Front Page Articles

• DEC Review of the School Facilities Standards *NEW*
• HSC Agriculture 2011 survey*NEW*
• Sustaining Agriculture in NSW High Schools Abstract
• ACARA Technologies information update
• ACARA consultation on general capabilities
• There are serious concerns with the proposed PI syllabus
• Plus archived topics

 From: Michala.Lander@ghd.com [Michala.Lander@ghd.com]

I have constructed a brief survey re the HSC Agriculture paper and invite you to complete the survey by following this link HSC-AGRICULTURE-2011-SURVEY.

There are only 21 questions and should not take long to complete.
 
I hope to have the survey results available to present to the Board of Studies before the end of the year.

Regards
 
Graeme Harris
President NSW Association of Agriculture Teachers
c/o Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School
585 Calala Lane
Tamworth
NSW 2340
 
ph 0267648660 (w) 0267648734 (h) 0438656692 (m)

SUSTAINING AGRICULTURE IN NSW HIGH SCHOOLS

An Assessment of the use of examples from alternative agriculture and investigation into the role of high school agriculture in meeting the future needs of the industry.

ABSTRACT

The lack of explicit reference to alternative agricultural systems in the syllabi for high school agriculture in NSW and concern regarding the ability of agricultural education to meet the needs of the industry are the basis for this research.  

An online survey of teachers was used to assess the extent to which examples from alternative agriculture are used in teaching, opinions on the amended HSC syllabus, and identify professional development needs.  

Overall, teachers ‘sometimes’ use examples from alternative agriculture, support the amended syllabus, and feel that they require ‘a little’ professional development with regards to alternative agriculture.

Semi-structured interviews with stakeholders from agricultural education from primary through to tertiary levels were undertaken to gain a rich picture of the current state of agricultural education in Australia.  Interviews revealed a need for industry and government to be more proactive in the support of agricultural education and promotion of agricultural careers.  

All stakeholders supported the need for students to be exposed to alternative agriculture, however, stressed the need for a balanced view of the industry as a whole rather than promoting particular systems.  

Further research into teacher and student perceptions of agriculture and agricultural careers is recommended to identify further teacher professional development and resource development needs.

Joanne Dodd
Agricultural Ecologist & Educator
0403 569 076
doddjoanne@bigpond.com

Research dissertation available here for download (Full document in .pdf format) *NEW*

Dissertation Appendices (.pdf) *NEW*

Dear Graeme,

I am emailing to request that you forward my thanks to your members for participating in the survey I conducted for my Masters research.  I have pasted a copy of the Abstract (NB.above) should you wish to publish it in your news section.  Please note that I have also attached a copy of the full document (NB.above) for your information. Should any of your members wish to read it I am happy you to forward a copy or refer them to me.

Thank you again for assisting me with this project.

Regards
Joanne

110926

Subject: ACARA Technologies information update

Date: Thursday, 8 September 2011 3:33 PM

From: Graeme Harris

The following is a report on what is happening with ACARA re the national curriculum in Technologies. I am one of the 10 person advisory panel and represent NAAE.

The first meeting of the Technologies Advisory Group was held on 29-30 August 2011 at ACARA’s Sydney office. In attendance were all members of the advisory group except for Dr Janet Reynolds (currently in Sri Lanka). Professor Marilyn Fleer was able to attend the first day only.

Information about the group and lead writer can be found at:

www.acara.edu.au/curriculum/technologies.html

  The focus of the meeting was to explore the critical questions that need to be answered in the Initial Advice paper.

•       a proposal for the curriculum design of the Technologies area

•       a contemporary, conceptual direction for Technologies

•       Features: –      Introduction (Rationale/Purpose) –      What does technologies contribute to the Australian Curriculum

•       Cross-curriculum priorities and the learning area

•       General capabilities and the learning area –     

 The framing of the technologies learning area –      The nature of knowledge, understanding and skills in technologies –      Scope and sequence of the technologies curriculum F-12  

A first draft of the Initial Advice Paper will be written in September for further consideration by the advisory group.  

A national forum will be held later in the year. An ACCE representative will be invited to attend.  

The next meeting of the advisory group is by teleconference on 8 September 2011

Graeme Harris

President NSW Association of Agriculture Teachers

c/o Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School

585 Calala Lane Tamworth NSW 2340   ph 0267648660 (w) 0267648734 (h) 0438656692 (m)

110909

Dear colleagues
Consultation on general capabilities

I would like to inform you that ACARA is conducting consultation on the full set of draft general capabilities materials from Friday 10 June 2011 to Sunday 7 August 2011.

We would request your assistance in disseminating information about the consultation through your networks and encouraging teachers, in particular, to respond.

An overview of the general capabilities in the Australian Curriculum and draft conceptual statements and continua for each capability are published on the Consultation component of the Australian Curriculum website at www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/Consultation.

