ASSOCIATION
ARTICLES NEWS
Advocating on behalf of our members
By Deb de Ridder
NESA Curriculum review
STANSW Council members work actively behind the scenes
to advocate on behalf of STANSW members. This includes
engagement with the NESA syllabus consultation process and
issues that impact the science teaching profession in NSW.
STANSW has a significant opportunity to contribute to the
NESA Curriculum Review process which was announced by
the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Education
Rob Stokes earlier this year. This is an opportunity to have a
say about the future direction of curriculum in NSW. The terms
of reference for this review are wide and future-focused. The
emphasis is on solutions, and it is anticipated that any issues
raised by STANSW that are current will also be accompanied
by recommended solutions. The NESA process is conducted
independently by Professor Geoff Masters from ACER and the
link to the terms of reference for this review can be found at:
http://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/about/
initiatives/curriculum-review
Science Extension HSC Examination
specifications
Recently, STANSW prepared a submission to NESA in response
to the draft NESA HSC Examination Specifications for the
Science Extension syllabus. The draft examination specifications
included the delivery of the HSC examination as a computer-
based examination. This raised several points of concern with
STANSW members including issues of equity and stability of
the NESA testing platform. NESA has been working to address
some of the issues raised from the submissions received. The full
STANSW submission to NESA can be found at the following link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Q7Cw0GPyQPJCj4vlqpMWEiCK
GMH5RWEj/view?usp=sharing
Any ideas from members are welcome, and should be sent in
writing to the STANSW Office for consideration by Council by
30th September, 2018.
Please provide your feedback via the following link https://
www.surveymonkey.com/r/5S2PJYH
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SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL NEWS VOL 67 NO 3