Read Time: 5 minutes
Understanding Learning Frameworks
Determining what approved learning framework applies to your child depends on their age and your geographical location. In Queensland,
Belonging, Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework
Australian Curriculum
My Time, Our Place: Framework for School Age Care
Each of these frameworks focus on the development needs, interests and experiences of individual children.
Navigating the Australian Curriculum
As my studies are focusing on the primary years, I will break down the Australian Curriculum (AC) F – 6. Exploring the AC website is a first step in understanding what your child is being exposed to at school. Everything teachers bring to the classroom is underpinned by the AC and the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. The AC is the framework teachers use when planning lessons.
Clicking on the drop down menu on the left provides you with a list of Learning Areas, General Capabilities and Cross-Curriculum Priorities.
As my focus is on Foundation to Year 10, I will discuss that framework below.
Join our newsletter to stay updated
Learning Areas
The Learning Areas are the subjects your little one will study while in Primary School:
- English
- Maths
- Science
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- History
- Geography
- Civics and citizenship
- Economics and business
- The Arts
- Dance
- Drama
- Media Arts
- Music
- Visual Arts
- Technologies
- Design Technologies
- Digital Technologies
- Health and Physical Education
- Languages (various and school dependent)
- Work Studies (Optional)
The General Capabilities are integrated into teacher’s planning to equip your little one to live and work successfully in the 21st Century and include:
- Literacy
- Numeracy
- Information and Communication Technology
- Critical and Creative Thinking
- Personal and Social Capability
- Ethical Understanding
- Intercultural Understanding
General Capabilities
Cross-Curriculum Priorities
Cross-Curriculum Priorities enable teachers to plan Learning Areas, while at the same time developing knowledge, understand and skills relating to:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures,
- Asia and Australia’s engagement and/or
- Sustainability.
Join our newsletter to stay updated
Incorporating the three dimensions in lesson planning
These three dimensions (learning areas, general capabilities and cross-curriculum priorities) provide teachers with the ability to adapt instruction and implementing strategies to support learners. This allows for each teacher to put a personal spin on the lessons they deliver and to adapt those lessons for the wide variety of students in their class. Cross-curriculum priorities and general capabilities should be integrated into the eight learning areas when teachers design classes. For example, a teacher may be teaching about location and transformation – coordinates and following a map. Instructions on getting from A to B would include literacy as students learn about forwards, backwards, etc as being directional language.
As I continue through my studies, I will write posts on each of the learning areas of the AC. Check back often for new guidance.
References
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. (2016a).The Three Dimensions of the Australian Curriculum [Image]. https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/resources/student-diversity/planning-for-student-diversity/using-the-three-dimensions-of-the-australian-curriculum/
