level 1 matrix

[Alan West]

Hi everyone

There seems to be a number of people concerned that Physics will no  
longer be a level 1 subject. I don’t think this should be a real  
concern as I believe that at level 1, students should be encouraged  
to have a broad general education. There is plenty of time to  
specialise later and I think that people who later go into a  
scientific career will be better off for having some arts or commerce  
in their background and vice versa for those entering careers based  
on the arts or commerce having some science behind them. Yes, and I  
am a Physics teacher advocating this.

However, for those who wish to specialise or run multiple science  
programmes, there is huge flexibility to design courses as  
illustrated in the supporting notes (Possible assessment for  
different courses from L1 matrix) and these notes imply that there  
could well be two exam slots for Science.

I hope people will look at these matrices positively and not be tied  
to what we have traditionally taught in the past. The world is  
changing and we must look at the way we teach as well as what we  
teach as we prepare our students for their futures. The matrix has  
been constructed with the NOS strand built into each standard and we  
are also to take into account the key competencies as we prepare our  
lessons.
There are challenges for us all, but lets be imaginative and creative  
and look for ways of using the new curriculum and the matrices for  
improving science education for our students.


Alan West
HOD Science
Ashburton College


On 23/11/2008, at 12:01 PM, Skelton, Mo wrote:

> Hi All
>
> The level 1 (2 and 3) matrices are out on the NZASE website and  
> your feedback is asked for: http://www.nzase.org.nz/consultation.html
> I have filled in the online evaluation form but there was no  
> reference to the fact that level 1 physics as a separate subject  
> (ditto for chem and bio) disappears off the landscape to be  
> replaced by level 1 science only. If this a concern to you then I  
> guess the feedback comments form is the place to feed back -  
> although not asked for.
> Is the abolishing of these level 1 subjects also up for discussion  
> or have these decisions been made? The changes in aligning the  
> standards to the curriculum seems rather minor in comparison.  
> Action to be taken?
>
> Mo Skelton
> StCC
>
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