Plus Minus Interesting

Plus

- skills necessary for working in workplace
- inclusion special needs
- balanced document overall - incorporate different theoretical perspectives & models
 cross component documents
- explicit - definitions of key terms and context
- continuum of learning in English K - 12; transitions between Stages
- assessment practices with emphasis on explicit criteria, feedback, reflection by students - self & peer assessment, collaborative skills

Minus
- 1. no reference to 21st century education and society, or acknowledgment of rapid changes and need for students to have those skills of learning how to learn - flexibility

2.  little reference to communicating & collaborating globally

3. ICT section - needs to be broadened - to incorporate rapid changes happening - to include global collaboration as mentioned above -  does not bring in social networking, use of technologies such as mobile devices  - also need to greater emphasis beyond “ethics of information” to include digital citizenship

4. Although academic honesty (bibliographies, citation) is included within the content section (Outcome 11) this is a major issue that all subject areas need to address. Academic honesty needs to be included within the Rationale for English (and other subject areas) and also further noted in the cross component topic

5. Only reference to international mindedness is minimal - “multicultural nature of Australia” and “understanding indigenous history and culture in Australia and internationally” & “difference & diversity” - very generic

6. no reference to supporting mother language of students I.e supporting the multilingual nature of Australia. Research is shows that mother language development is essential for development of English language  (Jim Cummins www.fiplv.org/Issues/CumminsENG.pd
   
7. greater emphasis required on student reflection, and personal assessment - currently 4 teacher directed assessment indicators cf 1 student focus indicator “helps students take responsibility for their own learning”

Interesting 

Interestingly, I read the National English Curriculum: Framing Paper, and the issue of 21st century education is addressed - see Section A Futures Orientation. Let us hope that it will be evident in the National Curriculum when adopted and released.The framing paper acknowledges Students who are learning English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D) make up about one-quarter of the Australian school population. They are over-represented in the lower achievement levels in literacy assessment. Proof that our education system needs to look more closely at addressing this issue.