Humanities and Social Sciences learning area news

Check in here regularly for news related to subjects in the Humanities and Social Sciences learning area.

Free webinars for early career and returning 7-10 HASS teachers

27 February 2020

The QCAA is pleased to offer a series of webinars exploring the intent and structure of each of the Australian Curriculum (AC) learning areas including Humanities and Social Sciences for Years 7 to 10.

For teachers beginning their careers, or returning to the Humanities and Social Sciences classroom, these webinars provide an opportunity to:

• investigate important features that support alignment of curriculum with classroom practice
• gain confidence in applying the common language of the curriculum to plan successful teaching and learning programs
• identify and unpack the cognitive verbs in the P–10 Australian Curriculum
• explore the selection and use of relevant teaching strategies to develop knowledge, skills, problem solving, and critical and creative thinking.

This professional development activity has relevance to elements of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers: two, three and six. In particular these webinars align with the following APST Focus areas:

• 2.2 Content selection and organisation
• 2.3 Curriculum, assessment and reporting
• 3.2 Plan, structure and sequence learning programs
• 3.3 Use teaching strategies.

Webinars for Humanities and Social Sciences (7-10) are on Wednesday 11 March and Tuesday 17 March.

For more information and to register for these free webinars please visit the QCAA PD and Events page.

Heads of Department Networking forums

3 February 2020

To support schools to implement the new Humanities and Social Sciences General syllabuses, the QCAA is inviting Heads of Department to networking forums across the state, starting in February.

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• discuss approaches to implementation of the 2019 General syllabuses
• develop and maintain collegial relationships with other Heads of Department
• strengthen local professional networks
• share ideas about best practice.

Places at each venue are limited so we ask that schools send up to two Heads of Department for the Humanities and Social Sciences Learning Area (including Business).

For those who cannot attend in person, the QCAA is also hosting a webinar in March.

To register, please discuss with your school’s Principal’s delegate.

Preparing for endorsement event 2

15 January 2020

Schools are reminded that submissions for the second endorsement event are due by 5.00pm on Friday 31 January 2020. Assessments must be submitted via the Endorsement application in the QCAA Portal.

The QCAA has developed a wide range of resources to help schools develop and submit assessment for endorsement. These can be accessed via the QCAA Portal > Noticeboard > Developing and submitting assessment for endorsement — support resources. They include a resource for schools on the lessons learned from the first endorsement event.

Subject specific information is also available via the QCAA Portal > Syllabuses application. Select the Units 3 and 4 tab to access the endorsement submission information and quality assurance tools for each instrument.

Top tips for getting assessment endorsed

• Alignment: Ensure assessment instruments match syllabus topics, subject matter, and assessment objectives or specifications.
• Authenticity: Ensure assessment instruments are constructed so that students have an opportunity to provide unique responses. QCAA-developed sample assessments are in the public domain and cannot be submitted by schools for endorsement.
• Scope and scale: Be aware of the syllabus conditions (word length and time) to ensure that students can complete the assessment in sufficient depth to demonstrate the range of performance levels. Consider whether qualifiers such as ‘thorough’ or ‘concise’ analysis can be demonstrated within the word length or time constraint.
• Language: Use language that is clear, direct and accessible to students. Proofread to ensure there are no spelling, grammar or punctuation errors.

Key contacts

• Endorsement application access and user roles: email clientservices@qcaa.qld.edu.au or phone (07) 3864 0278.
• Using the endorsement application: email qau@qcaa.qld.edu.au, or phone (07) 3864 0375 or (07) 3120 6150.
• Subject-specific knowledge or instrument/item construction: contact the relevant learning area.

Legal Studies FAQs

10 December 2019

A new FAQ has been added for Legal Studies: What should teachers consider when designing the IA3: Investigation — argumentative essay? See the Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

Humanities and Social Sciences PD at Emerald, Longreach and Roma in January 2020

27 November 2019

The QCAA is providing free professional development activities for all schools (from Prep to Year 12) in Emerald, Longreach and Roma areas in January 2020.

Covering curriculum and assessment topics across all schooling levels, QCAA staff will be presenting on, and discussing, Australian Curriculum and QCE system planning and quality assurance.

Sessions on the QCE system will include Humanities and Social Sciences-specific syllabus conversations, as well as information about endorsement and confirmation processes.

Full program and registration

• Emerald (Thursday 23 January)
• Longreach (Friday 24 January)
• Roma (Thursday 23 January).

