On this page:
- QSA conference — tell us your views
- Get NAPLAN administration right
- Have your say on Australian Curriculum resources
- Align in-class assessment to the Australian Curriculum
- Stay connected with information for your senior students
- Quality assuring Authority-registered subjects
- Plan your professional development in Term 2
QSA conference — tell us your views
Many thanks to the 1500 educators who participated in the 2012 QSA conference, Shaping teaching and learning: The assessment factor. It was fantastic to see so many teachers from across K–12! We hope you found it an inspiring experience and look forward to receiving your online feedback which we will use to inform planning of future events.
You can find the slides from Yong Zhao's outstanding keynote and leadership forum presentations on his blog site.
Get NAPLAN administration right
Handbook for Principals
A new memo (PDF, 57 kB) reminds school staff about the importance of reading the NAPLAN 2012 Handbook for Principals (PDF, 1281 kB) and highlights key points to assist with successful implementation of the tests. Strict adherence is required to the protocols, code of conduct, and instructions contained in the handbook. Failure to read or become aware of the administrative handbook is not a valid reason for breaching test protocols. For further information, see the NAPLAN section.
NAPLAN newsletter
The May issue of NAPLAN 12 (PDF, 55 kB) highlights important reminders to ensure correct administration of the tests, including the return and collection of testbooks and how to complete the Principal’s declaration form.
Have your say on Australian Curriculum resources
The draft Learning Area Standards Descriptors (LASDs) for P–10 English, Mathematics, Science and History will undergo a validation process in 2012. When the validation is complete, the LASDs will be revised for publication on the QSA website in December 2012. QSA is running focus groups in each of our 13 districts to seek feedback and advice from teachers and curriculum leaders to inform the revision of the LASDs. Positions on the focus groups are still available in the following districts:
- Brisbane Central
- Brisbane East
- Brisbane Ipswich
- Brisbane South
- Cairns
- Mackay
- Rockhampton
- Toowoomba
- Wide Bay.
To participate, please email your details to Jackie Morrissey. We also invite teachers to provide feedback on the draft LASDs by completing the validation survey (DOC, 297 kB) and returning it to australiancurriculum@qsa.qld.edu.au by Friday 6 July 2012.
Align in-class assessment to the Australian Curriculum
The latest QSA-developed assessment packages aligned to the Australian Curriculum and available in the Assessment Bank include:
- Evaluating claims scientifically for Years 7–10 Science
- Come read with me for Year 1 English.
Stay connected with information for your senior students
This latest issue of Student Connect has been released and is available now online. Hard copies are on their way in the mail and senior schools will receive the magazine shortly. It contains information on:
- the QCS Test
- OP myths
- VET pathways
- key dates
- tips from Year 12 graduates.
Quality assuring Authority-registered subjects
Throughout May, moderation meetings for Authority-registered subjects will be conducted in each district. This year meetings will be held for Agriculture and Horticulture, Creative Arts, Information and Communications Technology, Prevocational Maths, Recreation and Religion and Ethics. Moderation meetings are an important part of QSA's quality assurance processes and involve teachers reviewing sample folios of student work and providing feedback to schools. They also offer a valuable opportunity for teachers to network with local colleagues.
Plan your professional development in Term 2
Throughout Term 2, the QSA is offering a comprehensive professional development program for primary and secondary educators:
Queensland Comparable Assessment Tasks (QCATs)
Available statewide, these workshops assist teachers to implement the 2012 QCATs and develop familiarity and confidence using the Australian Curriculum content descriptions and standards to inform teaching and learning.
Australian Curriculum: History
These free workshops provide teachers and curriculum leaders with:
- an overview of and strategies for implementing the Australian Curriculum: History
- an overview of the P–10 Phase 1 Australian Curriculum: History, highlighting the similarities to and differences from the Queensland curriculum
- QSA resources to support implementation of History.
Standards and assessment: Implementing the Australian Curriculum P–10
Develop your knowledge and understanding of:
- Australian Curriculum achievement standards v.3
- standards and assessment resources to support implementation of English, Mathematics and Science
- Learning Area Standards Descriptors for English, Mathematics and Science
- strategies for planning a balanced assessment program using achievement standards and QSA resources.
Senior subjects
Teachers of Authority subjects can access workshops offering support and advice for:
- Agricultural Science – available in June
- Business Communication and Technologies – available in May and June
- Hospitality Studies – in Brisbane and Sunshine Coast in May
- Information Technology Systems – available in June, July and August
- Physical Education – available from May to August
- Study of Society – available in Brisbane in June.
Vocational education and training
VET workshops between August and October offer advice on how to be an effective VET coordinator/RTO manager and guidance on how to create quality assessment tools.