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Check in here regularly for news related to subjects in the The Arts learning area.
Free webinars for early career and returning P-10 teachers of The Arts
27 February 2020
The QCAA is pleased to offer a series of webinars exploring the intent and structure of each of the eight P–10 Australian Curriculum (AC) learning areas including The Arts.
For teachers beginning their careers, or returning to the Arts 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 The Arts are on Tuesday 3 March and Wednesday 18 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 syllabuses for The Arts, 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 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 Arts Learning Area.
For those who cannot attend in person, the QCAA is also hosting a webinar in February.
To register, please discuss with your school’s Principal’s delegate.
District | Date | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
Sunshine Coast | Wednesday, 12 February 2020 | 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm | The Sebel Pelican Waters, 38 Mahogany Drive, Pelican Waters |
Brisbane Central and East | Thursday, 13 February 2020 | 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Christie Conference, 320 Adelaide Street, Brisbane |
Brisbane North | Thursday, 13 February 2020 | 9:00 am – 10:30 am | Brisbane International Virginia, Cnr Sandgate & Zillmere Roads, Boondall |
Brisbane Ipswich | Wednesday, 19 February 2020 | 9:00 am – 10:30 am | Springlake Hotel, 1/1 Springfield Lakes Boulevard, Springfield Lakes |
Toowoomba | Wednesday, 19 February 2020 | 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Picnic Point, 164 Tourist Road, Toowoomba |
Brisbane South | Friday, 28 February 2020 | 9:00 am – 10:30 am | Fitzy's Loganholme, Bryants Rd & Pacific Hwy, Loganholme |
Gold Coast | Friday, 28 February 2020 | 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Crowne Plaza Surfers Paradise, 2807 Gold Coast Highway, Surfers Paradise |
Wide Bay | Monday, 9 March 2020 | 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Mantra Hervey Bay, Buccaneer Drive, Urangan |
Cairns | Monday, 16 March 2020 | 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Cairns Sheridan Hotel, 295 Sheridan Street, Cairns |
Townsville | Tuesday, 17 March 2020 | 9:30 am – 11:00am | Oaks Metropole Hotel Townsville, 81 Palmer Street, Townsville |
Mackay | Wednesday, 18 March 2020 | 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Ocean International, 1 Bridge Road, Mackay |
Rockhampton | Thursday, 19 March 2020 | 9:30 am – 11:00 am | Empire Apartment Hotel, 5 East Street, Rockhampton |
Webinar | Monday, 24 February 2020 | 3:30pm – 4:30 pm | Online |
Subject-specific advice for endorsement event 2 — Internal assessment 3
21 January 2020
Dance — IA3 Project — Dance work (35%)
To ensure schools design a valid and accessible assessment instrument that aligns with the syllabus specifications, here are a few useful tips for schools to consider before submitting the IA3 for endorsement. As you develop assessment, you should:
- specify that the choice of style is open with a focus on personal style considerations. This will then allow for fusion, etc.
- ensure that the task requires the inclusion of at least two dancers for the choreography component, i.e. a solo will not meet syllabus conditions
- specify in the task description that there is to be a maximum of two choreographic problems for the evaluative response
- ensure that performance conditions will be met regardless of which work students use for their performance component
- specify that the choreographic statement for the dance work used in the performance component be included in the student response. For example, if a student chooses to perform another student’s work, then the choreographic statement for that work must be included.
Drama — IA3 Project — Practice-led project (35%)
To ensure schools design a valid and accessible assessment instrument that aligns with the syllabus specifications, here are a few useful tips for schools to consider before submitting the IA3 for endorsement. As you develop assessment, you should:
- ensure that the inherited published text selected is the original Greek, Shakespearean or Neoclassical text and not later adapted versions. This will allow students to demonstrate their manipulation of dramatic languages to transform the text into a contemporary performance, rather than relying on the work of others in transforming the original texts.
- be aware it is not a syllabus requirement that the directorial vision component be presented in class nor that the student appears in the digital visual presentation. However, the assessment instrument should identify authentication strategies to be used by the school to authenticate student work.
Note: Directorial visions can be modified and adapted to suit performance needs. For example, groups can make decisions about what they will present, whether this is one student’s directorial vision or a combination of ideas from the directorial visions of different group members. Performance skills are the focus of assessment in the second component of the project.
