The Curriculum

							VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
Structure


              P – Yr 10      VELS
Curriculum
  P - 12
             Yr 11 – Yr 12   VCE
          Past – Present - Future
 Past:      CSF – Curriculum Standards Framework
             (1995 – 2006)

 Current:   VELS (2006 - )

 Future:    National Curriculum(2013 - )
VELS
 VICTORIAN          (for all Victorian Students)
 ESSENTIAL          (What’s essential for them to learn)

 LERNING
 STANDARDS (for Teaching & Learning)

       The Victorian Essential Learning Standards
          is the Prep to Year 10 Curriculum for
                    Victorian schools
StrandsDomainsDimensions
Strands
 The Victorian Essential Learning Standards are
 organised into three connected areas of learning called
 strands.
Strands
Domains
 Domains are a distinct body of knowledge, skills and
 behaviours.
          Strands           Domains
Domains




               Dimensions
                       Standards
 The standards outline the essential knowledge,
  skills and behaviours students are expected to
         demonstrate within each domain.

     Standards for each domain are organised into
                     dimensions.

 Teachers use the standards to plan teaching programs and use them as the basis
              of assessment and reporting of student achievement.
Dimensions

 Standards in the domain are organised in dimensions:
 For Civics and Citizenship they are:
    Civic knowledge and understanding
    Community engagement
Civics Standards
 Civic knowledge and understanding
 At Level 3,
    students demonstrate understanding of the contribution of people
     from the many culturally diverse groups that make up the Australian
     community.
    They sequence and describe some key events in Australia’s democratic
     history.
    They describe symbols and emblems of national life in Australia and
     identify values related to symbols and national celebrations and
     commemorations.
    They describe the purpose of government, some familiar government
     services and the roles of some leaders and representatives.
    They explain the difference between rules and laws and describe the
     qualities of a good law.
    They explain why protection and care for the natural and built
     environment is important
Learning Focus Statements

   The learning focus statements suggest learning
     experiences that are based on the standards
Focus Statements - Civics
 As students work towards the achievement of Level 3
  standards in Civics and Citizenship,
   they build on their understanding of Australian society and
     investigate some of the different cultural groups, including
      Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) communities, that make
      up the Australian community.
   They learn about the contributions that people from diverse
    groups have made to many aspects of the Australian way of
    life.
        This includes contributions to the arts, industry, medicine and
         science, as well as to other aspects of their life including food,
         festivals and sporting events.
   They explore the ways that Australians are connected to other
    regional and global communities.
                    VELS
                       Strands

   1                      2                   3

                       Domain

Multiple             Multiple              Multiple

                      Standards

       Dimension                      Dimension


                   Focus statements
Stages of Learning!
 The standards take into account research on the
  developmental stages of learning.
 This research recognises that while student learning is
  a continuum from Years Prep to 10, and different
  students develop at different rates, students broadly
  progress through three stages of learning:
Stages of Learning
Levels and Stages

VELS Level      1       2          3          4          5            6


School Level   Prep   Yr 1 & 2   Yr 3 & 4   Yr 5 & 6   Yr 7 & 8    Yr 9 & 10



                                               Building           Developin
Stages of
               Laying the Foundation          Breadth &               g
Learning                                        Depth             Pathways
Civics and Citizenship

     Activity
Units of Work
•Why Civics and Citizenship in the VELS?


•Developing Unit of Work for Civics and Citizenship:

    1.At Level 5
         a.State the Learning outcomes by Dimension
         b.List Key Knowledge, Skills and behaviours by weeks
         (15 Week Semester)


    2.At Level 6
         a.Repeat as per above

   http://vels.vcaa.vic.edu.au/support/units/develop.html