Victorian Essential Learning Standards

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In the state of Victoria, Australia, the Victorian Essential Learning Standards(VELS) was the curriculum framework for Preparatory to Year 10 school levels, which replaced the Curriculum and Standards Framework II (CSF 2) in 2006. Students starting Year 11 normally proceed to complete the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), but other education options are available. VELS was superseded by the Australian Curriculum AusVELS in 2013. [1]

Contents

Breakdown of the VELS

The VELS is a curriculum framework providing a set of areas for teachers to teach. Like the Curriculum and Standards Framework (CSF) and the CSF II, the VELS has six levels, with a general expectation that each level be completed in two years of schooling, with the exception of Level 1, completed in the first year of Primary schooling, known as "Prep", as follows:

Primary School Level

Secondary School Level

The following is a list of teaching areas in the VELS (domains), which are sorted further into dimensions. Each domain belongs to one of three strands: Physical, Personal and Social Learning, Discipline-based Learning or Interdisciplinary Learning. The idea is for these three strands to be woven together to give a balanced education so that students will succeed in further education, work and life. The three strands are represented graphically by a triple-helix inspired diagram.

Physical, Personal and Social Learning

Health and Physical Education

Standards at levels 1,2,3,4,5 and 6

Dimensions:

Interpersonal Development

Standards at levels 1,2,3,4,5 and 6

Dimensions:

Personal Learning

Standards at levels 3,4,5,6

Dimensions:

Civics and Citizenship

Standards at levels 3, 4, 5 and 6. Civics and Citizenship aims to teach students what it means to be citizens in a democracy.

Dimensions:

Discipline-based Learning

The Arts

Standards at levels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

Dimensions:

English

Standards at levels 1,2,3,4,5 and 6.

Dimensions:

The Humanities

Standards at levels 3, 4, 5 and 6

The Humanities discipline is organised into four domains:

The Humanities – (Levels 1–3)

Dimensions:

The Humanities – Economics (Levels 4–6)

Dimensions:

The Humanities – Geography (Levels 4–6)

Dimensions:

The Humanities – History (Levels 4–6)

Dimensions:

LOTE (Languages other than English)

Dimensions:

LOTE has two pathways:

Pathway 1 - for students who begin learning a language in primary school and continue to study the same language to Year 10.

Pathway 2 - for students who begin learning a language in Year 7.

Mathematics

Standards at levels 1,2,3,4,5 and 6

Dimensions:

Science

Standards at levels 3, 4, 5 and 6

Dimensions:

Interdisciplinary Learning

Communication

Standards at levels 4, 5 and 6.

The Communication domain focuses on developing students who communicate clearly and confidently both at school and for further education and life.

Dimensions:

Design, Creativity and Technology

Standards at levels 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Design, Creativity and Technology aims to encourage students to think laterally and openly to design, produce and evaluate solutions to problems.

Dimensions:

Information and Communications Technology

Standards at levels 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

Dimensions:

Thinking Processes

Standards at levels 3, 4, 5 and 6

Dimensions:

Intended aims of the VELS

Changes to Victorian Standards

See also

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References

  1. "F-10 Curriculum". Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority . Retrieved 27 December 2017.