1 STUDIES OF RELIGION CONFERENCE 4 & 5 September 2006 Lindsay Swan Board Inspector - HSIE

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STUDIES OF RELIGIONSTUDIES OF RELIGION

CONFERENCECONFERENCE

4 & 5 September 20064 & 5 September 2006

Lindsay SwanLindsay Swan

Board Inspector - HSIEBoard Inspector - HSIE

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SOR Conference – September 2006SOR Conference – September 2006

• Religious education in NSWReligious education in NSWHSIE K-6 syllabusHSIE K-6 syllabusYears 7-10 and Stage 6 school based, Years 7-10 and Stage 6 school based,

Board endorsed courses, most of which Board endorsed courses, most of which are faith basedare faith based

Stage 6 Studies of Religion I & IIStage 6 Studies of Religion I & IIGeneral religious educationGeneral religious education

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• Stage 6 Studies of Religion I & II Stage 6 Studies of Religion I & II promote an understanding and promote an understanding and critical awareness of the nature and critical awareness of the nature and significance of religion and the significance of religion and the influence of beliefs systems and influence of beliefs systems and religious traditions on individuals religious traditions on individuals and within society.and within society.

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• Stage 6 Studies of Religion I & II and the Stage 6 Studies of Religion I & II and the purpose of the Higher School Certificate purpose of the Higher School Certificate program of study (among other things):program of study (among other things):foster the intellectual, social and moral foster the intellectual, social and moral

development of students, in particular development of students, in particular developing their:developing their:knowledge, skills, understanding, values knowledge, skills, understanding, values

and attitudes through their study of and attitudes through their study of religionreligion

students to manage their own learningstudents to manage their own learningdevelop student desire to continue learning develop student desire to continue learning

in formal or informal settings after schoolin formal or informal settings after school

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• Stage 6 Studies of Religion I & II and the Stage 6 Studies of Religion I & II and the purpose of the Higher School Certificate purpose of the Higher School Certificate program of study (among other things):program of study (among other things):

develop respect for cultural diversity in develop respect for cultural diversity in Australian societyAustralian society

develop student capacity to work develop student capacity to work together with otherstogether with others

provide a context within which schools provide a context within which schools have the opportunity to foster students’ have the opportunity to foster students’ physical and spiritual development.physical and spiritual development.

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• Trends of student enrolments Trends of student enrolments Studies of Religion HSC coursesStudies of Religion HSC courses

2001 2002 2003 2004 2001 2002 2003 2004 20052005

SOR I SOR I 8793 8934 8873 9084 8793 8934 8873 9084 91559155

SOR II SOR II 14251425 1927 2088 1927 2088 2321 2321 2875 2875

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• The Board of Studies approved the The Board of Studies approved the revision of Stage 6 Studies of Religion revision of Stage 6 Studies of Religion in February 2003. This was a result of in February 2003. This was a result of recommendations from the Masters recommendations from the Masters Review of the HSC 2001, submissions Review of the HSC 2001, submissions from individual teachers, the from individual teachers, the professional association, the 2001 and professional association, the 2001 and 2002 examination committees and the 2002 examination committees and the 2001 and 2002 marking centres. 2001 and 2002 marking centres.

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• The revision of the syllabus followed the The revision of the syllabus followed the Board’s syllabus development process which Board’s syllabus development process which uses a project management approach and uses a project management approach and involves four phases:involves four phases:syllabus reviewsyllabus reviewwriting brief developmentwriting brief developmentsyllabus development … and syllabus development … and implementation. implementation.

• Wide consultation with teachers and other Wide consultation with teachers and other interest groups in order to receive the highest interest groups in order to receive the highest quality advice from across the education quality advice from across the education community.community.

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• Syllabus writers were chosen from Syllabus writers were chosen from applications from practitioners of Studies applications from practitioners of Studies of Religionof Religion

• The project was managed by the Board The project was managed by the Board Inspector and overseen by the Studies of Inspector and overseen by the Studies of Religion Board Curriculum Committee Religion Board Curriculum Committee (SOR BCC)(SOR BCC)

• The Board approved key phases of the The Board approved key phases of the syllabus developmentsyllabus development

• New SOR syllabus approved in April 2005New SOR syllabus approved in April 2005

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• Key features of the new syllabus Key features of the new syllabus include:include:A more thorough developmental A more thorough developmental

approach where the HSC course builds approach where the HSC course builds on the Preliminary course in relation to:on the Preliminary course in relation to:• knowledge and understandingknowledge and understanding• skills including researchskills including research• sophistication of content and conceptssophistication of content and concepts

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• Key features of the new syllabus Key features of the new syllabus include:include:fewer, simpler fewer, simpler outcomes, organised in outcomes, organised in

relation to the objectives and the relation to the objectives and the contentcontent

a more accessible content structurea more accessible content structure with linkedwith linked ‘students learn about’ and ‘students learn about’ and ‘students learn to’ statements‘students learn to’ statements

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• Key features of the new syllabus Key features of the new syllabus include:include:Aboriginal beliefs and spiritualities Aboriginal beliefs and spiritualities

included in the core of both the included in the core of both the Preliminary and HSC coursesPreliminary and HSC courses

two religious tradition depth studies in the two religious tradition depth studies in the Preliminary and HSC courses of SOR IPreliminary and HSC courses of SOR I

three religious tradition depth studies in three religious tradition depth studies in the Preliminary and HSC courses of SOR IIthe Preliminary and HSC courses of SOR II

