Your+views+Jenna+06

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.

NB: Hi Guys - please also click on the 'Discussions' link at the top of this page to view some of your other colleagues postings, which were inadvertantly posted on the wrong spot. (Sharon Fraser)

**What I think should be taught** (Adam Crowe)
I work in an International school that uses an Inquiry based approach to learning. I have really enjoyed working in this program as most subjects are integrated around a theme/unit/central idea, taught in context and with a purpose. For example, students may be inquiring into Habitats and will need to use non-fiction books. During literacy, the teacher then teacher them how to use a non-fiction book, such as contents and index pages and how this will help them find what they are looking for. The students learn a literacy skill while find out information relevant to their question. As I am a hands on learner, I feel purpose and reason is the most important factor in teaching. I look back on my high school days and don’t remember a lot of what was taught as most of it had no relevance to me. I personally have not used any of the complex maths formulas that we had to learn in high school maths, and although I recognise that some people will go on to use these in their line of work, most people will not. I believe high school, in particular should focus on more practical areas that majority of their student body will use after school, not just the academics.

What do I think should be in the curriculum? (Jodie Watson) I feel that the basics like literacy, maths, science, history and P.E. are important along with art, music and computer studies as a beginning at Primary School. Students need to learn values like honesty, respect towards teachers and other students as well. As students grow there needs change and as they head into High School and prepare for life after then, they need to make decisions about where their futures lie and need more choice (or electives) to choose from, along with having the basics subjects carried through. Some students are more art focused, or trade focused or academically minded and the curriculum needs to be flexible to cater for that. Students - now a day need more IT knowledge then when I went to school, they also need to know how to manage money, some understanding of how to avoid excessive & unnecessary debt.

What i think should be taught (Cameron Grenhill) I feel that from the responses that i have read that there are a lot of people that would like to keep the old conventional subjects in the curriculum, and i for one am with you! The subjects have been tried and tested over the years and have worke. Children need this as a basis for their futures, and knowledge for their adult lives. One thing that i do feel must change is what he children are taught in history. From my point of view i feel the children of today should be studying the history of the nation that we call home, Australia! I am shocked to learn that a lot of childen that i have spoken to or quizzed on the history of our own country have no idea when this land was first settled. Have lttle knowledge of our indigenous background and generally how Australia became the country it is today. Sure, keep the conventional headings but revamp the structure of what it is that they will learn.

__​__ What I think should be in the curriculum (Joanne Wagenknecht) I think the National Curriculum is a positive step forward for Education. Having the knowledge that all students in the country are learning similarly, is a great thing for teachers and families who want to move interstate. If the NAPLAN is to be continued in the current way, then the National Curriculum is the way to go. In doing this though, I hope their stronghold over teachers and schools does not turn into a huge uproar ie forcing the sacking of 'incompetant' teachers via the NAPLAN outcomes. I think we need to have a diverse curriculum in which all core subjects are included and can be integrated across the curriculum. For example, if ICT can be contsructed in such a way to incorporate literacy or maths, then there is incidental learning on both accounts.The teaching staff will need to be proactive and creative in their lesson planning in all subjects in an already very busy timetable. Students need to know the basics to experience school to its potential. This will then enable students to be active participants in their communities later in life. However, as educators we cannot underestimate the students interest in a particular subject and the positive or negative impact it will have on their schooling experience. I think the more choices in subjects, especially for younger students, would benefit all stakeholders.

__What i think should be taught (Ursula Marley)__ I personally believe that the traditional subjects (English, Maths, etc.) are good for students to learn, and that they definitely need to be learning about them. Even though they’re not always the most interesting subjects, they are necessary for later in life. If kids got their own way, and only learnt the ‘fun’ subjects, then they wouldn’t have the basic skills to help them in the real world. I think an important issue is making the subjects more fun for the students, engaging them through activities and different teaching methods. I also think that multimodal teaching is a great way to go about doing this, as long as you make it interesting and relevant to the topics that are being taught. Personally, I believe that learning about other Literacy novels, rather than the traditional ones, should be implemented. There are so many great novels out there; I just don’t think that Shakespeare is that important in this day and age. I also think that a good balance between the traditional subjects and the supplementary ones, such as music, art, home economics, etc, is an important thing to have. These ‘fun’ subjects are just as important as the traditional ones, and are just as beneficial. I think that what is being taught in schools at the moment is fairly spot on, although I do think that an Australia-wide curriculum is a good thing to have. It’s really hard for students who move between the states to keep up with their learning if the curriculum is not the same across the country (speaking from experience).

__What I think should be in the Curriculum? (Kim Braslin)__ I think that we should have a balanced Curriculum between traditional (tried and tested) subjects and modern, relevant issues. Today’s society calls for our students to have an up to date understanding of technological development. Computer skills are highly valued in most industries as are communication, decision making and planning skills. Personal choices such as healthy living, morals, ethics and values should also be included. I think that the Arts are very important, as are Languages, Science, Social Science and Geography.

Particularly during the last year of High School, students also need the opportunity to explore career and study pathways and get an understanding of the many options that are available to them when they do leave school.

An understanding of other Cultures, the History of Australia and how we fit into the rest of the world should also be taught. I remember traveling through Europe and feeling ignorant from my lack of Education in World Affairs.

It needs to be recognised that each student has individual needs and learning styles, and they should be given the opportunity to explore and develop themselves and their skills through various modes. <span style="color: #80006d; display: block; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">I have to say that I agree with a National Curriculum; as long as it allows individual schools to adapt and fine tune it to the specific needs of their student body. I am against NAPLAN however, I feel it places a lot of stress on students and schools to conform to a system that is a narrow judgement of achievement.

