The draft NSW History K-10 Syllabus Version 2 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 and 2013.

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

Key issues from consultation on Version 1 History K-6 Outcomes needed more clarity An over-emphasis on knowledge and understanding Historical skills - relationship with the content needed clarity The amount of content in Stages 2 and 3 The need for advice about the relationship between History K-6 and HSIE K-6 The need for professional development in History concepts, skills and content

Key issues from consultation on Version 1 History 7-10 Outcomes needed more clarity Too much content, especially in Stage 5 Historical skills - relationship with the content needed clarity Comparative Indigenous content required Some crucial areas of history missing, eg. Vietnam War era

What’s changed from Version 1 to Version 2?

What’s changed from Version 1 to Version 2 ? K-6 Outcomes – coded for ease of use Skills – an outcome has been added Historical concepts have been added Historical skills have been placed above the content The content descriptions have been clarified Additional content in some topics A glossary has been added

What’s changed from Version 1 to Version 2 ? 7-10 Content in the overviews - enhanced and clarified Historical concepts added Comparative Indigenous content added in Stage 4 WW1 and WW2 combined in Stage 5 Depth Study 6 in Stage 5 allows for the development of a topic from the Overview to be taught as an option Increased flexibility in content in Stage 5 - two core depth studies and at least two of the remaining four depth studies are to be studied

What’s changed from Version 1 to Version 2 ? Life Skills Outcomes - reviewed to strengthen inclusivity Outcomes – table included to show how they are linked with Stage 4 and Stage 5 Topics – aligned to Stage 4 and Stage 5 depth studies Content – reviewed to provide more access points for students

What is the syllabus structure in Version 2?

Syllabus structure in Version 2 The K-10 Curriculum Rationale The Place of the History K-10 Syllabus in the K-12 curriculum Aims Objectives Outcomes Content Years 7-10 Life Skills outcomes and content Continuum of learning in History K-10 Assessment Glossary

Extra information for History K-6 Outcomes : Include historical concepts Describe the historical knowledge and understanding Describe the skills of historical inquiry Stage-based organisation Key Inquiry Questions Historical concepts (new in Version 2) Historical Skills Increasing emphasis on historical interpretation Use of historical sources and evidence Topics

Early Stage 1 A student’s own history and that of their family Personal and Family Histories

Stage 1 Changes and continuities in the local area The Past in the Present Similarities and differences in family life, past and present Present and Past Family Life

Stage 2 World exploration and British settlement of Australia First Contacts Identity and diversity in both the local and national communities Community and Remembrance

Stage 3 The development of 20 th Century Australia Australia as a Nation A study of colonial Australia The Australian Colonies

Stage 4 - The Ancient World Overview The content from the overview may be used as an overall introduction to Depth Studies 1-3 or may be integrated with these Depth Studies. Approximately 10% of teaching time Depth Study 1 Investigating the Ancient Past (including ancient Australia) Depth Study 2 The Mediterranean World Egypt or Greece or Rome Depth Study 3 The Asian World India or China

Stage 4 - From the Ancient to the Modern World Overview The content from the overview may be used as an overall introduction to Depth Studies 4-6 or may be integrated with these Depth Studies. Approximately 10% of teaching time Depth Study 4 The Western and Islamic World Vikings or Medieval Europe or The Ottoman Empire or Renaissance Italy Depth Study 5 The Asia Pacific World Angkor/Khmer Empire or Japan under the Shoguns or Polynesian Expansion Depth Study 6 Expanding Contacts Mongol Expansion or The Black Death in Asia, Europe and Africa or Spanish Conquest of the Americas, or Aboriginal and Indigenous peoples

Stage 5 - The Making of the Modern World Overview The content from the overview may be used as an overall introduction to Depth Studies 1-3 or may be integrated with these Depth Studies. Approximately 10% of teaching time Depth Study 1 Making a Better World? Industrial Revolution or Movement of Peoples or Progressive Ideas and Movements Depth Study 2 Australia and Asia Making a Nation or Asia and the World Core Study - Depth Study 3 Australians at War (World Wars I and II)

Stage 5 - The Modern World and Australia Overview The content from the overview may be used as an overall introduction to Depth Studies 4-6 or may be integrated with these Depth Studies. Approximately 10% of teaching time Core Study - Depth Study 4 Rights and Freedoms (1945 to the Present) Depth Study 5 The Globalising World Popular Culture or The environment movement or Migration Experiences Depth Study 6 Optional Study (drawn from the Overview) Australia in the Vietnam War Era or The Holocaust or Peacekeeping Operations

Key issues for consultation on Version 2

Key issues for consultation on Version 2 K-6 Is the amount of content appropriate for Early Stage 1, Stage 1, Stage 2 and Stage 3? How will the relationship between History K-6 and HSIE K-6 be addressed? Does the inclusion of historical concepts enhance the teaching of historical skills?

Key issues for consultation on Version Will the changes to the overall structure make it easier to teach the course in 50 hours per year? Has the inclusion of Aboriginal and Indigenous content in Depth Studies 1 and 6 (in Stage 4) redressed the lack of such content in Version 1? Will the teaching of World War 1 and World War 2 in one (core) depth study be manageable? Has the reorganisation of the depth studies in Stage 5 resulted in a more engaging course? Will students be better prepared for Stage 6 History courses?

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