What is Australian humanities and social science education in primary school (HASS)?
Humanities and social science education in primary school covers the studies of geography, civics and citizenship, economics and business.
Australian humanities and social science education is important in today’s schooling. HASS impacts students’ lives in today’s sociality, it influences the children’s lives by helping them preserve skills, behaviours and capabilities that will help with the environment, the economy and society. HASS also supports the primary school by educating the children about respecting social, cultural and religious diversity.
According to the Australian curriculum website (Australiancurriculum.edu.au, 2019), Australian curriculum for humanities and social sciences aims to ensure that students develop:
• A sense of wonder, curiosity and respect about places, cultures, past and present
• Key historical, geographical, civic and economic knowledge of people, values and systems
• The understanding and appreciation of historical developments, geographic phenomena, create a sense of belonging
• The capacity to use inquiry methods and skills, analysing, evaluating and communicating
• Dispositions required for effective participation in everyday life, responsible and active citizenship, enterprising financial behaviour and ethical reflection
Teachers who want to teach Australian Humanities and Social Science should try and follow the concepts of interdisciplinary thinking. There are 7 pieces on this circle that teachers should follow. According to the Australian curriculum website(Australiancurriculum.edu.au, 2019)(figure 1: sub-strand-specific illustrations of concepts of concepts of interdisciplinary thinking) the 7 pieces are:
• Significance
• Continuity and change
• Cause and effect
• Place and space
• Interconnection
• Roles, rights and responsibilities
• Perspectives and actions
Teachers should also follow sub-strand-specifics illustration of skills On the Australian curriculum website(Australiancurriculum.edu.au, 2019)on figure 2: sub-strand-specific illustrations of skills is broken up into 5 sections. The 5 sections are:
• Questioning
• Researching
• Analysing
• Evaluating and reflecting
• Communicating
If teachers follow these two sub-strand-specifics they should be successful in teaching the students all about Australian humanities and social science.
What are the ACARA Cross-curriculum priorities?
What are the ACARA Cross-curriculum priorities?
ACARA means Australian curriculum, assessment and reporting authority. According to the ACARA website (Acara.edu.au, 2019) we have cross-curriculum priorities to “build on the educational goals of the Melbourne Declaration”. There are 3 sections to the cross-curriculum:
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander histories and cultures
• Asia and Australia’s Engagement with Asia
• Sustainability
The cross-curriculum priorities are only taught via learning and don’t have their own curriculum. The Cross-Curriculum priorities were also designed to help students discover the depth and richness of the three sections. Students also use the cross-curriculum priorities to help with their studies and develop new life skills. Students with certain life skills have a better understanding of the world and the knowledge around them. Some of the skills the students have is understanding the information about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures, Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia and have an understanding about sustainability. I personally believe that cross-curriculum priorities are necessary. By having Cross-curriculum priorities in Australian primary schools it enables the students to think about how they can preserve the earth and help all the life currently present and sustain the earth’s atmosphere. By addressing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture, students can start to understand the original roots of Australia, from the place to the people. Also by acknowledging the Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander community we should all connect emotionally.
Why must Indigenous perspectives be included in teaching practice?
AITSL means Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership. The AITSL have made two important standards, inside the two standards there are two focus areas which are:
• 1.4 strategies for teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
• 2.4 understand and respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to promote reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians
Focus area 1.4 is broken down into 6 sections, these 6 sections which are from the website Curriculum and leadership Journal (Curriculum.edu.au, 2019) are:
1. understanding myself as a teacher
2. understanding cultural competence in teaching practice
3. understanding learners and learning
4. developing a culturally responsive curriculum
5. creating effective learning experiences
6. connecting through the profession to schools and communities
Focus area 2.4 is also broken down into 6 section. These 6 sections are:
1. protocols for engagement
2. culture and language
3. identity
4. history, policies and practices
5. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Societies: cultural diversity, rights and socio-economic justice
6. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander societies: global citizenship and celebration
These two focus areas are extremely important to use in our education system. It acknowledges their land that they own and helps educate the students about their community and learn more about the way that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander’s community.
Why are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies important to Australian Humanities and Social Sciences?
I personally believe that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies in Australian Humanities and Social Sciences are extremely important. By having this subject in the education system, the students are learning new skills about Australian history. Students are learning about how to respect the earth that we walk on every day. By learning about geography, civics and citizenship, economics and business of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, students as well as teachers set up the future of the upcoming generation.
Also by learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people we as a community can connect as one, and learn new skills off each other.
References:
Acara.edu.au. (2019). ACARA – Cross-curriculum priorities. [online] Available at: https://www.acara.edu.au/curriculum/cross-curriculum-priorities [Accessed 29 Mar. 2019].
Australiancurriculum.edu.au. (2019). Structure. [online] Available at: https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/f-10-curriculum/humanities-and-social-sciences/hass/structure/ [Accessed 30 Mar. 2019].
Curriculum.edu.au. (2019). Curriculum & Leadership Journal | Helping teachers support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education. [online] Available at: http://www.curriculum.edu.au/leader/helping_teachers_support_aboriginal_and_torres_str,36825.html?issueID=12826 [Accessed 31 Mar. 2019].
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