Welcome to the ACARA Update

Welcome from Peter Hill, ACARA CEO

I’d like to welcome you to the first ACARA Update for 2011. This year is shaping up to be an exciting one in Australian education. As you are likely aware, federal, state and territory education ministers endorsed the content of the first four learning areas of the Australian Curriculum from Foundation to Year 10. This event marks a transformational milestone for education in this country, and the curriculum itself can be viewed online at www.australiancurriculum.edu.au. I would encourage you to visit this site to view the curriculum and to access supporting information.

We are also continuing our work in the National Assessment Program and have, in this update, provided a list of future test days for National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN).

We’ll continue to send you Updates from ACARA, to keep you informed about out work in 2011.

I wish you all the best for a productive and enjoyable year.

Kind regards,
Peter Hill
 

Curriculum development in Languages

The draft Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Languages paper is now available for national public consultation until 7 April 2011.

Feedback received during consultation will be analysed and used to revise the draft shape paper, which will then be published on the ACARA website as The Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Languages. This paper will provide a broad conceptualisation of the languages learning area and will guide the writing of the languages curriculum from Foundation to Year 12.

  Download the draft Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Languages paper as PDF

ACARA welcomes feedback in relation to the draft Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Languages paper and encourages individuals and organisations interested and involved in languages education to complete the online questionnaire.

Open and complete the questionnaire here.

Please contact Suzanne Bradshaw, Senior Project Officer, Languages on 02 8098 3149 or suzanne.bradshaw@acara.edu.au for further information.

Curriculum development in Geography

The Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Geography paper is now available on the ACARA website at: www.acara.edu.au/geography.html

The release of the Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Geography follows a process of national consultation in the last quarter of 2010 that generated responses including over 600 responses to the online questionnaire and 37 written submissions. The feedback from the national consultation, a national panel meeting and state and territory curriculum consultation also led to revision of the draft paper.

The final Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Geography paper and the consultation report are now available on the ACARA website.

ACARA has finalised the advisory panel members and curriculum writing team for the Foundation to Year 12 Australian Curriculum: Geography. A list of the advisory panel team, along with the final Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Geography and consultation report can be found at: www.acara.edu.au/geography.html

The curriculum writing phase of the Australian Curriculum for geography begins in mid February 2011. There will be several opportunities to provide feedback as the Australian Curriculum for geography progresses over the next 12 months.

Please contact Susan Caldis, Senior Project Officer, Geography on 02 8098 3150 or via email susan.caldis@acara.edu.au for further information.

Curriculum development in Technologies

ACARA is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced curriculum experts to assist in the development of the Australian Curriculum: Technologies (including Information and Communication Technology and Design and Technology). In 2011, advisory panel work will focus on the shaping phase.

The Technologies learning area, as part of the Australian Curriculum, may include agriculture/primary industries, built environment, computing/digital technologies, design, engineering, food technology and nutrition, graphics, materials and product design (e.g. metals, textiles, timber).

Members of the Advisory Panel will have extensive knowledge, understanding and expertise in the learning area, teaching or related experience in the learning area, and experience in developing curriculum and/or achievement standards outside of the classroom.

Expressions of interest close Monday 21 February 2011 at 5:00pm (AEDT). Information about the expressions of interest process including applications for advisory panel members are available on the ACARA website at www.acara.edu.au/technologies.html

Please contact Julie King, Senior Project Officer, Technologies on 02 8098 3106 or julie.king@acara.edu.au for further information.

Dates for NAPLAN tests approved

States and territories have agreed on a schedule of dates for National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) into the future, providing certainty for parents and school communities wanting to plan ahead. These tests will be held in the second full week in May, with the scheduled test days being Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

NAPLAN schedule for future years: