Students from Stage 4 have been learning about Ecosystems in their science classes in Term 3 and this has served as a motivation for me to introduce this post using scientific terms.
In our educational ecosystem, biotic factors are the students, educators, parents, members of CEDP, NESA, STILE, Education Perfect, InnerZone and all other support groups. Abiotic factors are the learning spaces, resources, technology, processes, policies and hours (from the perspective of compliance).
For basic learning to take place, the flow of matter (knowledge and skills) and energy from the educator to the learner is sufficient, however, for an educational setting to be truly successful, there should be positive and sustained interactions between the above-mentioned biotic and abiotic factors.
At St Luke’s, we have the best resources, great learning spaces, working policies and meaningful processes like many successful schools.
What makes St Luke’s extraordinary? We have a good connection with the abiotic factor, ‘hours’ (NESA prescribed ‘indicative hours’). I have done a brief analysis to find out how there is enough time already available to provide students from Year 7 to Year 10, a flexible and diverse curriculum so they are ready to face the real world as responsible global citizens.
Here’s the link to NESA’s mandatory curriculum requirement for RoSA.
If we continue with the present time allocation, we will have extra 400 hours per year for our students in Year 9 and Year 10, which means we have a total of 800 hours in Stage 5 to do Pathways or any other Personal Development/Interest Program. Considering all the extra hours in Stage 4, students are allowed to explore further the ‘Infinite Possibilities’ for 1133 hours across 4 years (Year 7 to Year 10).
The draft alignment of our school’s (SLCC) time allocation to NESA’s mandatory curriculum requirement for RoSA can be found here.
The good news is the fact that we have the ‘hours’ to implement great programs for our students and still remain compliant. What a wonderful interaction between biotic factors and the abiotic factor, ‘hours’!
There are opportunities for community, leadership and industry based projects, robotics, forensics, media studies and VET courses. These courses can be offered to students in Stage 5 by interacting effectively with corporate bodies. Another way to save hours as there is no need for us to reinvent the wheel!
1133 hours across 4 years is not a small number! It is 188.8 school days; 47 days in a year which is almost a term.
Promising and purposeful experiences are waiting for us at St Luke’s Catholic College to equate learning to infinite possibilities!
Pause - Ponder - Progress 