Your+views+Eve+01

Week 3 – Part 3: My Views - Michelle Warren

My views regarding school curriculum are as follows:


 * Schools and curriculum should meet the needs and requirements for all students.
 * Children/Students have the right to explore all area’s of education.
 * Schools should provide a wide range of subjects for students to learn about.
 * The larger the variety of subjects, the better the chance the students have to find a subject they enjoy and are able in excel in.
 * Providing students with options with well rounded knowledge is in my opinion only enhance their futures.
 * More opportunity and knowledge I believe provides better chances for employment and careers.
 * I believe the curriculum enhances and provides our students to be well rounded individuals in our community.
 * I believe the more experience and knowledge a student receives can only enhance a students future not harm their future.

Therefore in my opinion the more experiences we give students to learn, study and explore can only benefit their futures.

Your Views
What do **//you//** think should be in the curriculum?

Please use your name as a subheading and ensure you include a justification of your view. **Your Views** Nova Christoffersen

Literacy and numeracy will always be the main focus in education, being able to incorporate the two with other subjects would allow children to explore and experience different situations and help them build more skills to make decisions and experience success. Every child is different and learns in a different way, this is why I believe it is important to provide them with different ways and environments to learn. Offering subjects such as drama, music and art allows children to use their imaginations ad sometimes allow them to interact with their peers in ways they have not done before helping tem to build social skills. Information Technology is another important subject that should also be included in the curriculum. With most of society functioning digitally, it is important for children to have the skills to be part of this. Information technology and art subjects also allow children to communicate or express ideas and emotions with words, pictures, movement and sound that they may not have had the opportunity to do before. I believe curriculum should be structured to be inclusive and offer every child access to education.

YOUR VIEW
===I would like to see the implementation of an overall broader and more holistic national curriculum. I do agree that both literacy and numeracy are essential building blocks in the education of an individual. However I don't see that they are of greater importance than any other learning experience to be gained. I am only beginning to understand the importance of curriculum and its impact on education, so my following ideas are sure to change with time. I myself am a great believer in the learning of more practical life skills, such as learning to drive and personal financial handling. I think subjects such as these would seem and in fact are of direct relevance to the student. School would not seem to have only 'future' gains, something that i believe alienates a student. The pupil would be able to see the immediate results of their hard work. I would also be interested in seeing basic philosophy and anthropology along with thinking (as a subject) included, Perhaps a subject that is left 'open to discussion' in which the student is able to ask what is of interest to them regarding whats happening in the world around them, the environment, news etc. This could possibly offer an outlet for ideas and opinions involving them in the 'adult world'. The curriculum needs to remain up to date and be capable of evolving alongside society and cutting edge knowledge, tech, etc It should be accessible by all students, and sensitive to all learning capabilities. I believe the curriculum should ensure a present and future in which students are theory and life educated, giving rise to people who are confident, balanced and capable of forging ahead. ===

(Meaghan Wall-Corrie)

 * Your views - response**

I believe the curriculum should include subjects that cover all aspects of multi intelligence (Gardner, 1983) learning. The focus should be on providing a curriculum that develops cognitive, emotional and physical development. Literacy and numeracy should be seen as important as art and Physical education. We need the curriculum to be relevant to our current society and also represent history and the relevant aspects and possibilities of the future. I believe there is a need for a cross curricular understanding between subject teachers so one subject does not stand alone. There is Literacy in numeracy and numeracy in art, helping students to see and understand these links between subjects can help them to become engaged and find relevance in some subject areas they may not have previously been. Subjects such as numeracy, literacy, history, art, geography, science, health and wellbeing, design and technology, Indigenous studies and environmental studies should also be a priority in the curriculum. As society changes so to does our need for curriculum review. The curriculum needs to be relevant, current and ensure students are being taught subjects that foster their development to become effective citizens of society. (Megan North)

