YEARS 7–12 IDEAS FOR THE CLASSROOM
Learning Across the Curriculum: Is it important?
By Deb de Ridder
The general capabilities of Learning Across the Curriculum (LAC)
have recently received global attention. The media have reported
them as being “soft skills” and educationalists and academics are
often referring them as “21st Century skills” that are necessary
skills for future employment. One of the most overlooked icons
that appears in the NSW NESA syllabuses is the Information and
Communication Technology icon. The NSW syllabuses include
a description for each Learning across the curriculum icon and
these descriptions can be used to add further depth to units of
work.
Information and communication technology (ICT)
In unpacking the description for this LAC icon there are four
major areas:
2. Research science concepts and applications
1. Collect, analyse and represent data
Supporting students in locating reliable sources through
search engines is useful. Students from across NSW can
become members of the NSW State library and have access
to a wide variety of on-line resources that are freely available.
See http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/join-us
Using digital technologies such as Google charts and
Microsoft Excel to represent and analyse data is a transferrable
skill that is required for post school study and employment.
Using Microsoft Excel is a skill that is often assumed once
students transfer from school to tertiary study; and in reality,
very few school leavers are competent users of Excel.
Work together with the school information services/library
professionals to support students in locating suitable sources,
interpret information and using an acceptable referencing
style.
Science teachers are often surprised to learn that their “digital
native” students are not familiar with digital applications
that require them to collect and analyse data. Producing a
spreadsheet is not explicitly part of any of the compulsory
curriculum and it cannot be assumed that students will enter
Stage 6 Science with those skills and therefore teacher
guidance and some explicit instruction might be necessary
in the Science classroom.
It can be argued that while the HSC is still completed as a
pen and paper test there is very little need to teach students
the skill of producing a graph and analysing data using a
digital application. However, we are not helping our students
if we do not engage with these technologies while they are at
school. Besides, it is inevitable that on-line HSC exams will
be introduced in the not too distant future!
3. Communicate scientific and technological ideas,
processes and information.
Encourage effective use of PowerPoint presentation, video,
audio-presentation as tools for effective presentation.
Communication skills require support and direction in every
subject area.
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SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL NEWS VOL 67 NO 1