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• Key features of the new syllabus include:Key features of the new syllabus include:Preliminary course core study in both SOR I Preliminary course core study in both SOR I

and II , and II , Nature of Religion and BeliefsNature of Religion and Beliefs additional studies in Preliminary SOR II for additional studies in Preliminary SOR II for

Religion in Australia Prior to 1945 Religion in Australia Prior to 1945 and and Religions of Ancient OriginReligions of Ancient Origin

HSC course core study in both SOR I and II, HSC course core study in both SOR I and II, Religion and Belief Systems in Australia Post Religion and Belief Systems in Australia Post 19451945

HSC additional topics for SOR II, HSC additional topics for SOR II, Religion and Religion and PeacePeace and and Religion and Non-ReligionReligion and Non-Religion

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• Key features of the new syllabus include:Key features of the new syllabus include: an emphasis on a study of the whole religious tradition an emphasis on a study of the whole religious tradition

with common aspects of study for each tradition:with common aspects of study for each tradition:Preliminary course Preliminary course

• OriginsOrigins• Principal beliefsPrincipal beliefs• Sacred texts and writingsSacred texts and writings• Core ethical teachingsCore ethical teachings• Personal devotion/expression of faith/observancePersonal devotion/expression of faith/observance

HSC CourseHSC Course• Significant people and ideasSignificant people and ideas• Ethical teachings in the religious tradition about bioethics Ethical teachings in the religious tradition about bioethics

or environmental ethics or sexual ethicsor environmental ethics or sexual ethics• Significant practices in the life of adherents.Significant practices in the life of adherents.

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• Key features of the new syllabus include:Key features of the new syllabus include: variants no longer specified across the syllabusvariants no longer specified across the syllabus no compare and contrast across the religious no compare and contrast across the religious

traditions traditions Interest Study Project (ISP) no longer required Interest Study Project (ISP) no longer required

– a research based task can still be – a research based task can still be implemented in the Preliminary and/or HSC implemented in the Preliminary and/or HSC courses as part of formal or informal courses as part of formal or informal assessmentassessment

assessment requirements clarified – noting assessment requirements clarified – noting students will need to take care in the students will need to take care in the examination, especially SOR II students.examination, especially SOR II students.

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Internal Assessment Tasks could include • Oral • Research• Exams/tests• Stimulus based

Weighting

Components:Religion and Belief Systems in

Australia post-1945Religious Tradition Depth

Studies

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35

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• Studies of Religion I HSC Studies of Religion I HSC

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• Studies of Religion II HSCStudies of Religion II HSC

Internal AssessmentTasks could include • Oral • Research• Exams/tests• Stimulus based

Weighting

Components:Religion and Belief Systems in

Australia post-1945Religious Tradition Depth StudiesReligion and PeaceReligion and Non-Religion

15

502015

100

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• Studies of Religion I HSCStudies of Religion I HSCExternal Assessment WeightingA 11/2 -hour written examinationSection I: Religion and Belief Systems in

Australia post-1945 (10 multiple choice questions and one short answer question)

Section II: Religious Tradition Depth Studies X 1 (Question for each tradition in three non-dependant parts with no part worth more than 6 marks)

Section III: Religious Tradition Depth Studies X 1 (extended response)

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15

20

50

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• Studies of Religion II Studies of Religion II HSCHSCExternal Assessment Weighting

A 3-hour written examinationSection I: Religion and Belief Systems in

Australia post-1945 (10 multiple choice questions and one short answer question)

Religion and Non-Religion (10 multiple choice questions and one short answer question)

Section II: Religious Tradition Depth Studies X 2 (Question for each tradition in three non-dependant parts with no part worth more than 6 marks)

Section III: Religious Tradition Depth Studies X 1 (extended response – different religious tradition from those attempted in Section II)

Religion and Peace (extended response)

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15

30

20

20

100

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• Current status of SOR I & IICurrent status of SOR I & II

The Studies of Religion syllabus is being The Studies of Religion syllabus is being implemented in the Preliminary course from 2006 implemented in the Preliminary course from 2006 with the first HSC examination of the revised HSC with the first HSC examination of the revised HSC course in 2007. course in 2007.

The new syllabus replaced the previous 1999 The new syllabus replaced the previous 1999 syllabus which is being examined for the last time syllabus which is being examined for the last time in the 2006 HSC.in the 2006 HSC.

A Studies of religion support document is A Studies of religion support document is scheduled to be available on the Board’s website scheduled to be available on the Board’s website from term 4 2006.from term 4 2006.

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What next for Studies of Religion?What next for Studies of Religion?• As the new syllabus is being introduced to As the new syllabus is being introduced to

students for the HSC for the first time from students for the HSC for the first time from later this year, it will be important to later this year, it will be important to maintain an on-going dialogue with maintain an on-going dialogue with teachers, students and key groups to teachers, students and key groups to review and analyse the implementation of review and analyse the implementation of the syllabus and the operation of the the syllabus and the operation of the examination over the next few years.examination over the next few years.

• Studies of Religion will be included in the Studies of Religion will be included in the annual syllabus evaluation report to the annual syllabus evaluation report to the Board of Studies.Board of Studies.

Documents

1 STUDIES OF RELIGION CONFERENCE 4 & 5 September 2006 Lindsay Swan Board Inspector - HSIE