VCE Information Evening

1
VCE Information Evening

• For students entering
• Year 11 2009
• Tuesday 19 August 2008

2
Outline of the Evening

• Peter Tooke, Deputy Headmaster Welcome
• Daniel McCoppin, Senior School Curriculum
  Coordinator Overview of the Information Evening
• Four break-out options
• 1. The structure and function of the VCE
  Daniel McCoppin/Chris Bradtke, Director of
  Teaching and learning. Venue Higgins Theatrette
• 2. Making Choices Elaine Hosie, Director of
  Educational Services.
• Venue Seminar Room 1, Level 2.
• 3. Course Selection Considerations Frank
  Thompson, Director of Career Development/Hermione
  Skadiang, Careers Advisor (Careers Centre).
• Venue Seminar Room 2, Level 2.
• 4. Student Perspective Luther Ellis (Py),
  School Vice Captain Richard Armit, School House
  Captain.
• Venue Year 12 Area, Level 2.
• NB each option will run three times

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Overview of the process

• Opportunity to clarify aspects of the VCE
  before making subject choices.
• Handbooks (available on MGS web site)
• VCE Information Evening - Feb
• Yr 10 Parent Teacher Student interviews
  March, Sem 1 August, Sem 2
• Subject Selection Forms Returned to HoH by
  September 1
• Student consultation with Director of Career
  Development

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Outline of the Evening

• Session 1 7.45 - 8.05
• Session 2 8.15 - 8.35
• Session 3 8.45 - 9.05
• Refreshments available in Foyer

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VCE summary

• The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
  (VCAA) administers the Victorian Certificate of
  Education (VCE)
• 2 year Certificate
• MGS offers 46 subjects most of which comprise 4
  semester length units selected from
• English group
  
• English
  
• or ESL
  
• or Literature
  
• Units from subjects other than from the English
  group

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Satisfactory completion of VCE VCAA / VTAC
requirements

• 16 units over 2 years which must include
• 3 Units from the English group with at
• least one unit at Unit 3 or Unit 4 level
• 3 Unit 3/4 sequences (other than English)

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MGS Academic Programme

• Subjects/studies are made up of Units numbered
  1,2,3 or 4. Each unit is taken over a Semester (2
  Terms)
• An MGS student programme will consist of
  either
• 7 or 6 subjects/studies (14 or 12 units) in 2009
• and
• 5 subjects/studies (10 units) in 2010
• either 24 or 22 units over the 2 year course

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MGS Academic Programme

• In 2009 an MGS programme for a year 11 student
  will therefore consist of either
• 7 subjects/studies (14 VCE units) - to maximise
  breadth prior to choosing 5 to continue with in
  year 12, 2010
• Or
• 6 subjects/studies (12 VCE units) prior to
  choosing 5 in year 12, 2010.
• Students who take up the option of selecting 6
  VCE studies will be automatically programmed to
  take a short course titled Lifelong Leadership
  Skills. This course will consist of 15 lessons to
  be led by the Director of Leadership.
• The remaining class time is dedicated to
  supervised Study Periods

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Modified courses

• Exceptions to be negotiated with
• Educational Services Department
• Head of House
• Senior School Curriculum Coordinator

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Unit 3/4 Studies

• Approx. 90 of MGS students undertake a study at
  Unit 3/4 level as one of their 6 or 7 in Year 11.
• Advantages in studying a Unit 3/4 at Yr 11
• ENTER generated with 6 subjects
• Knowledge of the assessment protocols
• Disadvantages
• Not as many study periods or rostered
  off periods as in Year 12
• No direct building block skills and
  knowledge developed in Units 1 and 2
• Application Form on back of Subject Selection
  Form.
• Yr 10 results min of B average needed to
  accelerate.

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Assessment Satisfactory completion

• Units 1 and 2
• Learning Outcomes
• Satisfactory or Not Satisfactory to VCAA
• Assessment Tasks provide Levels of
  Achievement
• Reported to parents as grades A to E. The
  grade level is based on criteria set by teachers
  within school departments.

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Assessment Satisfactory Completion

• Units 3 and 4
• For satisfactory completion
• Learning Outcomes
• Satisfactory or Not satisfactory to VCAA
• For levels of achievement
• 50 internal (in most studies)
• School-assessed coursework series of
  tasks
• 50 external (in most studies)
• Examination
• Coursework statistically moderated against
  exam(s) and, where appropriate, the GAT.

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• General Achievement Test (GAT)
• A 3-hour test undertaken by students enrolled in
  one or more unit 3/4.
• Used in
• - statistical moderation of coursework against
  exam performance
• - Derived Exam Scores
• - Some middle band selection for tertiary courses
  

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Special Provisions Available to students who
suffer a significant impairment or problem

• Modification of programs and/or delivery
• School-based assessment (SACs SATs)
• rescheduling/extensions/technological
  aids/derived scores/other aids
• Special exam arrangements
• rest breaks/extra time/separate
  supervision/technological aids/other aids
• Derived Examination Scores for problems
  immediately before
• or during exams not chronic problems

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Authenticity School Assessed Tasks (SACs and
SATs) must be completed within fixed time frames
and be verified as being the work of the student
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Extension Studies / Enhancement Programs For
exceptionally able students are undertaken as
part of the second year of VCE
17
Credit Transfer Satisfactory Completion of VCE,
VET or VCAL units taken elsewhere within Victoria
can be credited and added to those completed at
MGS. Application can also be made for studies
completed interstate or overseas as part of the
VCE.
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All explained in the VCE Handbook. It is
important that students speak to their teachers,
Heads of House Mr Frank Thompson (Careers).
Further advice can be gained from Mrs Christine
Ford, Mr Chris Bradtke or Mr Daniel McCoppin
(Curriculum Office)
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Timeline

• Semester 2 Parent/Teacher/Student interviews,
  Monday 25 August
• Return forms to Head of House by Monday 1
  September, 2008
• Number of classes and staffing determined on the
  basis of those returns
• Career Development Department will check all
  course selections
• Changes to subject choices can be made later but
  timetabling constraints apply

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MGS Curriculum Office
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Heads of Faculty
Consultation at Year 10 Parent-Teacher-Student
Evening

• Creative Performing Arts Faculty
• Ms Cat Poljski
• English Faculty
• Mr Stephen Dessants
• Health Physical Education Faculty
• Mr Nathanael Coull
• Humanities Faculty
• Mr J Hamilton

• L.O.T.E. Faculty
• Mrs Florence Guthrie
• Mathematics Faculty
• Mr Lawrence Doolan
• Science and Technology Faculty
• Mr Guy Evans
• Social Sciences Faculty
• Ms Leanne Forbes

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Melbourne Grammar SchoolVCE Information Evening
Refreshments and Informal Questions in Entry Foyer