Included in the Australia's curriculum should be a well balanced, structured and effective array of subjects that cater for the vast differences and abilities found in todays youth. It should be concurrent with the issues, requirements and expectations of not only todays age but what we envisage the future will hold as well. Studies show that children who lack reading skills have a more difficult time in every school subject. Basic numeracy, literacy and grammar should be instilled in every Australian child, and if that calls for teachers to lift standards and increase their own knowledge due to lack of focus in this area when they were at school, then that is something that time needs to be found for. Second languages should become more of a priority later in a persons education as now that Australia has become such a multicultural country, more and more students already have the skill of speaking English as a second language. The general consensus is todays generation have a distinct lack of basic English skills and in a age where new, radical and innovative teaching methods are a welcome asset, I also fully support that basic old-fashioned tried and true reading and writing skills should be taught and tested. It is quite achievable to install a curriculum that is reinstating some old but powerful methods and enhance them with new technology. As long as a balance is found and the teacher adapts these teaching methods to their students the success seen in the past can once again be achieved. History of Australia should also be compulsory, we are such a proud nation and this pride should live on in future generations. Children should be tough both out Indigenous history and British background in a honest and transparent way. If children know how much Australia has achieved in becoming one of the most liveable countries in the world in such a short amount of time, this pride will continue, thus motivating children to have aims and ambitions for themselves and their country. With the rate of technology advancing every day, and while this is certainly a positive, more and more digital activities are becoming available to children. The down side of this is most of these activities are those participated in indoors. Physical Education throughout Australia should be placed high on the curriculums list of priorities. We are lucky to live in a country where outdoor participation is readily available and keeping kids active will ensure a generation of fit and healthy adults. Sport cultivates a sense of cooperation, assists in development of friendships and fosters an appreciation of what it is to be a good sport. Tie this in with subject areas such food technology and that would be beneficial in educating kids about healthy eating and give them life skills that many parents say they are too busy working to teach, as opposed to in the past where there was often at least one stay at home parent. Children are sponges and if taught hands on how to cook and what the benefits are of eating a well balanced diet they too may present their findings to their own parents and provide a change of thought. Subjects that enable us to incorporate teamwork and build friendships, cooperation and commitment should be highlighted but above all, the love of learning, educational endeavour and placing the children at the centre of my teaching, seeing them and listening to them as citizens of the future who have the right to learn will be my priority. (Kate Shaw)

Your Views - Response - Ceri Rhian Fisher I believe the curriculum should remain focused on numeracy, literacy, geography, international history, science, drama and the arts. It should have variety and within each of these subjects, technology and problem solving should always be incorporated. Australian history, including indigenous studies, should be included to promote the success of the country.

Children need to be equipped with the ability to make decisions and lessons should be appropriate linked to subject matters children can relate to. Interlinking subjects is a good way to keep the children engaged, for example, working on some numeracy skills during PE or drama.

I am not in favour of religion being in the curriculum during the early years (unless it is a religiously aligned school). Young children are very literal and if, for example you are teaching science theories on evolution one day, and the next day a religious aspect, they will be confused. However in the latter years of the primary curriculum, religious education should be introduced in the form of an overview rather than choosing a specific religion.

I think the curriculum should be well balanced, but also meet the needs of our forever changing multi-cultural and technological society. Numeracy and Literacy are the most important subjects and that should remain; however all other domains listed in the VELS are equally important for a well rounded education. Aside from the academic subjects, I think life skills would be an appropriate inclusion into the curriculum. Children need learn about leading healthy life styles, how their choices in food and exercise affect their bodies. It would beneficial for children to know about money and how that can affect life style choices (good and bad). Learning about qualities that future employees hold in high regard - teamwork, communication skills, showing initiative and honesty would be valuable. I believe the most important feature of any curriculum is the link between the ‘what’ children learn at school and the ‘how’ they put that education into practise in the real world - a world away from the comfort of teachers and parents. We want our children be active and confident members of our communities and of their own lives.
 * Part 3 – Your Views - Michelle Steenbuck**

Part Three: Your Views: Jodie Hector
Students should have the chance to learn alittle bit of everything from Visual Art to PE. The basics need to be there Literacy & Numeracy but what about visual art, performing art, music, PE, cooking, library and ICT? They need to be incorprated as well to give our students the best start they need access to all above in the curriculum and time in which to explore the subjects/topics. The school my children attend offer all the above. We are the pround owners of The Stephanie Alexander Garden and Fiona from Masterchef!. We have a newly opened Art Gallery where for a month children's artwork is put on display for everybody to see, the children love it and showing off their work. I believe that is what children should be taught a little of everything to set the foundations of their educational journey and already have an idea of where they might want to go instead of having absoluately no idea.

= Part 3: Your Veiws: Jodie Coffey = = I believe that the curriculum is too focused on the areas of literacy and numeracy whilst theses skills are important. Skills in other areas are also significant. I also have the belief that subjects should not always be taught as stand alone units, benefits can be made by including music within subjects and the use of ICT can strengthen student skills in a number of areas. The inclusion of music and art within the class room has significant advantages. For example my daughter (Prep) was struggling to learn in literacy and numeracy the teacher introduced songs about the topics she was introducing and bingo it all made sense to her. Had this approach not been taken then she would remain uninterested or unengaged or falling into the gap as described by Jayne Kearney in What does My School do for non-academic kids? []. Another example of combined curricular subjects and their benefits would be something I happen to have observed within the classroom. A student that had little or no interest and skills in counting now confidently count forwards and backwards after working on an ICT program that gave the inspiration needed for this child to engage in counting. I understand that it is not always possible to provide alternatives for each student to learn but it is something to keep in mind and accommodate where possible. A more flexible curriculum would be fantastic. = Part 3 - Your Views I think the curriculum should include subjects apart from the core subjects (Maths, English) that prepare students for the future, without forgetting about our heritage and our history. The study of Astronomy, for example, will enhance the understanding of space and the universe beyond Earth. I believe the students would really enjoy Astronomy as it is very imaginative and will help them understand why we should look after our planet. Also is not just what we teach in schools but also how we teach it. We may know the subject really well but do we really know how to project that information into students? I think, that a much as the students, teachers need to remind themselves how to teach every so often, and undertake more regular seminars or classes about how to teach.

