K-6 Educational Resources — Board of Studies, New South Wales, Australia
Primary Matters
Primary Matters
From Board Bulletin, October 1998 – Vol 7 No. 8
One of the Board of Studies' key standing committees is the Primary Curriculum Committee. This committee considers major strategic items that support the Board's schedule and direction for K-6 syllabus development, and makes recommendations to the Board on K-6 curriculum and assessment issues. In undertaking these tasks the committee considers links between early childhood, primary and secondary education.
Membership of the committee includes representatives from the Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations, the NSW Teachers Federation, the NSW Parents' Council, the NSW Primary Principals Council, the Federation of School Community Organisations and the Independent Education Union. The committee also includes individuals with expertise in areas such as early childhood education, Aboriginal education, special education and Board members who are able to provide a K-12 perspective.
First national primary technology conference
The first national primary technology conference was held in Adelaide in early September. Primary educators from around Australia, as well as guests from New Zealand and South Africa, attended the three-day conference. It featured a variety of practical and theoretical workshops, school visits, forums and keynote presentations. The conference, co-hosted and sponsored by the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Department of Education, Training and Employment, provided an opportunity for educators to share information about developments in the area of technology education and to discuss issues of interest to classroom teachers, curriculum developers and academics. The workshops were many and varied, as indicated by such titles as `Technology and Science: Exploring the Relationship'; `Using Cams and Gears to Produce Mechanical Toys'; `Promoting Thinking in Technology Education'; `Fabric Technology: Practical Activities with a Design, Make and Appraise Emphasis'; `Technological Literacy and the Primary Classroom'; `Are You a Media Magnet?'; and `Mixing Technology, Learning and Creativity'.
One of the features of the conference was the way presenters used student work samples to illustrate aspects of designing, making and appraising. The examples of what students actually produce in classrooms provided a valuable starting point for discussing similarities and differences in the approaches used and in the emphasis given in the key learning area from state to state.
Information about the proceedings from the conference will be provided in a following edition of the Board Bulletin.
Primary Curriculum Committee
Concerns raised during consultation have been addressed in the redrafting of the syllabus and support document, as outlined below:
- the subject matter in Stage 3 has been reduced in both its scope and demand;
- the focus in Early Stage 1, Stage 1 and Stage 2 outcomes and content has been broadened to ensure student learning is not restricted to the local area;
- content dealing with Aboriginal history and culture has been added to Stage 1;
- subject matter and learning experiences dealing with environmentally sustainable development have been added to the content and units of work;
- the General Religious Education component has been developed further and made more explicit;
- sample school plans for one-teacher and two teacher schools have been developed.
- number and nature of the outcomes;
- explicit description of content;
- level of support provided by the units of work.
Issues that have broader implementation implications, particularly those dealing with professional development and the allocation of time to Human Society and Its Environment, will be discussed with the relevant school system authorities and school sectors prior to the scheduled release of the syllabus in Term 4.
If you would like further information regarding K-6 curriculum matters, contact Margaret Malone, Inspector, Primary Education, ph (02) 9367 8199 or fax (02) 9367 8476.