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In accordance with the Board's syllabus development process, the 1989
Mathematics K-6 Syllabus is due for evaluation. This evaluation will include
the collection of data on the syllabus and an analysis of developments in
Mathematics K-6 within and outside New South Wales.
In conjunction with the collection of K-6 Science and Technology work samples, the Board has agreed to the development of a revised set of stage outcomes for the Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus and Support Document. This syllabus document, which was released in 1991, included the first set of outcomes developed by the Board of Studies. The 158 outcomes, though organised in stages, are quite different from those developed by the Board since 1995. Findings from the 1996 limited evaluation of the syllabus indicated that the outcomes are not used by teachers or schools for planning, programming, assessing or reporting. Key requirements in the revision of the outcomes will include a significant reduction in the number of outcomes, the inclusion of Early Stage 1 outcomes and the development of indicators. The revised set will be consistent with the stage outcomes developed for the other K-6 syllabuses. The draft outcomes will be sent to a sample of schools as part of the consultation process. Schools interested in providing feedback on the draft outcomes can be included in the consultation network by contacting the project manager, Mandy Shaw, on (02) 9367 8267. The publication of the revised outcomes in an addendum to the syllabus will then provide schools with a full complement of stage outcomes. It will also support schools that use outcomes from more than one key learning area when developing integrated units of work. The revision of the outcomes for Science and Technology K-6 will also provide an opportunity to review the relevance and currency of the syllabus. Given that it was developed prior to a number of major scientific and technological developments in the nineties, a formal evaluation of the syllabus has been scheduled to commence in 2000.
A
number of Primary Matters mini-conferences were held across NSW during March.
These mini-conferences, at which attendances averaged over 100, provided
teachers and principals with information about the Board's K-6 syllabus
schedule, local and global issues in primary curriculum development and some
specific K-6 initiatives. In addition to gaining insight into the syllabus
development process, the participants were provided with a briefing on the
Human Society and Its Environment K-6 Syllabus and support documents.
Further Primary Matters mini- conferences are to be held in Term 2 at North Sydney, Nyngan, Broken Hill, Ulladulla and Merimbula.
Syllabuses on CD
Two K-6 CD-ROMs will be released to schools in Term 2.
A Mathematics K-6 CD-ROM will include the 1989 syllabus, the 1998 outcomes and
indicators and the 1999 student work samples. Schools will also receive a Human
Society and Its Environment K-6 CD-ROM, which will include the syllabus and
support documents that were released in February.
If you would like further information regarding these items or K-6 curriculum
matters in general, contact Margaret Malone, Inspector, Primary Education, ph (02)
9367 8199 or fax (02) 9367 8476.