<span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">MY BELIEFS ON WHAT WE SHOULD TEACH (BRUCE WOODCOCK)

<span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Curriculum, as I have learned, has a very broad meaning. There are many aspects to a curriculum, all being dependant on the area in which we live. Other things to take into deciding your curriculum are the many stakeholders within. In saying this I believe there are still many important parts to a curriculum and a students education. <span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Some of which include:
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Literacy and numeracy skills with ongoing scaffolding of learning to challenge the student.
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Historical education beit through History and/or SOSE (which I believe in under review from the National Curriculum).
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Life skills. Life tutoring, mentoring.
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Physical Education including sex education.
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Many electives should also be on offer such as trade work.
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Economics (seperate from Maths).
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Computer technology.

<span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">I included economics as I recall my time at school and this subject was as close to reality as I could get. Maybe it was the teachers skills however much of our task work was on day to day living and was of interest to all. I use these skills even today!

<span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">In summarising, tachnology is playing a larger role in society and many of these subjects, if not all, should be offered in on-line format, similar to how we are learning now.

<span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Thanks for reading,

<span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Bruce Woodcock

=my view(Caroline Bate)= =||||||||~ || || || [|caroline.bate]  After reading and interviewing I believe that sticking to the tried and tested curricullum of the main core subjects, the majority of the students seem to be aware of there importance. I agree with the article in The Parenting magazine of introducing Life skills and finance management. There is a high poverty rate in Western Australia and Tasmania where I have just moved from and the basic life skills and finance management could only benefet students as they enter the wide world. Computer Technology should also play an important part as it is the way of the 21st Century. ||= =<span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">__Sharon Jones__ = <span style="color: #365f91; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Much is made of Vygotsky's views and theories, such as learning taking place through interacting with a more knowledgeable person. In society should it be any different? Doesn't it make sense to allow older and wiser (and more knowledgeable) people make crucial decisions as the younger and less experienced learn from them and in turn, then become the older decision-makers in society. <span style="color: #365f91; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">In the matter of curriculum, my view is that those who are involved in revision should be guided by the experienced and mostly older members of our society. It's great to involve younger members and students in the conversation as it is beneficial for all to start to think deeply on such important subjects. Young people want what they want: fun and what they see as relevance. Due to their youth, they are unable to evaluate and understand the consequences of many ideas that appear to be right to the inexperienced mind. <span style="color: #365f91; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Also, families need to assume responsibility again, teaching values, manners, life skills and the many other skills that schools are called upon to add to their already crowded timetable. Families in the home environment and educators in the school environment should model kindness, manners, understanding and empathy etc as part of their very important job in relating to and educating students. <span style="color: #365f91; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Primary school education should stick to elementary subjects and various other subjects added as electives in secondary schooling as has been the practice for some decades that I know of. <span style="color: #365f91; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">This is an extremely interesting discussion but I have been disappointed at the lack of interest shown by educators in my workplace in discussing what they think should be taught.

<span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;">What I think should be taught within the curriculum. (Jennifer Thomas)

<span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">The core subjects of maths, english,science and history are important as I feel these subjects are the backbone of an educational curriculum. These subjects﻿ (especially maths and english) ﻿provide students with the necessary knowledge to be able to move on the higher education and/or workforce successfully.It is probably the content of what is taught within these core subjects that has the greater impact on student's education. I feel that it is also important to balance these core subjects with the Arts. I think it is essential that more life based electives are included within the curriculum such as finance skills, how to think critically and reflect and definately ICT skills. These types of subjects would assist students to live and function productively in the community as adults. Even though the curriculum can become overcrowded with all this extra subject matter; perhaps the best way to overcome this would be to integrate these life skills within the core subjects.

What I think should be taught? (Bethany Armstrong)
=== I believe taht Litercay is vital for students and this helps them in other learning areas. Maths, science, integrated studies e.t.c are also important. Students need to be given the opportunity in other learning areas so they are able to use their gifts. e.g. art. It is coming more part of our world and students need to be able to use computers effectively. It should be integrated in every subject. I also believe taht subjects like financial literacy should be taught to help students build life skills for the future. ===

<span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">What I think should be taught! (Nicola Conroy)
<span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">I believe that it is extremely important to have a varied curriculum. I feel that the core subjects of Literacy, Maths, Science and History provide the students with the knowledge and experience required to participate in further education and adult working life. From these core subjects I think the other subjects such as ICT, PE, Arts, Music etc should be integrated into the lessons. In doing this I believe that the students will be provided with an opportunity to participate in the subjects they enjoy while at the same time learning life skills that are required in the workforce. I think it is important to not overcrowd the curriculum. Therefore, it would be essential in teachers planning to combine one of the core subjects with at least one of the other subjects such as ICT. By taking this approach to the curriculum I believe it allows more flexibility to cater to each individual’s style and capabilities of learning.

What I think should be taught! (Laura Jacobs)

Wow that is such a big question!!! my opinion on this question has changed time and time again, but in saying that I believe the subjects that are most important are the subjects that are going to be be essential for the children in the future. In this i mean maths, english, sciences etc. Not saying that the arts are not important because they are. They give children the opportunity to express themselves freely and children should be given that opprtunity. But i think when it comes down to it, subjects like english and maths are essential for us to know. We need these skills for later on in life! I know that if my parents and teachers hadn't given me the math and english skills it would of made it extremely difficult to live in todays society. We all need to read and write!!!!!!. I also agree on Cameron when stating that history is important! I was talking to a grade 8 girl about history and Hitler and she asked me "who was Hitler?" I was absolutely horrified when she asked me this! I think its important for children to know what happened in the past!!!