NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre
Draft Senior Secondary Curriculum
Mathematics
May, 2012
Peter Gould, Group Leader, Mathematics and Numeracy
Overview of Senior Secondary Australian Curriculum
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ACARA has developed draft senior secondary Australian
Curriculum in the four learning areas of English,
mathematics, science and history.
ACARA has specified content and achievement
standards for different subjects within each learning
area.
Curriculum, assessment and certification authorities in
each state or territory (Board of Studies in NSW) are
responsible for the structure and organisation of their
senior secondary courses, as well as assessment and
certification.
NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre
Overview of Senior Secondary Australian Curriculum
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Each subject has been divided into four units.
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Each unit runs for about 50-60 hours, including
assessment, i.e. one half-year semester per unit.
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Units may be studied singly, in pairs (over a year) or as
four units (over two years).
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Each unit identifies particular learning outcomes for
students and content descriptions that outline the
teaching and learning included in the unit.
NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre
Overview of Senior Secondary Australian Curriculum
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Draft senior secondary subjects, including content and
achievement standards, will be available for national
consultation until 20 July 2012.
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NSW has not yet committed to using the senior
secondary Australian Curriculum for English,
mathematics, science and history.
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ACARA has said that current courses not covered by
their proposed subjects, e.g. Extension courses, can still
be offered by states.
NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre
Senior Secondary Mathematics
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Essential
To solve problems in workplace, personal, community and
further learning settings.
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General
Techniques of discrete mathematics, practical geometry
and statistical investigation.
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Mathematical Methods
Use of calculus and statistical analysis.
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Specialist Mathematics
Adds to Mathematical Methods with further work in
functions and calculus as well as probability and statistics.
NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre
Structure and content
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These draft documents should not be
considered as proposed courses of study.
They are descriptions of draft content designed
to provide the basis for senior secondary
curriculum in the future.
The content was developed in units of 50-60
hours duration with 4 units over a 2 year period.
NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre
Structure and content
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Specialist Mathematics is to be studied in
conjunction with Mathematical Methods.
The NSW Board of Studies is responsible for the
structure and organisation of the Senior
Secondary courses and will determine how the
Australian Curriculum content and achievement
standards will be integrated into courses.
NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre
Organisation of the content
Essential
Mathematics
General
Mathematics
Mathematical
Methods
Specialist
Mathematics
Percentages &
rates
Measurement
Algebra
Graphs
Financial
mathematics
Matrices
Graphs & Networks 1
Algebra functions
and graphs 1
Calculus 1
Probability
Recurrence relation
Combinatorics
Geometry
Vectors in the plane
Represent &
compare data
Percentages
Rates & ratios
Time & motion
Statistics 1
Linear equations &
graphs
Shape &
measurement
Algebra functions
and graphs 2
Calculus 2
Discrete Rand Var
Trigonometry
Matrices
Real & complex nos
Graph theory
Measurement
Scales, plans &
models
Graphs
Data collection
Statistics 2
Geometry &
trigonometry
Modelling discrete
growth & decay
Calculus 3
Calculus 4
Cont Rand Variables
Vectors in 3D
System of equations
& matrices
Complex numbers
Functions & calculus
Probability & RF
Earth geometry
Loans &
compound
interest
Financial
mathematics 2
Statistics 3
Graphs & Networks 2
Interval estimates for
proportions and
means
Calculus 5
Further calculus and
applications
Statistical inference
for continuous data
NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre
Essential Mathematics
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Designed to provide students with the skills and
understanding to solve problems in a range of
relevant contexts.
Each unit is supported by two possible contexts
that make use of the content e.g. Unit 2
suggests Mathematics and cars, and
Mathematics and independent living.
NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre
General Mathematics
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Designed for further studies in areas that do not
require knowledge of calculus.
Organised around the areas of discrete
mathematics for financial modelling, network
analysis and project planning, practical
applications of measurement such as
triangulation and navigation, and statistical
processes including investigating associations
and time series.
NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre
Mathematical Methods
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Designed for further university studies that rely
on calculus and statistical analysis.
Organised around the areas of calculus and
statistical analysis, including necessary
prerequisites such as algebra, functions and
their graphs, and probability. The calculus
content will be familiar and the statistics section
includes the notion of a random variable and its
distribution and the nature of inference based on
a random sample from a population.
NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre
Specialist Mathematics
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Designed to be studied in conjunction with the
content in Mathematical Methods.
Builds on functions and calculus from
Mathematical Methods and extends
understanding of probability and statistics.
Specialist Mathematics introduces the topics of
vectors, complex numbers, matrices, and
recursion (including mathematical induction).
NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre
Discussion questions
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Is there evidence of adequate depth and rigour
in the draft content?
Are the achievement standards clear and
pitched at an appropriate level for the content
described?
Do the units contain an appropriate amount of
content for 50-60 hours?
Is the level of detail sufficient to determine the
amount of time spent on teaching applications.
NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre
Consultation
Further information
An overview of the senior secondary Australian
Curriculum for Mathematics can be downloaded
from http://bit.ly/K6aC9q .
ACARA consultation: Before 20 July 2012
To provide your feedback directly to ACARA, go
to http://consultation.australiancurriculum.edu.au
NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre
Contact
Contact details available on the NSW Curriculum and
Learning Innovation Centre website.
http://clic.det.nsw.edu.au/aust_curriculum/contact.htm
NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre