Review of Geography education in NSW K12

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Review of Geography education in NSW K-12

• GTA meeting 15 February 2007
• Lindsay Swan
• Inspector, Human Society and Its Environment

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Review of Geography education in NSW K-12

• Following a recommendation in the 2006 HSIE
  Syllabus Evaluation Report, during 2007 the Board
  of Studies is conducting a review of Geography
  education K-12. The review aims to canvas views
  about the current state of geography education in
  NSW in K-6, Years 7-10 and in Years 11-12.
• The aim is to determine the nature of
  geographical education in NSW schools and
  consider ways to reverse the decline in student
  enrolments in Stage 6 Geography.
• As a result of the review a report will be
  provided to the Board of Studies as part of the
  2007 HSIE Syllabus Evaluation Report.

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Review of Geography education in NSW K-12K-6
HSIE

• Many K-6 teachers adopt an integrated programming
  model for HSIE and other KLAs, especially English
  and/or Science and Technology.
• Seen by many as a positive feature of the
  flexible HSIE syllabus.
• A reduced focus on HSIE learning, especially
  skills development, and lack of continuity for
  student learning within HSIE.
• Question of how much actual geography students in
  primary schools engage with.

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Review of Geography education in NSW
K-12Years 7-10

• As the Years 7-10 Geography syllabus was
  implemented from 2004, there is limited data
  apart from anecdotal feedback.
• Some of the comments from teachers indicate that
  the Geography syllabus has been well received.
• Teachers appreciate the reduced content and the
  learn about and learn to format.
• Implementation of the revised Years 7-10
  syllabuses will continue to be monitored.

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Review of Geography education in NSW
K-12Years 7-10

• Questions of implementation and possible
  implications for Stage 6 Geography
• Syllabus
• Programming
• Student engagement
• Resources
• Fieldwork
• Staffing
• Timetable issues
• AHGCC Test
• Choosing Stage 6 Geography?

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Review of Geography education in NSW
K-12Stage 6

• Decline in enrolments from the early 1990s.
• 1990 - 15225 students (from fewer total number of
  students to HSC)
• by 1995 dropped to 10081 (34 decline)
• 2000 enrolments were 6213 (a further decline of
  38 and a decline overall since 1990 of 59).
• The decline has continued during the New HSC with
  an enrolment in 2006 of 4547 (a decline of 27
  since 2000).

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Review of Geography education in NSW
K-12Stage 6

• Geography Stage 6
• Preliminary enrolments
• 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
• 7967 7947 7350 5762 6300 5860
• HSC enrolments
• 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
• 6213 6092 5556 4408 4913 4547

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Review of Geography education in NSW
K-12Stage 6

• Geography HSC performance data

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Review of Geography education in NSW
K-12Review process

• Consultation with teachers
• Broken Hill (22 February), Met South-West (6
  March), Met North (13 March), Hunter (20 March),
  Riverina (27 March).
• Consultation meetings and Focus groups
• Morning 7-12 school
• Afternoon Primary school
• Late afternoon Geography teachers consultation
  meeting
• Morning Years 7-12 teachers from 3 schools
  (where Geography enrolments and student
  engagement is strong/satisfactory/limited)
• Forum of teachers (15-20) from nominated schools
  to discuss range of issues, representing a
  variety of schools (DET/Catholic/Independent) of
  different types (comprehensive/selective/single
  sex/metropolitan/rural) and where Geography
  enrolments and student engagement is
  strong/satisfactory/limited.

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Review of Geography education in NSW
K-12Review process

• Consultation with students
• Focus groups K-6 7-10 11-12
• Morning Years 7-10 and 11-12
• Afternoon Primary school - Years 3-6
• As per teachers in schools consultation schedule
• Consultation with key groups
• GTA Geography Teachers Association
• DET Department of Education and Training
• CEC Catholic Education Commission
• AIS Association of Independent Schools
• Consultation with Academics

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Review of Geography education in NSW
K-12Review process

• Questions of implementation
• Syllabus
• Student engagement
• Resources
• Fieldwork
• HSC Exam assessment
• Work related skills/training/options
• Choosing tertiary Geography?

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Review of Geography education in NSW
K-12Contact

• Lindsay Swan
• Board Inspector HSIE
• Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Email swan_at_boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au