Curriculum Reform
- Background research
- Statewide forums
- Invitational seminar
- Victorian Curriculum Reform 2004 Consultation Paper
- Consultation Questionnaire 2004
- Curriculum Leaders’ Seminars – Term 2 2004
- Development and publication of the Victorian Essential Learning Standards: Stage 1 April – November 2004
- Curriculum Leaders’ Seminars – Term 4 2004
In November 2003, as part of the Blueprint for Government Schools, the Minister for Education and Training asked the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) to develop a new curriculum for all Victorian schools in both government and non-government sectors. The Minister further requested that the new curriculum contain standards of achievement at significant points within the stages of learning that clearly specify what students should know and be able to do.
Blueprint for
Government Schools (PDF - 1024KB)
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Background research
As the first step in responding to the Minister’s request, the VCAA undertook a review of curriculum from 14 national and international jurisdictions.
Curriculum
Victoria: Foundations for the Future (PDF - 319KB)
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Statewide forums
Throughout March 2004, the VCAA organised a series of Statewide forums to inform participants of the key elements of the proposed approach and seek feedback to further inform the development of a consultation paper.
At each consultation forum, an overview of the proposed structure of the new framework was provided. Participants also responded to a series of questions. The Deakin University Consultancy and Development Unit collated the responses from the discussion groups which provided the VCAA with a rich resource of data to assist in shaping the consultation paper.
Invitational seminar
On 29 and 30 March 2004, the VCAA hosted an invitational seminar ‘Towards a framework of essential learning’. The seminar brought together local, interstate and international education experts to highlight the latest thinking in education in order to develop a framework of essential learning that would engage, support and challenge Victorian students in the 21st century.
A fuller description and photographs of events, speakers and panel discussions from the seminar are reported here.
VCAA
Invitational Seminar: Towards a framework of essential learning (PDF -
586KB)
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Victorian Curriculum Reform 2004 Consultation Paper
In April 2004, the VCAA published the Victorian Curriculum Reform 2004 Consultation Paper which outlined the proposed new approach to curriculum, standards and assessment for all Victorian schools and invited responses from stakeholders and schools.
Victorian
Curriculum Reform 2004 Consultation Paper (PDF - 1,019KB)
Guide
to Proposed Reform of Victorian Curriculum (PDF - 366KB)
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Consultation Questionnaire 2004
The consultation process which followed publication of the consultation paper involved a series of regional seminars with more than 800 curriculum leaders, over 30 consultations with principals and other key stakeholders, and included focus groups of randomly selected parents. A key feature of the consultation process was a survey conducted by Deakin University through an online questionnaire which enabled schools, teachers and other members of the educational community to provide feedback on the proposed changes.
Over 1200 schools, organisations and members of the wider community responded to the questionnaire.
Deakin University assisted the VCAA by preparing the Victorian Curriculum Reform 2004: Report on Consultation. This report provides an analysis of responses to the Victorian Curriculum Reform 2004 Consultation Paper.
Victorian
Curriculum Reform 2004: Report on Consultation (PDF - 333KB)
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Curriculum Leaders’ Seminars – Term 2 2004
During Term 2, 2004 the VCAA conducted a series of 10 seminars to support curriculum leaders in facilitating school-based discussions on the Consultation Paper. The seminars included:
- an overview of the themes and challenges in the consultation paper
- a structured discussion that focused on the consultation questions
- an overview of the relationship between the development of the Victorian Essential Learning Standards and other initiatives outlined in the Government’s Blueprint for educational reform
- discussions of issues needing further consideration for feedback to the VCAA.
The PowerPoint presentation, Introducing the Victorian Curriculum Reform 2004 Consultation Paper, used at the seminars, including comprehensive speaker notes; Introducing the Victorian Curriculum Reform 2004 Consultation Paper (PPT - 339KB).
Development and publication of the Victorian Essential Learning Standards: Stage 1 April – November 2004
Following the statewide consultation period during Term 2, the VCAA continued to work with researchers, teachers and schools in analysing responses to the proposed new approach and developing detailed aspects of the Victorian Essential Learning Standards. Much of this work is now presented in these pages, including an overview of the Essential Learning Standards structure, its organising principles and rationale, explanations of the levels and stages of learning, and descriptions of each learning domain.
Curriculum Leaders’ Seminars – Term 4 2004
During Term 4, 2004 the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) in partnership with the Department of Education and Training conducted a series of statewide seminars for curriculum leaders in government and non-government schools. The seminars focused on the key initiatives of Flagship Strategy 1: Student Learning.
Seminar participants were introduced to the key elements of the Victorian Essential Learning Standards – the rationale, purpose, structure, key features and online design. They were also provided with opportunities to reflect on and discuss implications for implementation and planning strategies for their schools.
The PowerPoint presentation used at the seminar; Victorian Essential Learning Standards Introductory PowerPoint Presentation (PPT - 381KB).