Film, Television and New Media — IA3 Stylistic project (35%)
To ensure schools design a valid and accessible assessment instrument that aligns with the syllabus specifications, here are a few useful tips for schools to consider before submitting the IA3 for endorsement. As you develop assessment, you should be aware that, while the task description may be similar to the QCAA sample assessment instrument due to the specific nature of syllabus requirements, you should ensure that your IA3 reflects your school’s context. This may be indicated in a variety of ways, through:
- the context description, in terms of the chosen audience, purpose, scenes/characters selected, themes, genre/mode, subject matter selection, etc.,
- the scaffolding that is most appropriate for your students, and/or
- the language that is most accessible for your students.
Music — IA3 Integrated project (35%)
To ensure that assessment designed for IA3 aligns with the syllabus specifications, you should submit two instruments for endorsement, i.e.
- one instrument for musicology and composition, and
- one instrument for musicology and performance.
Both instruments are required to allow for student choice in IA3.
Visual Art — IA3 Project — Inquiry phase 3 (35%)
To ensure schools design a valid and accessible assessment instrument that aligns with the syllabus specifications, here are a few useful tips for schools to consider before submitting the IA3 for endorsement. As you develop assessment, you should:
- be aware that is no need for a new stimulus, as IA1 and IA2 are the stimulus for IA3. The concept of the unit is Art as alternate and this refers to creating alternate meaning about the already established student-directed focus.
- foreground the contemporary context and contemporary approaches, as outlined in the Developing area of study in the subject matter for Unit 4. This could be made explicit through wording such as, ‘research a contemporary artist that you have not previously studied’.
- either specify in the instructions that students are to explore particular (named) alternate contemporary approaches or provide instructions that are relatively broad, e.g. ‘create alternate meaning about your focus through the application of contemporary processes, such as …’.
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.
Drama PD at Emerald in January 2020
28 November 2019
The QCAA is providing free professional development activities for all schools (from Prep to Year 12) in Emerald area 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 Drama-specific syllabus conversations, as well as information about endorsement and confirmation processes.
Full program and registration
- Emerald (Thursday 23 January).
Visual Art PD at Longreach in January 2020
28 November 2019
The QCAA is providing free professional development activities for all schools (from Prep to Year 12) in Longreach area 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 Visual Art-specific syllabus conversations, as well as information about endorsement and confirmation processes.
Full program and registration
- Longreach (Friday 24 January).
Queensland Youth Week 2020 art competition
26 November 2019
Students studying Visual Art, Visual Arts in Practice, or Arts in Practice may be interested in submitting their artwork for the Queensland Youth Week in 2020 (QYW20) competition.
There are fantastic prizes to be won, and the winning entry will be featured across QYW20 promotional material.
Queensland Youth Week is annual celebration of young people and the enormous contributions they make to our cultural, economic and social life. QYW20 will be held from 1 to 9 April.
The competition closes Sunday 15 December 2019.
Creative Industries graduating students showcase
6 November 2019
QUT’s Nex(us) will showcase graduating Bachelor of Creative Industries students’ work.
The exhibition, which relates to the intersection of art, science and technology, will feature projects students developed to help address climate change and improve children’s health and wellness.
It may be of interest to educators teaching, or students studying or interested in studying, Design, Drama, Visual Art and/or Film, Television and New Media.
When: The exhibition is open 10 am – 3 pm 7 November and Friday 10 am – 1 pm 8 November.
Where: The Block, Creative Industries Precinct, QUT Kelvin Grove.
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 The Arts learning area
5 September 2019
The QCAA is advertising multiple permanent full-time vacancies for the role of Principal Education Officer (The Arts 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.
Michael Gow’s Away now available to stream
30 August 2019
Great news for Drama and English teachers in the new QCE system: Australian National Theatre - LIVE has just made it even easier for schools to access Malthouse Theatre's production of Michael Gow's Away.
Schools can now stream the play for one week for $150 via Vimeo on Demand. (Payment is by credit card.)
This means schools can screen the play as many times as they want in a one-week period and start from whenever they want.
