Literacy and Numeracy in Australian Curriculum

Numeracy and literacy in Humanities and Social Science In HASS, students participate in a variety of learning areas such as history and geography to make sense of the human behaviour and interaction in social, cultural, environmental, economic and political contexts historically and contemporary (ACARA 2018C)  Image retrieved from (http://harrishistoryclass.weebly.com/uploads/1/3/3/8/13387161/314334.png?1358535285)  Literacy in HASS Literacy is developed as students learn through a range of written and visual texts ranging from writing reports to analyzing maps, images and graphs. (ACARA 2018C) As students actively learn to use texts in different modes, students learn that terminology used differs according to contexts about places, people, events, processes, systems and perspectives of the past, present and future. Literacy however, does not just mean reading and writing, it is about understanding the cause-and-effect, comparative relationships continuity and c...

Authentic Pedagogy – Learning through the ‘real’   Would you rather read about beaches to learn or actually go to the beach and learn through exploring and experiencing? That’s a no brainer, who wouldn’t want to sit back and relax but in actuality you learn so much more through hands on activities.   Authentic practice in education refers to the way teachers use a range of educational techniques and instructions to connect students’ curriculum into the real world. By connecting students’ learning into real world issues and application, students are more engaged, motivated, and are more eager to learn about concepts they genuinely find interest in. (Edglossary, 2013)                 Authentic practice involves:         Real-world experience that is found outside classroom environment         Self-direct learning         Hands ...

Numeracy and Mathematics – Similar but Not Really                                                                                (Image retrieved from http://blogs.sunvalleygroup.co.za/mike-thiem/files/2014/11/funny-math-equations-quote.jpg) Both mathematics and numeracy deals with numbers so they are the same right? Not really; Mathematics is a field of study that is taught in schools such as geometry, algebra, trigonometry, percentages, and all other boring stuff whereas numeracy incorporates the mathematical skills to apply it into the real world.  Numeracy Mathematics          Uses and applies mathematical ideas to solve problems in everyday or applied contexts          Flexi...

Literacy and Numeracy in the Australian Curriculum Before we teach literacy and numeracy capabilities in the Australian curriculum, we first need to understand what literacy and numeracy is.  What’s literacy?  (Image retrieved from http://hni.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/inigo-montoya-literacy-meme.jpg)  Literacy is not simply having the ability to read and write (dictionary.com, 2018). Literacy is the act in which everyday individuals such as you and I communicate, interpret ideas, discuss, make meanings and essentially functioning in society.  Prior to the 21 st century, literate defined a person’s ability to read and write, separating the educated from the uneducated. (Jones-Kevalier, B, R., Flannagan, S, F. 2006 ) The world today is not the same as it was before, students’ funds of knowledge are much more diverse. Students today are ‘digital natives’ (Marc Prensky, 2008) and are exposed to a wide variety of cultures and an enriched l...