Liliana

** PART 3: YOUR VIEWS ** ** (TRACIE PIRRO) **

** The fundamental skills of literacy and numeracy should always be the first priority in our education system. Without these skills, children would be unable to effectively learn in other areas. These skills are also required in everyday living and also in workplaces. The purpose of education being to prepare children for life and work in the community, literacy and numeracy are essential. **
 * History is also an important area to focus on, particularly Australian history. To have an understanding and appreciation of when and how our nation was formed, from early settlement through to our current culture, gives a sense of pride. It also fosters empathy for Australia’s Indigenous peoples and immigrants. This is important for tolerance and successful multi-cultural integration. **
 * Geography is important to help children (and adults) find their place in the world. Geographical understanding also enables us to place world events in relation to our own country. **
 * Information and Communications Technology (ICT) should be a priority and can easily be integrated into other subject areas. Our world is so technologically-geared that emerging from school without the skills and confidence to work and communicate in this way would put students at a distinct disadvantage. **
 * The Arts should be a fundamental skill, along with literacy and numeracy. The Arts allow for freedom of expression in an individual way and also teach other essential skills, such as innovative-thinking and problem-solving. I believe the Arts should be integrated into every other subject area. **
 * Another important subject is science. Science fosters curiosity and gives us the understanding that there are important processes in everything that happens around us. This understanding gives children an awareness of the possibilities open to them, both personally and professionally. **
 * Health and Physical Education are of particular importance in this day and age. With electronic communication and machines to do almost everything for us, it is well-documented that we are becoming an inactive society. Health and Physical Education provides at least some exercise for children and gives them an awareness of the importance of looking after their bodies. **
 * Personal Learning is an essential skill which is often overlooked. Children need to be taught the value of self-learning. If we teach our children to merely remember facts, we are not really teaching them anything at all. If, on the other hand, we teach children to learn, we are giving them a skill they can use for the rest of their lives. I believe this area of learning should also be used to foster a curiosity for learning. If children are enthusiastic about learning, they will become life-long learners, allowing them to continually improve themselves. **
 * Interpersonal Development is also an important skill area. We are required to possess and use interpersonal skills in every area of our lives, for the rest of our lives. Luckily, this skill is learned and developed in every area of school. Children are required to communicate appropriately with each other, with teachers and with visitors. They are also required to work in teams for various activities. There are so many opportunities every day to develop this skill, I do not believe it is necessary to have an Interpersonal Development subject. Monitoring children’s progress in this area and intervening if and when necessary is sufficient. **


 * One thing missing from our curriculum is social and global responsibility. So many of our current issues would not exist if we had been teaching these responsibilities to children at school. By teaching it in school, children would view it as a genuine responsibility and would come to accept it as part of their lives. We are currently trying to change people’s attitudes towards looking after our environment, protecting our wildlife and their habitats, responsibility for disadvantaged people and many other issues. Had we been teaching these responsibilities to our children in school, these issues would possibly not exist. **
 * Another issue which should be taught in school is how to live within our means. We currently have a culture of living on credit. We constantly hear in the media about the large amounts of debt people are in due to credit. Many would argue that this is the responsibility of parents, rather than teachers, however many parents don’t possess the required skills themselves. This skill could be integrated into the maths curriculum and should be ongoing throughout primary and secondary school. **


 * Part 3 - MY VIEWS - Bianca-Jade Sly. **

What do I think should be taught in schools? I personally believe that from the early years right through to at least year 9 students should be presented with education on 6 basic subjects these being; - History/ Geography/humanities I feel this is important as students should understand the backgrounds of their country and other countries alike as well as have basic geographical knowledge about the world in which they live in. - Literacy / English English is the number one language of the world, something I feel needs to be taught. - Mathematics In my opinion basic mathematical knowledge is needed for day-to-day living. - Physical Education/ Health (including food tech) Obesity is a national issue, something I feel needs to be addressed right from an early age, a step in the right direction is educating our next generations about healthy living, health and physical education. - Science Science is something that I personally find intriguing and believe is beneficial for students as it allows them to see just what is involved in living and non living things. - The Arts (music and visual arts). I feel that the Arts are beneficial for development in co-ordination as well as vocal and auditory development.

I know this is how it worked for me at school and in my opinion it ensured that we as students were educated in a number of different curriculum areas, that allowed us to work to our strengths, build on our weaknesses and realise interests and potential future goals or careers. I do feel that from year 10 upwards students should be allowed to choose subjects based on what they want to do in their future. I do believe though that English should be compulsory, but maybe not needing to be included in your final score.