10 Interdisciplinary

THiNK Problem Based Learning (Stage 1 Integrated Learning) / Length: 1 Semester

Course Content

This semester-long course allows students to work in collaborative teams to define a community problem, develop creative solutions to the problem before implementing their proposed solutions and evaluating their success. Students will develop their:

• Critical and creative thinking skills

• Understanding and application of character strengths

• Team work and collaboration

• Understanding and application of design thinking principals

Assessment

Assessment of the THiNK Problem Based Learning course is against the SACE Stage 1 Integrated Learning framework. Students completing this course will receive 10 Stage 1 credits towards SACE completion.

• Connections Task: requires students to work collaboratively in small groups to empathise, ideate, pitch, prototype and finally provide a resolution to a question

• Practical Exploration Task: requires students to summarise, pitch and evaluate the stages of the design cycle

• Personal Venture Task: requires students to collect evidence of their learning and compile evidence in an ePortfolio that they will use to support a round table discussion.

Additional Details

• The THiNK pathway utilises a combination of subjects at Reynella East College to provide a rich learning environment that will enhance independence, creativity, critical thinking, leadership and problem solving through rigorous learning. This pathway has been designed as a mechanism to allow high achieving students greater flexibility and control over their academic pathway as they enter the senior school.

• SACE Credits: 10 (Stage 1 SACE)

THiNK Passion Project (Stage 1 Community Studies) / Length: 1 Semester

Course Content

You are all geniuses and the world expects your contribution. This semester-long course allows students to explore their genius by selecting an area of personal interest, developing a guiding question and then undertaking research to answer their question. Students are then encouraged to communicate their findings to the community in the most creative ways possible.

Assessment

Assessment of the THiNK Passion Project course is against the SACE Stage 1 Community Studies framework. Students completing this course will receive 10 Stage 1 credits towards SACE completion.

• Contract of Work: requires students to develop a contract of work that shows evidence of how they plan and organise their chosen community activity

• Folio: requires students to compile and maintain a record of evidence as they complete the contract of work

• Community Activity: requires students to plan and undertake a community project that expands their understanding of the project focus

• Reflection: requires students to reflect on what they have learnt during their community activity

Additional Details

• The THiNK pathway utilises a combination of subjects at Reynella East College to provide a rich learning environment that will enhance independence, creativity, critical thinking, leadership and problem solving through rigorous learning. This pathway has been designed as a mechanism to allow high achieving students greater flexibility and control over their academic pathway as they enter the senior school.

• SACE Credits: 10 (Stage 1 SACE)

THiNK Personal Learning Plan Entrepreneurial Focus / Length: 1 Semester

Course Content

Australia’s education system is focused on scores not skills. As a result, not all young people are developing the skills they need for now and the future. Personal Learning Plan Entrepreneurial Focus looks to change that, allowing students to build business skills in a tangible way that encourages students to identify and talk about the skills they’re building and flip the focus by challenging students to solve a real problem and help them better understand their relationship with money. In addition to this the PLP is designed to help students make informed decisions about their personal development, education, and training. Students develop knowledge and skills in planning for their SACE and their future beyond school. The aim is for each student to achieve success in the SACE and to prepare for work, further education and training, and community life. Students' work is based around the critical and creative thinking capability which involves:

• identifying and exploring the usefulness of different strategies to achieve personal and learning goals

• posing questions and identifying and clarifying information and ideas

• imagining possibilities and courses of action to achieve personal goals, explore learning directions and identify work and training opportunities

• making informed decisions about their learning by monitoring, reviewing and refining their progress towards personal and learning goals

• explaining, discussing, and reviewing their learning and their participation in paid, unpaid, and voluntary work and its relationship to personal and learning goals.

Assessment

Students are required to complete five assessment tasks for their PLP.

Additional Details

• SACE credits: 10 (Stage 1 SACE)