One of the consequences of remote learning for our Year 10 students was two years of missed exams. Understandably, the upcoming examination period has filled some of the cohort with a degree of trepidation. Things their academic forbears took for granted, such as what happens when once enters the examination room, cannot be taking as assumed knowledge for these students. More complex still are the skills needed to study effectively and efficiently.
For these reasons, the Year 10s attended a Middle Years Programme (MYP) study skills session in the Hartnell Dining Room last Thursday. During the session, they reflected on their current study skills by considering their study habits and environment. They completed a checklist that required them to honestly nominate ‘blockers’ to their study and worked in groups to develop study strategies they can utilise in the lead up to their exam period. During their Pastoral time in Week 5, they will meet as a group to reflect on their progress and continue to build on the areas they have identified as challenging.
The students enthusiastically and productively participated in the session and will no doubt benefit from their opportunity to ‘learn how to learn’ – as will the quality of their results!
Lachlan Searle, Acting MYP Year 10 Coordinator
VCE Geography Fieldtrips
Kinglake fieldwork – Black Saturday Bushfires
On Friday 6 May the Year 11 VCE Geography class attended a field trip to Kinglake to see firsthand the social, environmental and economic impacts of the Black Saturday bushfires. It was a beautiful day in the Yarra Valley and students were able to complete a number of data collection activities. This allowed them to gain an understanding of the area in terms of topography, social demographics and some of the economic struggles faced by local people. Following the trip, students will complete a written field trip report that brings together the various elements of the day and compliments their studies into Hydro-meteorological hazards and disasters.
Burwood Brickworks – Land Use Change fieldwork
On Friday 13 May, the Year 12 VCE Geography students spent the day investigating the impact of the land use change that has occurred at the Burwood Brickworks site. Burwood Brickworks, which is now known for its sustainable shopping centre and high-density housing development, was originally a site containing orchards in the 1950’s and later, as housing development began in the area, a quarry and brick making facility. The students made the most of the miserable weather and collected data on the current land use, completed traffic counts and interviewed some of the shop keepers and visitors to the shopping centre. Students will use the data collected during this fieldtrip to write a fieldwork report which will form part of their Year 12 assessment.
Cath Hill, Head of Faculty Humanities
