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This issue: |
March 2001 |
Draft K–10 Curriculum Framework
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Teachers encouraged to respond to Draft K–10 Curriculum FrameworkThe development of a K–10 Curriculum Framework is now well underway with draft copies being circulated to schools in November and consultation occurring during November and December 2000 and February 2001. The curriculum framework is being developed to provide a basis for decision making about what students are to learn, how learning will take place and how learning outcomes will be assessed in the compulsory years of schooling in NSW. The Board of Studies will use the framework to provide advice about curriculum requirements and guidelines and to guide syllabus review and development. Schools and school authorities will also be able to use the framework for the variety of other purposes outlined in the draft document. As it is developed, the framework will initially be used to guide the revision of the English Syllabus for Years 7–10 and the Mathematics Syllabus/es for Years K–10, and subsequently to guide any review of all K–10 syllabuses. The Board of Studies will consider a consultation report at its March meeting. This consultation report will represent responses gained from survey responses; meetings with key education organisations; eight teacher focus group meetings across the state; and focus group meetings with students. It is anticipated that following the March Board meeting an amended version of the framework document, including some options for structuring the curriculum requirements K–10 will be distributed for a further period of consultation. Review of Mathematics K–10 SyllabusesThe NSW Board of Studies has commenced the review and development of Mathematics syllabuses K–10. The review process involves a range of strategies including a review of relevant literature and research, a review of mathematics curriculum for the compulsory years of schooling in other States and countries, and consultation with teachers, academics and organisations with an interest in mathematics. The K–6 and 7–10 Board Curriculum Committees (BCCs) that have been formed for the project meet together and as separate groups when appropriate. • A literature review has been undertaken that summarises research in relation to issues relevant to the teaching and learning of mathematics in NSW from Early Stage 1 to Stage 5. • One of the initial strategies in the review process was a call for oral submissions from key organisations and academics. This was undertaken to gauge perspectives on the current situation in mathematics education in the compulsory years of schooling, and to enable groups and individuals to identify what may be required in any revision of the current syllabuses K–10.• The findings of the Literature Review and oral submissions was presented to the Board of Studies in February and will be published on the Board's website. • Surveys have been sent to a random sample of 100 primary, secondary, central and special schools to obtain feedback on the 1989 Mathematics K–6 syllabus, the 1989 Mathematics Years 7–8 syllabus and the 1996 Mathematics Years 9–10 syllabus, and associated support documents. A K–10 Mathematics Symposium was held on Saturday 24 February. The Symposium raised and explored some key issues in the review and development of Mathematics syllabuses for the compulsory years of schooling with delegates nominated by key educational organisations and including teachers, parents and academics. • Organisations and academics have been invited to provide a written submission on the current situation in Mathematics and/or any preferred direction to be taken in NSW. Respondents have been invited to choose as a focus one aspect of mathematics, a particular syllabus, a period within the compulsory years of schooling, or to comment on issues from a K–10 perspective. The findings from the written submissions, surveys and symposium and will be presented to the Board in March and will also be published on the website. The directions identified in the review and outlined in the reports to the Board of Studies will guide the development of the Writing Brief for the syllabuses. K–10 Mathematics Review on the website. Up-to-date information about the review can be found on the Board's main website (www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au) and on the K–6 website (www.bosnsw-k6.nsw.edu.au). Additional material, including the reports, will be added throughout the review and development process. Expression of interest for writers. Expressions of interest are sought from persons with skills and interests in syllabus writing in Mathematics K–10 (either general or specific to particular stages and/or aspects of mathematics learning). People with expertise in writing syllabuses, support documents or units of work and/or in the conduct of educational research are invited to submit an expression of interest for inclusion on the register of curriculum writers. Please refer to the article on the register of writers in the Official Notices of this Bulletin. Literature Review: Report on Investigational Tasks in Mathematics in Years 9–10 for Advanced and Intermediate Students This report was commissioned by the Board in 1999 as the first stage of the review of the status of the Mathematical Investigations strand of the Advanced and Intermediate courses of Mathematics Years 9–10 Syllabus (1996). It is presented in three parts: Report Supporting Investigations for the Advanced and Intermediate Courses of the NSW Mathematics Years 9–10 Syllabus; Why Investigations Should Not Be Compulsory in the Years 9–10 Mathematics Courses; and Joint Conclusions of the Authors. It was subsequently determined that further work on the review of the status of Mathematical Investigations should form part of the review of the Mathematics K–10 syllabuses now being undertaken. The report is available through The Reading Room of the Board's web site for consideration in relation to the Mathematics K–10 Review. The following K–6 items have been added to the BOS website in Jan/Feb 2001:
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