Background Research on Student Development
The emphasis on stages of learning was a deliberate design element of the Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS) and has a strong research base.
As part of the preliminary work for the development of the VELS, two discussion papers were prepared focusing on characteristics of learners at different stages of cognitive and social development. The papers provided theoretical background and informed the development of the statements for each of the three stages of learning, the level statements and the setting of standards across the domains at age and developmentally appropriate levels.
Social Development and Learning
Social, emotional and cognitive development and its relationship to learning in school Prep to Year 10 (PDF - 192KB)
- Introduction, page1
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- The developing mind and brain, page 1
- The link between emotions and cognition, page 2
- Emotional intelligence, page 2
- Brain research and implications for learning, page 3
- Career focus in the Later years, page 11
- Conclusion, page 12
- Bibliography, page 14
- General References, page 16
Prep to Year 10 Learner characteristics (PDF - 225KB)
- Introduction, page 1
- Section 1: An orienting perspective, page 2
- Section 2: The development of the thinking child, page 4
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- Overarching ideas, page 4
- Core cognitive competencies, page 6
- Section 3: Children’s views of themselves as learners, page 9
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- Curiosity and interest, page 9
- Conceptions of ability, page 10
- Task value, page 11
- Achievement of goals, page 11
- Self-concept and self-perception, page 13
- Section 4: ICT and student engagement with learning, page 14
- Summary, page 15
- References, page 18