Individuals and groups who wish to view and to provide feedback on these draft materials should register on the consultation site. Respondents may give feedback in two ways – by completing the online survey or by providing direct feedback on each section of the general capabilities materials by using the feedback buttons. Feedback can be provided on one or more of the capabilities.

ACARA is keen for all interested people to respond to the draft materials and by doing so assist in the development of the highest quality product that meets the needs of schools, teachers and students across the country.

For further information you can contact ACARA’s senior project officer for general capabilities, Grette Toner via email: grette.toner@acara.edu.au

Many thanks for your assistance.

Regards

Julie King
Senior Project Officer – Technologies

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority
Level 10 | 255 Pitt Street | SYDNEY | NSW | 2000
Ph: +612 8098 3106 | Fax: +612 8098 3103
Reception: 1300 895 563
Email: julie.king@acara.edu.au

There are serious concerns with the proposed PI syllabus.

A formal reply is being developed and it is hoped that all PI teachers will support this when giving feedback. The BOS link is:-

http://news.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/index.cfm/2011/6/6/Read-the-revised-Primary-Industries-syllabus-and-provide-feedback
 
The considered opinion of Ivan Gant and myself are attached for your consideration read more... (doc)
 
We had a most unsatisfactory offering for the last PI syllabus and were able to bring about substantial change with your support. Please do so again to best meet the needs of all students and communities throughout the state.

Graeme Harris
President NSW Association of Agriculture Teachers
c/o Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School
585 Calala Lane
Tamworth NSW 2340
 
ph 0267648660 (w) 0267648734 (h) 0438656692 (m)

Dear NSWAAT President

I was hoping you might be able to pass this email along to your members. I am a teacher who has undertaken a part time doctoral degree and I would like to interview Year 11 and 12 teachers as part of the study.

The study is looking at how ICT is used in the senior secondary years.

I would like to interview teachers who use any sort of technologies in the senior Agriculture curriculum. Even just a little ICT use at particular times of the year would provide valuable
data for the research. 

The data collection would involve a one-hour interview and can be arranged for a time that is most convenient for the teacher. 

Teachers can contact me directly by email or telephone if they would like to participate. Thank you for your help. 

Debra Bourne

Hi Aggies

Dave Randall is coordinating a project to gather a collection of multiple choice questions for the new Stage 6 Ag syllabus. If you haven't already sent yours to Dave could you get them to him ASAP so he can then get them out to everyone.

Regards
Phil Hurst

______________________________
From: Randall, David
Sent: Thursday, 3 March 2011 9:31 PM
To: Hurst, Philip
Subject: Ag Multi Choice questions.

Hi Phil,

The collection of questions is now up to 64 questions. It would be nice to have 100 when we go onto the web site.

Could you please send questions to david.randall@det.nsw.edu.au

I'd like to get them up soon so we can use them for our half yearlies soon.

Dave

Dear PIEF Network member,
I am forwarding on behalf of Dr. Cameron Archers' an email from the foundation in support of the inclusion of primary industries in the Australian curriculum.
Some in our network have received discouragement and we hope, through a nationally coordinated approach, to let our elected officials know the potential benefits of inclusion and the ramifications of exclusion.
We are advocating that you copy, cut, paste the letter below, or indeed author your own (cc to us please!), and send to the federal minister, Simon Crean, state ministers for education and your local member of parliament.
In this spirit, please feel free to forward this to others in your network.
Please read below and forward all correspondence to me regarding this matter, including any feedback or responses to letters.

Dear Network Members
You will be aware that deliberations are underway to cast the dye for the Australian Curriculum for Kindergarten to Year 10.
Years 11 and 12 are being dealt with a little later on, but very soon.
As you would realise there has been much emphasis on numeracy and literacy with which I don’t think anyone would disagree. Accordingly, 50% of the curriculum from Kindergarten to Year 10 is devoted solely to literacy and numeracy (English and Maths). The Primary Industries Education Foundation will be working to ensure that there is material involving primary industries which will be used to teach English, Maths and other areas of the curriculum with primary industries as the context. We are confident that can occur.
There is, however, the issue of the application of these skills to real world matters: this area of study is called technology. Therefore the study primary industries in their own right it will be in the technology component of the curriculum. Agriculture is a technology subject.
The problem with the proposed Australian Curriculum is that the amount of time devoted to technology is relatively limited. Further decisions regarding the Australian Curriculum will be taken very soon and we would suggest representations are immediately made to State Ministers for Education and The Hon Simon Crean, MP, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations; Minister for Education; Minister for Social Inclusion.
The aim is to raise awareness and importance of technology.
A suggested draft to a letter would be as follows:

“Dear Minister
I am writing to you regarding the development of the Australian Curriculum. I am concerned to the lack of emphasis that has been placed on technology within the Curriculum.
My area of interest relates specifically to primary industries and the importance of children understanding where the food and fibre that sustains their life style comes from. Primary industries (agriculture, fisheries, forestry) remain an important part of the Australian economy and provide much employment in both regional and rural areas as well as in urban areas. The recent Global Financial Crisis saw a decrease in all areas of the economy except farm production.
The recent adjustment to the Minister for Population’s portfolio name from being Minister for Population to Minister for Sustainable Population also indicates the importance the ability of our country’s resources to sustain a certain level of population.
Primary industries are a core element of the sustainability’s debate.
Therefore, downgrading the amount of time available within the Curriculum through the technology strand will devalue and produce a generation of young Australians who have little or no knowledge of where their food and fibre comes from.
They will be disconnected from the very land that sustains them.
I therefore urge you to increase the amount of time allocated within the Curriculum to primary industries studies.”
Yours etc "

We hope you can make time to get emails away to your state minister for education and your local state and federal MP.
Please direct all responses to benstockwin@gmail.com

Cheers
Ben Stockwin
Interim Chief Executive
Primary Industries Education Foundation
www.primaryindustrieseducation.com.au
Address: Salamanca Plc, Hobart 7000
Postal: PO Box 42 Canberra City ACT 2601
Mobile:0427931148

'Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.' Robert Louis Stevenson

BAAT DEADLINE - 7th May!!

With the Royal Easter Show around the immediate corner, I would love that any school that is attending and having students show or judge in ANY junior judging event - that you can get some photos and do ONE (1) A4 Page spiel and send it to me for the 2011 Winter edition of BAAT!!!

WHY - NSW AAT is in a newly formed partnership with the NSW Ag Societies Council (ASC) and we will be a MASSIVE feature on all junior judging - from Cattle to Sheep and to Grain and to Fruit & Vegetables

So, get some photos with student's names - ribbons, steers, grain etc and get it on an A4 with a bit of writing and then send it to me - in Word or pdf. is fine

I would also love any other shows that students may have attended i.e Canberra Royal or just your local show

This partnership is about PROMOTING junior judging and getting more students involved it in

Please assist with not only promoting YOU but Agriculture as a whole

Email is preferred - BAAT DEADLINE - 7th May!!

Yours in Agriculture

Carl Chirgwin
Promotions Coordinator
NSWAAT

email: carl.chirgwin@det.nsw.edu.au

FINAL CALL FOR H E L P FOR THIS INITIATIVE - (I know it clashes with schools steer comp)

As part of the 2011 Royal Easter Show - the NSW AAT is holding a stand at the 'Careers in Agriculture Expo'

We DO NOT pay for the stand as we have assisted with publising the initiative through BAAT and www.nswaat.org.au.

Thursday 14th April - 8am-3.30pm(ish)

I need to know who would be available to volunteer their time with being at the stand for 1/2 - 1 hour shifts

I also require any photos of your students in action through Agriculture
(I need these put onto A4 pages and emailed through with Schools name and logo on it too please)

THANKYOU TO CALROSSY, GRIFFITH HIGH, KEMPSEY HIGH & GEORGES RIVER HIGH for YOURS - ANY OTHERS - ASAP!!!

Can you please reply to me by Tuesday 5th APRIL so I can do up a roster

This is an important initative for developing students into Ag Careers and also so we can gain more teacher & ag associates through our membership

Yours in Agriculture

Carl Chirgwin
Promotions Coordinator
NSWAAT

email: carl.chirgwin@det.nsw.edu.au

From: Bennett, Glen
Sent: Thursday, 2 December 2010 3:04 PM

Subject: Advice re ride-on vehicles

Dear RTO Managers

Margaret Broun and I attended a meeting with Asset Management yesterday where the responses to the consultation process on the ESIS were discussed.

We were particularly concerned with the proposed ban on the use of ride-on vehicles on school sites. 20 separate submissions (all in favour of their continued use) were tabled.

Although we stressed the industry demand for students to have experience with ride-on vehicles, and argued that the training of our Primary Industries teachers was a sufficient control to mitigate any inherent risk of the vehicles, Asset Management focussed on the actual vehicles themselves.

Despite our best efforts, we were unable to dissuade the group from making the decision to let their proposed ban stand, ie that the use of ride-on vehicles on school sites would no longer be permitted.

As they recognised that the issue was a contentious one, they have agreed to refer it to the DET OHS Steering Committee.

This outcome has been reported to the Primary Industries Industry Curriculum Implementation Committee which met yesterday afternoon.

Although we were not made aware of when the outcomes of the consultation would be published, I think that, given that the vehicles were banned (albeit in a draft form), any future use of them could be considered to be in breach of the ESIS.

As RTO Managers, you will need to consider the implications of this for the continued delivery of the relevant units to students in your RTO’s schools.

Jacqui; Beattie, Allison; Hughes, Alison; Hughes, Philip; Jenner, Tracey; Lyons, Joan; Mabb

Regards
Glen Bennett
Principal Officer, VET in Schools
Vocational Education in Schools Directorate
Phone: 92445205
Fax: 92445020
email: glen.bennett@det.nsw.edu.au