The draft NSW Science K-10 syllabus - Version 2 (incorporating Science and Technology K-6) February, 2012

The draft NSW K-10 syllabuses The Board of Studies NSW has developed draft K-10 syllabuses for English, mathematics, science and history. The first round of consultation for these syllabuses has now closed. A second round of consultation based on version 2 of the draft syllabuses is now open. NSW school teachers will only need to teach in accordance with the new K-10 syllabus documents developed for NSW. The Board advises all schools to continue to use the existing NSW K-12 syllabuses for 2012.

Overview  Key issues from consultation on version 1  What's changed from version 1 to version 2?  What is the syllabus structure in version 2?  Key issues for consultation on version 2

Designing the NSW Syllabuses Australian Curriculum (ACARA) New NSW syllabuses (Board of Studies NSW) Stage-based Outcomes and content Year-based Content General capabilities, Cross-curriculum priorities Learning across the curriculum areas embedded in content as appropriate to individual Learning Areas

Implementation Timeframe 2011 Term Education Ministers approve validated Australian Curriculum achievement standards. Board of Studies NSW considers consultation feedback and revises syllabuses. Version 2 draft syllabuses available. Second round of consultation with Board of Studies NSW. Professional learning for school leaders available. School planning and preparation for implementation. Implementation of new syllabuses. Teacher professional learning for new syllabuses. School programming and development of teaching, learning and assessment materials.

Senior secondary curriculum ACARA has indicated that further work to develop senior secondary courses in English, mathematics, science and history is being undertaken, with draft documents to be available for consultation in In the meantime NSW teachers are to continue teaching current NSW syllabuses for senior secondary courses.

Key issues from consultation on Version 1

Rationales not clear statements of the place and purpose of K-6 and 7-10 syllabuses Values and attitudes not emphasised sufficiently within the Rationale, Aims and Objectives Layout confusing – especially representation of the Australian Curriculum Relationship between strands and sub strands unclear (K - 6) – diagrams needed

Key issues from consultation on Version 1 Syllabus requirements in relation to content K-6 unclear – a large amount of prescriptive content Outcomes unclear or multi-dimensional – not useful for programming or assessment purposes Outcomes sometimes inconsistent with associated content Coding of outcomes would be useful for programming

Key issues from consultation on Version 1 Too much content K-10 Content prescriptive, with some inflexibility in programming Coding of content would be useful for programming Cross curriculum areas not always embedded well Dataloggers should not be required equipment

What’s changed from Version 1 to Version 2?

Rationales revised to be more succinct Layout revised – Australian Curriculum removed, but coded Values and attitudes emphasised and reordered in Rationale, Aims, Objectives Strand names changed in Years 7-10 to match K-6 strand names Diagrams added to represent the relationship between strands and sub strands Flexibility for programming improved – the requirement to teach prescriptive ‘blocks’ of content has been removed

What’s changed from Version 1 to Version 2 ? The emphasis on teaching knowledge and understanding content through the skills of Working Scientifically and Technologically K-6 has been softened Outcomes coding has changed Outcomes revised and number increased (K-6) to reduce multi-faceted outcomes Outcomes revised for consistency with associated content

What’s changed from Version 1 to Version 2 ? Amount of content has been reduced Related Life Skills coded in Outcomes Dataloggers are now optional but not required equipment in Years 7-10 Using ‘specialised tools, materials, equipment and techniques’ in Years K-6 has been changed to using ‘a range of tools, materials, equipment and techniques’

What is the syllabus structure in Version 2?

Syllabus structure in Version 2 Background Information K-6  Rationale  Aims  Objectives  Outcomes  Content  Assessment 7-10  Rationale  Aims  Objectives  Outcomes  Content  Life Skills Continuum of learning (K-10) Stage Statements (ES1 to S5) Assessment Glossary (K-10)

Syllabus structure K-6 – organisation of content

Syllabus structure K-6 – skills

Syllabus structure K-6 – knowledge and understanding

Syllabus structure 7-10 – organisation of content

Syllabus structure 7-10 – skills

Syllabus structure 7-10 – knowledge and understanding

Key issues for consultation on Version 2

Are the rationales succinct statements of the place and purpose of Science? Is the relationship between science and technology K-6 clear and appropriate? Are the revised strand names appropriate for Years 7-10? Is the relationship between the strands and substrands clearly represented? Are the diagrams useful? Is the teaching and learning through Working Scientifically and Working Technologically emphasised appropriately K-6 ? Is the relationship between Outcomes, Content and Stage Statements clear?

Key issues for consultation on Version 2 Are the Outcomes, Content and Stage Statements useful for programming, assessment and reporting? Are the Outcomes clear and unambiguous statements of specific intended learning? Is the amount of content manageable K-6 and 7-10 ? Is ‘Learning across the curriculum’ content embedded well? Would coding of content be useful for programming? What specific areas of the syllabus will require targeted professional learning and/or resourcing?

Key issues for consultation on Version 2 - The interactive online format Preview the draft syllabuses in interactive online formatinteractive online format Is the navigation clear and logical? Will this format be helpful for planning, programming, assessing and reporting?

How can I start to prepare for implementation of the new syllabus?

Make your opinion count The Board of studies NSW is asking for your feedback on the Version 2 draft syllabuses: Complete an online survey about the draft syllabus Version 2 content.online survey Register for a Board of Studies consultation meeting.consultation meeting The Department will produce a response representing the views of public schools and wants to hear your opinion to inform that response. Please complete the Department’s survey.survey

Preparation Keep up to date: o Watch the NSW Curriculum & Learning Innovation Centre’s website ( o Watch the Board of Studies website ( Note that you can register for Board of Studies weekly bulletins. bulletins