ACARA news, February 2017

NAPLAN 2017: changes to numeracy test Years 7 & 9

As schools start to prepare for NAPLAN 2017, test administration authorities are beginning to provide support material and advice to schools to assist principals and teachers in administering NAPLAN tests.  For NAPLAN 2017, this information includes a change to the NAPLAN numeracy tests for Years 7 and 9, which have been updated to align to the Australian Curriculum. This has resulted in a reduction in the number of items in the numeracy test from 64 questions to 48 questions for both NAPLAN paper and online.

This brings the number of items into alignment with the reading test; however, the test continues to cover all sub-domains of numeracy, allowing students to demonstrate performance across a range of numeracy skills. The reduction will not affect either the reliability or validity of the test.  

Students in Years 7 and 9 will continue to answer calculator and non-calculator questions, and the number of questions requiring mental calculation (without the aid of a calculator) remains the same as in previous years – there is no reduction in the number of questions of this type.

As the test has fewer questions overall, students will sit one numeracy test session instead of two. This test includes two parts: part A (where a calculator is allowed) and part B (where students are not permitted to use a calculator).

In previous years, the non-calculator section included some questions that did not require any calculation – questions from other areas of mathematics such as geometry, measurement or probability. These questions are now elsewhere in the test. While the non-calculator section of the test will be shorter, the number of questions across the entire test that require mental calculation remains the same.

Student demonstration videos on Mathematics Proficiencies resource

The Mathematics Proficiencies resource on the Australian Curriculum website has been updated with student demonstration videos to accompany student worksheets. The annotated clips feature students at different year levels demonstrating the understanding, fluency, problem-solving and reasoning proficiency areas of the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics, whilst undertaking mathematical tasks.

The Mathematics Proficiencies resource provides illustrations of practice and student work samples gathered from primary and secondary schools from different sectors across Australia.

The resource was funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training, and was developed to assist teachers to incorporate the proficiencies into teaching practice. 

The videos are now available on the ‘Resources‘ section of the Australian Curriculum website.

Launch of Curriculum Connections resource

ACARA has launched a new resource that identifies connections between learning areas of the Australian Curriculum on consumer and financial literacy, food and fibre, food and wellbeing, and outdoor learning.

ACARA collaborated with a number of expert organisations on the resource, which is designed to assist teachers in developing interdisciplinary programs and support the delivery of the Australian Curriculum. 

“The Curriculum Connections resource provides engaging and relevant contexts for delivering the Australian Curriculum,” said ACARA CEO, Robert Randall. 

“Drawing on content from across learning areas and the three dimensions of the Australian Curriculum can help teachers deliver authentic and meaningful programs through real-world applications. This can increase students’ engagement and deepen their learning.”

Consumer and financial literacy

 ACARA has released an online resource to support the teaching of consumer and financial literacy through the Australian Curriculum including Mathematics, Business and Economics.

Developed in partnership with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Australian Tax Office (ATO), the resource allows educators to filter information and develop educational programs on issues such as budgeting, navigating the ever-changing consumer and financial landscape, consumer rights and responsibilities, and where to go to for assistance.

Food and fibre

 Developed in consultation with the Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia (PIEFA), the food and fibre connection looks at the production of the food we eat, the fibres we use and includes marketing, consumption and the sustainable use of resources. That is, from ‘paddock to plate’ or ‘forest to building’ and beyond.

Food and wellbeing

 Developed in consultation with the Home Economics Institute of Australia (HEIA), the food and wellbeing connection supports teaching about individuals, families and communities, the nature of food and food safety, and how to make informed and appropriate food preparation choices.

Outdoor learning

 Developed in consultation with Outdoor Education Australia (OEA), the outdoor learning connection engages students in practical and active learning experiences in environments beyond the classroom, increases their understanding and appreciation of the environment and promotes the value of sustainable use and life-long outdoor recreation for enjoyment, health and wellbeing.

Visit Curriculum Connections on the ‘Resources’ section of the Australian Curriculum website.

New resource to improve consumer and financial literacy

ACARA has released an online resource to support the teaching of consumer and financial literacy through the Australian Curriculum.

Developed in partnership with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and the Australian Tax Office, the resource allows educators to filter information and develop educational programs on issues such as budgeting, navigating the ever-changing consumer and financial landscape, consumer rights and responsibilities, and where to go to for assistance.

“Fostering consumer and financial capability in young people is a strong investment in Australia’s social and economic prosperity,” said ACARA CEO, Robert Randall.

“A focus on teaching consumer and financial literacy can aid in the delivery of content in the Australian Curriculum, and enable young people to develop the real-life skills required to better manage consumer and financial situations as adults”.

The resource has been developed with the aim of equipping young Australians to:

• be informed in consumer and financial matters
• have the skills to apply to real-world consumer and financial situations
• make effective decisions that have a positive impact on themselves, their families, the broader community and the environment
• develop enterprising behaviours.

“Consumer and financial literacy should be a part of every teacher's toolkit. Young people require opportunities to develop financial and enterprising capabilities that will let them successfully and confidently operate in a complex, globalised financial world,” said Miles Larbey, ASIC’s Senior Executive Leader of Financial Literacy.

One of ACARA’s new Curriculum Connections, the online resource will enable teachers to filter material in the Australian Curriculum by year level, learning area, general capability and/or cross-curriculum priority.

The resource also links to ASIC’s existing MoneySmart Teaching website and the ATO’s Tax, Super + You resource that provide further guidance about integrating consumer and financial education into specific learning areas of the Australian Curriculum. 

Curriculum Connections is available on the ‘Resources’ section of the Australian Curriculum website.