level also have levels within - A-D - as adjustments for students with Disabilities - thus F-10 Curric is inclusive for all students
Impass with other states - no movement from them - most of what is in Aus Curric is Victorian anyway - we just tweaked it to suit ourselves...
MOST IMPORTANT Piece in the puzzle - Stability - will stay for 6 years.. NO change maybe slight modifications - BUT recognise teachers are tired of change.
( Marzano 2003 ) ** need to google this and find our more.
Session 1
Below is a link to one of Maria's presentations - a larger version of what Maria presented to us.
has examples of "ethics" & "critical thinking" etc ideas for these within the science curric.
http://www.sciencevictoria.com.au/documents/VCAAUpdate2015_000.pdf
Session 2
Inquiry Based Experiments in Years 7-10 to Prepare for VCE Science Success - Carrie Bloomfield - Bentleigh Sec College
Had a great rubric that we can use/ adapt for practical reports and inquiry investigations - definitely a great tool. That we can use as a science faculty.
only have a hard copy at the moment - could easily make our own.
Creation of "what if" questions - as a start to the inquiry process and extension for those top kids. - these "what if questions"can easily be transformed into the hypothesis.
"What if we add warm water?"
If warm water was used, then the alkazer tablet would react/dissolve quicker, because heat energy in the causes the table to break apart quicker, and thus dissolve quicker.
Session 3
The Conference was put on by looking at OUP - so they could promote their new textbooks and digital resources for the new F-10 curriculum.
Keynote 1
Turia Pitt
amazing story of resilience, determination - burnt 70% of her body, while doing a marathon in the Kimberly - now motivational speaker - and "iron woman" - had just competed in an event the week before.
http://www.saxton.com.au/turia-pitt/#speaker-profile
Keynote 2:
VCAA Executive Director, Dr David Howes, who spoke about the new Vic F-10 Curriculum, why it was changed from AusVELs and the major changes.
Aus Curric mainly content.
Victoria wanted Critical thinking, metacognition, social skills, resilience recognised - OECD Report Want these to be included and to be explicitly taught and assessed. Also learning is a continuum not static in year levels -up to 4-5 year levels in one class - F-10 curric in two year bands attempt to recoginise this. Having year levels can limit "top end" students ( Gratten Report)
Student with Disabilities - level also have levels within - A-D - as adjustments for students with Disabilities - thus F-10 Curric is inclusive for all students
Impass with other states - no movement from them - most of what is in Aus Curric is Victorian anyway - we just tweaked it to suit ourselves...
MOST IMPORTANT Piece in the puzzle - Stability - will stay for 6 years.. NO change maybe slight modifications - BUT recognise teachers are tired of change.
( Marzano 2003 ) ** need to google this and find our more.
Session 1
Implementing the Victorian Curriculum: Science - Maria James - VCAA
Below is a link to one of Maria's presentations - a larger version of what Maria presented to us.
has examples of "ethics" & "critical thinking" etc ideas for these within the science curric.
http://www.sciencevictoria.com.au/documents/VCAAUpdate2015_000.pdf
Session 2
Inquiry Based Experiments in Years 7-10 to Prepare for VCE Science Success - Carrie Bloomfield - Bentleigh Sec College
Had a great rubric that we can use/ adapt for practical reports and inquiry investigations - definitely a great tool. That we can use as a science faculty.
only have a hard copy at the moment - could easily make our own.
Creation of "what if" questions - as a start to the inquiry process and extension for those top kids. - these "what if questions"can easily be transformed into the hypothesis.
"What if we add warm water?"
If warm water was used, then the alkazer tablet would react/dissolve quicker, because heat energy in the causes the table to break apart quicker, and thus dissolve quicker.
Session 3
Oxford Science for the Victorian Curriculum - Helen Silvester
Helen is the author of the Oxford Uni Press - Science text books - she is one on the ball teacher - Head of Science at Mentone Girls Grammar - so still a practising teacher.
They created the "what if questions" .
Couldn't find good texts books - always too crowded too much info - created her own booklets - went from there...
Final Keynote:
Ahn Do - the happiest Refugee
another inspirational, emotional and funny keynote - showed how teachers can make a difference - and what kindness and resilience can do.
had both Nigel and I in laugher and tears ...
Thursday, 12 May 2016
Meeting of May 12th 2016 - Brian, Nigel, Maree, Bernadette and Carolyn.
Reviewed the various content descriptions and some specific elaborations. The integrated studies unit 'Discovery' in Y9 was also discussed regarding components of the Science curriculum that may be covered within other domains. It is proposed to speak with those within the 'Discovery' team to clarify the current curriculum that is covered.
Science / Levels 7 and 8 / Science Understanding / Biological sciences
Science / Levels 9 and 10 / Science Understanding / Biological sciences
It was proposed that at least in Y7&8 each broad topic area of Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science and Physics would be taught for a single term each, incorporating the varied content descriptions.
Also proposed to offer selective Science electives in semester 2 of Y10 for students to mitigate the reduced engagement within some students in the latter part of the year.
Reviewed the various content descriptions and some specific elaborations. The integrated studies unit 'Discovery' in Y9 was also discussed regarding components of the Science curriculum that may be covered within other domains. It is proposed to speak with those within the 'Discovery' team to clarify the current curriculum that is covered.
Science / Levels 7 and 8 / Science Understanding / Biological sciences
Science / Levels 9 and 10 / Science Understanding / Biological sciences
It was proposed that at least in Y7&8 each broad topic area of Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science and Physics would be taught for a single term each, incorporating the varied content descriptions.
Also proposed to offer selective Science electives in semester 2 of Y10 for students to mitigate the reduced engagement within some students in the latter part of the year.
Monday, 9 May 2016
Thursday, 5 May 2016
First meeting - 5/5/2016
PLT - team - Nigel B, Bern A, Carolyn T, Rebecca McL, Maree T
We gathered all relevant documents - went through the F-10 Curric - looking at where the topics fit in and compared to what we already do.
We then brainstormed on the white board - to set out the topics, within the yr 7 - 10 structure.
We gathered all relevant documents - went through the F-10 Curric - looking at where the topics fit in and compared to what we already do.
We then brainstormed on the white board - to set out the topics, within the yr 7 - 10 structure.
next step - put this into a spreadsheet and then start to drill down into the topics a bit more.
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