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It is proposed the draft curriculum will be published mid 2006 and distributed to all schools. Following this, the project will enter a consultation phase in which the Ministry of Education will be seeking feedback until late 2006.
The draft learning area introduction and achievement objectives have been signed off by the overall reference group, and are being prepared for publication.
The physical world section, in particular, has received a lot of attention, and the contributions of a large group of physics teachers and academics has been appreciated. These generous contributions have been mirrored in the way practitioners and academics have provided advice across the science curriculum.
We look forward to the responses of teachers and others involved in implementing the curriculum as they consider the draft. We are aware that the parameters worked within and the choices made will stimulate some keen debate.
The writers expect to be working together later in the year to respond to suggestions made in this feedback.
Numerous groups and individuals have been involved in developing and providing feedback as the science curriculum has taken shape over the past two years.
Fine tuning has continued since the writing group meeting in late November 2005, and work continues in physics.
It is proposed the draft curriculum will be published mid year and distributed to all schools. Following this, the project will enter a consultation phase in which the Ministry of Education will be seeking feedback until late this year.
The writing group met in mid November 2005 to continue work on the essence statement and achievement objectives and to consider feedback from the audits that are currently being undertaken on the emerging curriculum.
Some of these audits are to ensure that the following future-focused themes are apparent:
Other audits are concentrating on diversity, Māori in the mainstream, ESOL (English for speakers of other languages), financial literacy, and special education.
A draft curriculum will be published in 2006 for feedback and trialling.
The writing group will meet in mid November 2005 to continue work on the essence statement and achievement objectives and to consider feedback from the audits that are currently being undertaken on the emerging curriculum.
Some of these audits are to ensure that the following future-focused themes are apparent:
Other audits are concentrating on diversity, Māori in the mainstream, ESOL (English for speakers of other languages), financial literacy, and special education.
A draft curriculum will be published in 2006 for feedback and trialling.
The writing group has developed a new version of the achievement objectives (see above).
The emerging curriculum is currently undergoing various audits to identify cross-disciplinary connections, and to ensure that the following future-focused themes are apparent:
We have been receiving a great deal of feedback about the current working draft. One of the challenges is sifting through that feedback, aligning it with the role of national curriculum (setting direction for learning), and addressing a wide range of needs – science for citizenship as well as science for further study and work in science. What is most impressive is the effort people are putting in to provide that feedback and advice.
Some of the comments have highlighted a need among teachers for further guidance in their planning. To that end we have begun to collect suggestions for second tier material – examples, sample learning contexts, possible learning and assessment activities – and even initial third tier ideas – possibilities for schools working together to develop schemes, units, and collations and revisions of current resources.
Writing groups have met (and continue to do so at a distance). The reference group has also met and provided an overview. Their contribution is much appreciated. The writers are mostly teachers (with two ex-teachers, now researchers) and are able to draw on their own and their school colleagues’ experience from junior primary to senior secondary.
There will be a short break as the material has been forwarded for auditing by a number of groups. These will consider inter-curriculum alignment and how the future-focused themes work through the learning areas. Once the audits are complete, the writers will prepare the draft curriculum that will be circulated to schools and more widely for consultation.
During this break we will be receiving and collating further feedback. The New Zealand Association of Science Educators (NZASE) will continue to be involved in this process.
A
revised version of the Science essence statement (Word, 25 KB)
has been developed.
The writing group has redrafted the integrating strands. These have been collapsed into one strand provisionally called 'Developing Scientific Competencies' incorporating a focus on the 'Understandings About Science', 'Investigating', 'Critical literacy', and 'Action Competence'.
You may view and provide feedback on these working documents on the Curriculum Project Online.
The writing group met on 10–11 June 2005 to further refine the work in the light of feedback received.
A science reference group meeting will be held to consider the work of the writing group.
A new site has been developed, Curriculum Marautanga Project Online – Science, to provide information and a feedback facility for the science community.
Considerable feedback on the
Science essence statement (March 2005 version) (Word, 34 KB)
from around the country.
The writing group has redrafted the integrating strands. These have been collapsed into one strand provisionally called 'Developing Scientific Competencies' incorporating a focus on the 'Understandings About Science', 'Investigating', 'Critical Literacy', and 'Action Competence'.
An initial draft of each of the contextual strands ('Living World', 'Physical World', 'Material World', and 'Planet Earth and Beyond').
The writing group met on 7–8 February, 9–10 March, and 21–22 April 2005.
The writing group meets again 10–11 June 2005 to further refine the work in the light of feedback received.
A science reference group meeting will be held following this.
Contributions to the discussion on the draft essence statement are requested.
The draft
Science essence statement, March 2002 (Word, 34 KB)
is receiving largely positive feedback and further contributions.
Work continues on the draft achievement aims and achievement objectives.
Guidelines for the developers of the aims and objectives for the contextual strands.
The science advisers have discussed the project a number of times and are meeting again in June 2005 to further workshop. They have also responded to listserv questions.
The contextual strand writing group to meet in April 2005.
The forum on Curriculum Project Online is a key vehicle for those interested in participating in the development of the science curriculum. After this initial phase of collecting responses and collating them, a smaller expert writing group will develop draft statements for the achievement aims and objectives, and the aims and objectives for the contextual strands for further feedback.
The project draws on a number of inputs. An important process in developing the curriculum is gathering the views of practitioners and academics in science education.
New Zealand Association of Science Educators (NZASE)
March – Hamilton, Auckland
April – Dunedin
May – Nelson, Auckland, Wellington, Palmerston North
June – Napier
New Zealand Association of Science Educators (NZASE)
November – Kerikeri, Whangarei, Christchurch
19 May 2003: Workshop held at The Archives (representatives of the teacher organisations, science education researchers, the Ministry).
Published on: 13 Sep 2007
