Impact of Australian Curriculum for tertiary courses and studentsPresented by Annabel Astbury, HTAVfor School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, University of MelbourneFebruary 2012

Timeline for implementation – VIC

2013 – F - 10

2015 + Senior Curriculum

Policy: States and Territories still responsible for implementation of curriculum

Policy: In Victoria the framework will incorporate current approaches as used in VELS but be called AusVELS

Current VCE History Curriculum is valid until end December 2014

Proposed Structure for Australian Curriculum: Senior History courses

Modern History Ancient History

Four unit structure Four unit structure

Year 11 Units 1 & 2 Year 11 Units 1 & 2

Year 12 Units 3 & 4 Year 12 Units 3 & 4

Revolutions

Australian History

Renaissance Italy

First Year University Cohort School curriculum undertakenVELS / Australian Curriculum

2014 VELS/VCE

2015 VELS Year 10 (2012)VCE Year 11 (2013)VCE/Year 12 (2014)

2016 VELS until Year 9 (2012)AC Year 10 (2013)VCE Year 11(2014)AC/VCE (2015)

2017 Australian Curriculum Years 9 & 10 (2013-14)AC/VCE Year 11(2015)AC/VCE Year 12 (2016)

2018 Australian Curriculum Years 8 - 10 (2013 - 2015)AC/VCE Year 11(2016)AC/VCE Year 12 (2017)

2019 Australian Curriculum Years 7 - 10 (2013 - 2015)AC/VCE Year 11(2016)AC/VCE Year 12 (2017)

Content Structure: History 7-10 (Secondary)

Year Level

Key Inquiry QuestionsHistorical Knowledge and understandings

Str

ands

Historical Skills

‣Overviews‣Depth Studies

Content Structure | Annabel Astbury 2011

Overviews

Content Structure | Annabel Astbury 2011

‣give students an introduction to the period

‣make links to and between the depth studies

‣consolidate understanding through a review of the period

Aims

‣An overview will constitute approximately 10% of the total teaching time for the year

‣Overview content identifies important features of the period as part of an expansive chronology

‣The overview could be built into different parts of the depth studies as appropriate

Teaching

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Depth Studies

Content Structure | Annabel Astbury 2011

‣To provide students with the opportunity to develop and apply the concepts and skills of historical inquiry

‣ Content in each elective is designed to allow detailed study of specific aspects of the historical period

Aims

‣An overview will constitute approximately 10% of the total teaching time for the year

‣Overview content identifies important features of the period as part of an expansive chronology

‣The overview could be built into different parts of the depth studies as appropriate

Teaching

VELS Australian Curriculum Significant Differences

Year 7 Ancient worlds Year 7 Ancient worlds to 650CE Includes Ancient AustraliaMust do 1 Asian context

Year 8 Medieval Period Year 8 Medieval Period 650 - 1750

Must do 1 Asian contextBlack Death figures prominently

Year 9 Australian History 19th –early 20th Centuries

Year 9 World History 1750 - 1918

Movements of people / Industrial Revolution appears more prominent

Year 10 20th Century History Australian / International contexts

Year 10 20th Century History Australian / International contexts

Must do WW2Must do Indigenous Rights and Freedoms

VCE Australian Curriculum Significant Differences

Year 11 Twentieth Century History 1900 – 1945

Year 11 Modern History Unit 1 (choice of contexts in unit)

• Ancient History Stream

• Modern History course encapsulating many options Year 11 Twentieth Century History

1945 – 2000Year 11 Modern

History Unit 2 (choice of contexts in unit) Year 11

Year 11 Conquest and Resistance Year 11 Ancient History Unit 1

Year 11 People and Power Year 11 Ancient History Unit 2

Differences in Senior Courses: Year 11

VCE Australian Curriculum Significant Differences

Year 12

Australian History 3 & 4 Year 12 Modern History Unit 3 (choice of contexts in unit)

• Move away in AC from National Studies in Modern History

• Focus on ideas, movements and significant events that have shaped the modern era

• Appears to broader sweeps of time

• Australia included but not in its own right

• Ancient History Stream

Year 12

Renaissance Italy 3 & 4(Florence and Venice)

Year 12 Modern History Unit 4 (choice of contexts in unit)

Year 12

Revolutions 3 & 4Two of France, America, Russia and China

Year 12 Ancient History Unit 3

Year 12 Ancient History Unit 4

Differences in Senior Courses: Year 12

First Year University Cohort School curriculum undertakenVELS / Australian Curriculum

2014 VELS/VCE

2015 VELS Year 10 (2012)VCE Year 11 (2013)VCE/Year 12 (2014)

2016 VELS until Year 9 (2012)AC Year 10 (2013)VCE Year 11(2014)AC/VCE (2015)

2017 Australian Curriculum Years 9 & 10 (2013-14)AC/VCE Year 11(2015)AC/VCE Year 12 (2016)

2018 Australian Curriculum Years 8 - 10 (2013 - 2015)AC/VCE Year 11(2016)AC/VCE Year 12 (2017)

2019 Australian Curriculum Years 7 - 10 (2013 - 2015)AC/VCE Year 11(2016)AC/VCE Year 12 (2017)

Policy and curriculum implications

Curriculum: • disjoint (in theory and practice) for a while between AC and what they do at senior years• Depth studies -> Overview and Depth -> Depth (this pattern will remain until 2015ish)• Hopefully a more ‘Asia Literate’ cohort emerging.• Hopefully students with wider knowledge of world history narrative.• Australian History content in senior years limited.

• Cohorts ready for first year university 2016 most likely to have emerged with VCE History• Consider skills they have and content that they have covered.

• Cohorts ready for first year university in 2019 have had Australian Curriculum: History 7-12• Will there be different skills and content that they have covered.

Policy School level – what will change?Practice? Spaces in which history is taught?State level – what will change? Breadth of courses on offer?

What assistance will teachers need?Content area expertisePedagogical refreshers