Geography FAQs

11 November 2019

A new FAQ has been added for Geography: What should teachers consider when designing the IA3 Investigation — data report? See the Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

Ancient History and Modern History FAQs

11 November 2019

A new FAQ has been added for Ancient History and Moden History: What should teachers consider when designing the IA3 Investigation — historical essay based on research? See the Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

Accounting FAQs

11 November 2019

A new FAQ has been added for Accounting: What should teachers consider when designing the IA3 Project — cash management? See the Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

Business Educators’ Association of Queensland (BEAQ) — Accounting webinar

22 October 2019

BEAQ is offering a webinar on Thursday 24 October to support teachers implementing the General syllabus for Accounting. The webinar will focus on an approach to preparing a summative internal assessment 3 (IA 3) project. Registrations are open to members and non-members.

Become a QCAA assessor (confirmation)

27 September 2019

The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) is seeking applications from experienced teachers across all General and General (Extension) subjects for QCAA assessor (confirmation) roles.

In the new QCE system, confirmation is the process that examines the accuracy and consistency of teachers’ judgments about students’ responses to summative internal assessment instruments.

The QCAA employs and trains QCAA assessors (confirmation) to review student responses to summative internal assessment and make decisions about alignment between schools’ judgments and the ISMGs.

Confirmers will:

• contribute to an important quality assurance process in the new QCE system
• gain first-hand experience of the confirmation process so they can inform their school’s approach to assessment
• increase their understanding of the new syllabuses and instrument-specific marking guides
• be able to record their training as continuing professional development with the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT)
• network with like-minded colleagues in their local area and from across Queensland at confirmation events.

Applications close on Friday 11 October 2019.

For more information and to apply, visit QCAA assessors.

State library research resources

9 September 2019

The state library provides access to a research librarian who can:

• assist you with identifying and searching resources for your topic
• if appropriate, refer you to other resources or organisations to find what you need
• research your topic for up to one hour free of charge (with a maximum of six enquiries per calendar year per client). They will provide a response within 10 working days.

For more information, visit the State Library of Queensland website.

Work in the QCAA Humanities and Social Sciences learning area

5 September 2019

The QCAA is advertising multiple permanent full-time vacancies for the role of Principal Education Officer (Humanities and Social Sciences learning area). Applications close on 24 September 2019. Visit Smart jobs and careers for details on how to apply.

Applied syllabus PD workshops

3 September 2019

In October, the QCAA will be running professional development workshops for teachers of Applied subjects.

These workshops will provide practical advice and resources that teachers can use to develop a quality teaching, learning and assessment program for Applied subjects.

During the workshops, participants will be given opportunities to :

• gain an understanding of syllabus requirements and quality assurance processes for Applied subjects
• develop modules of work and assessment instruments for use in their school context
• make judgments about levels of achievement using standards matrixes.

Visit the QCAA PD & events page for more information about, or to register for, the workshops.

Protecting wetlands for the future

2 September 2019

MangroveWatch, in partnership with Earthwatch Australia, is establishing a three-year tidal wetland citizen science monitoring program in North Queensland.

As part of this program, Science and Geography teachers are being invited to attend a two-day MangroveWatch tidal wetland citizen science teacher training workshop. The workshops will be held in Cairns, Mackay, Yeppoon and Gladstone between October 2019 and February 2020. For more information, visit the MangroveWatch website or contact Sandra McCullough.

Legal Studies FAQs

15 August 2019

A new FAQ has been added for Legal Studies: Do I need to provide links to resources or stimulus with IA2? See the Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

Geography and Economics FAQs

12 August 2019

A new FAQ has been added for Geography and Economics: What accessibility adjustments are available for Geography and Economics stimulus and who is responsible for making them? See the Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

Ancient History and Modern History FAQs

13 August 2019

A new FAQ has been added for Ancient History and Moden History: What are seen and not seen sources and how do I use them in IA1? and What scaffolding can I provide for summative assessments? See the Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

Professional development opportunities in Term 3

18 July 2019

Humanities, Social Sciences & Business Head of Department (HOD) forums

During Term 3, the QCAA will host forums for Humanities, Social Sciences & Business HODs to:

• discuss endorsement processes and mock external assessments
• examine approaches to implementation of the 2019 syllabuses
• share ideas about best practice
• network with other HODs.

The table below contains details of the forums. HODs should contact their local QCAA district coordinator to register.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)