The draft NSW
Science K-10 syllabus - Version 2
(incorporating Science and
Technology K-6)
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.
Overview
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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
New NSW syllabuses
(ACARA)
(Board of Studies NSW)
Year-based Content
Stage-based Outcomes
and content
General capabilities,
Cross-curriculum
priorities
Learning across the
curriculum areas
embedded in content as
appropriate to individual
Learning Areas
Implementation Timeframe
Education Ministers
approve validated
Australian
Curriculum
achievement
standards.
Board of Studies
NSW considers
consultation
feedback and
revises syllabuses.
2011
Term 4
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.
2012
Teacher
professional
learning for new
syllabuses.
Implementation of
new syllabuses.
School
programming and
development of
teaching, learning
and assessment
materials.
2013
2014
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 2012.
• 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
• Rationales not clear statements of the place and
purpose of K-6 and 7-10 syllabuses
• Values and attitudes not emphasised sufficiently
within the Rationale, Aims and Objectives
• Layout confusing – especially representation of the
Australian Curriculum
• Relationship between strands and sub strands
unclear (K - 6) – diagrams needed
Key issues from consultation on Version 1
• Syllabus requirements in relation to content K-6
unclear – a large amount of prescriptive content
• Outcomes unclear or multi-dimensional – not useful for
programming or assessment purposes
• Outcomes sometimes inconsistent with associated
content
• Coding of outcomes would be useful for programming
Key issues from consultation on Version 1
• Too much content K-10
• Content prescriptive, with some inflexibility in
programming
• Coding of content would be useful for programming
• Cross curriculum areas not always embedded well
• Dataloggers should not be required equipment
What’s changed
from Version 1
to Version 2?
What’s changed from Version 1 to Version 2 ?
• Rationales revised to be more succinct
• Layout revised – Australian Curriculum removed, but coded
• Values and attitudes emphasised and reordered in Rationale,
Aims, Objectives
• Strand names changed in Years 7-10 to match K-6 strand
names
• Diagrams added to represent the relationship between strands
and sub strands
• Flexibility for programming improved – the requirement to
teach prescriptive ‘blocks’ of content has been removed
What’s changed from Version 1 to Version 2 ?
• The emphasis on teaching knowledge and understanding
content through the skills of Working Scientifically and
Technologically K-6 has been softened
• Outcomes coding has changed
• Outcomes revised and number increased (K-6) to reduce
multi-faceted outcomes
• Outcomes revised for consistency with associated content
What’s changed from Version 1 to Version 2 ?
• Amount of content has been reduced
• Related Life Skills coded in Outcomes
• Dataloggers are now optional but not required
equipment in Years 7-10
• Using ‘specialised tools, materials, equipment and
techniques’ in Years K-6 has been changed to using ‘a
range of tools, materials, equipment and techniques’
What is the
syllabus structure
in Version 2?
Syllabus structure in Version 2
• Background Information
• K-6
 Rationale
 Aims
 Objectives
 Outcomes
 Content
 Assessment
• 7-10
 Rationale
 Aims
 Objectives
 Outcomes
 Content
 Life Skills
• Continuum of learning (K-10)
• Stage Statements (ES1 to S5)
• Assessment
• Glossary (K-10)
Syllabus structure K-6 –
organisation of content
Syllabus structure K-6 –
skills
Syllabus structure K-6 –
knowledge and understanding
Syllabus structure 7-10 –
organisation of content
Syllabus structure 7-10 –
skills
Syllabus structure 7-10 –
knowledge and understanding
Key issues
for consultation
on Version 2
Key issues for consultation on Version 2
• Are the rationales succinct statements of the place and
purpose of Science?
• Is the relationship between science and technology K-6 clear
and appropriate?
• Are the revised strand names appropriate for Years 7-10?
• Is the relationship between the strands and substrands clearly
represented? Are the diagrams useful?
• Is the teaching and learning through Working Scientifically
and Working Technologically emphasised appropriately K-6 ?
• Is the relationship between Outcomes, Content and Stage
Statements clear?
Key issues for consultation on Version 2
• Are the Outcomes, Content and Stage Statements useful for
programming, assessment and reporting?
• Are the Outcomes clear and unambiguous statements of
specific intended learning?
• Is the amount of content manageable K-6 and 7-10 ?
• Is ‘Learning across the curriculum’ content embedded well?
• Would coding of content be useful for programming?
• What specific areas of the syllabus will require targeted
professional learning and/or resourcing?
Key issues for consultation on Version 2
- The interactive online format
• Preview the draft syllabuses in interactive 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.
• Register for a Board of Studies 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.
Preparation
• Keep up to date:
o Watch the NSW Curriculum & Learning Innovation
Centre’s website (www.clic.det.nsw.edu.au).
o Watch the Board of Studies website
(www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au). Note that you can
register for Board of Studies weekly bulletins.