Ben Quilty and Margaret Olley exhibitions
21 August 2019
The Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art is (QAGOMA) is currently hosting Ben Quilty and Margaret Olley exhibitions that may provide useful teaching and learning experiences for Visual Art and Visual Arts in Practice students.
Teachers and students not able to visit QAGOMA may be interested in this Art Gallery of New South Wales video of Ben Quilty and Margaret Olley in conversation — it plays in the QAGOMA exhibition.
The Tweed Regional Gallery’s Margaret Olley Art Centre also features a recreation of Olley’s home studio, including windows and doors relocated from Olley’s Paddington, Sydney, home studio and 20,000 items Olley collected over many years as inspiration for her art.
Michael Gow’s Away
22 July 2019
The QCAA is working with Australian National Theatre (ANT) Live to enable students and teachers around Queensland to view the filmed performance of Michael Gow’s play Away during Term 4 this year. Away is on the English and English as an Additional Language (EAL) prescribed text list.
This performance of the Malthouse Theatre’s production of Away brings the excitement of world-class live theatre to local cinemas screens.
A complementary education resource covers the social, political and historical contexts of the play, its Shakespearean links, as well as interviews with the writer, actors and designers. Produced with the Victoria University, the resource offers a range of activities and discussions for senior English and Drama students to explore, analyse and engage deeply with the text and the production.
If you are interested in screening the production in your school or would like to attend a screening at your local cinema, please contact Jess O’Neill in our Communications team to discuss available dates and costs.
For a preview of the production, please visit ANT Live: Away.
About ANT Live
The aim of ANT Live is to enable all Australians to enjoy, criticise and participate in the development of our artistic heritage, and to give everyone an equal opportunity to share great Australian stories and witness great Australian performances without the restrictions of time, money or distance.
About Away
It’s the summer of 1967, and three families head away for a beach holiday. Set against a backdrop of war and social revolution, they find themselves caught up in their own storm of secrets and conflict. Michael Gow’s classic Australian play explores themes of loss and change as three mothers deal with their own personal grief and their attempt at letting go. Relationships are pushed to the edge as secrets are exposed and the pressure of social change takes its toll.
Professional development opportunities in Term 3
17 July 2019
The Arts Head of Department (HOD) forums
During Term 3, the QCAA will host forums for The Arts 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.
| District | Event Date | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairns | Tuesday 23 July 2019 | 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Rydges Esplanade Cairns, 209–217 Abbott Street, Cairns |
| Townsville | Wednesday 24 July 2019 | 9:30 am – 11:00 am | Seagulls Resort, 74 The Esplanade, Belgian Gardens, Townsville |
| Mackay | Thursday 25 July 2019 | 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Harrup Park Country Club, 89 Juliet Street, Mackay |
| Rockhampton | Friday 26 July 2019 | 9:30 am – 11:00 am | Quality Regent Hotel, 192 Bolsover Street, Rockhampton |
| Brisbane Central | Monday 29 July 2019 | 9:30 am – 11:00 am | Christie Conference, 320 Adelaide Street, Brisbane |
| Brisbane East | Monday 29 July 2019 | 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Carina Leagues Club, Chadwick Hall, 1390 Creek Road, Carina |
| Brisbane South | Tuesday 30 July 2019 | 9:30 am – 11:00 am | Fitzy's Loganholme, Bryants Rd & Pacific Hwy, Loganholme |
| Gold Coast | Tuesday 30 July 2019 | 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Crowne Plaza Surfers Paradise 2807 Gold Coast Highway, Surfers Paradise |
| Brisbane North | Wednesday 31 July 2019 | 9:30 am – 11:00 am | Brisbane International Virginia, Cnr Sandgate & Zillmere Roads, Boondall |
| Sunshine Coast | Wednesday 31 July 2019 | 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm | The Sebel Pelican Waters, 38 Mahogany Drive, Pelican Waters |
| Wide Bay | Thursday 1 August 2019 | 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Mantra Hervey Bay, Buccaneer Drive, Urangan |
| Brisbane Ipswich | Friday 2 August 2019 | 9:30 am – 11:00 am | Brookwater Golf Club, 1 Tournament Drive, Brookwater |
| Toowoomba | Friday 2 August 2019 | 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm | City Golf Club, 254 South Street, Toowoomba |
| Webinar | Tuesday 6 August 2019 | 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm |