From the Head of Humanities – Critical Conversations in Year 9

The Humanities Faculty is looking forward to an innovative and engaging 2022. The suite of subjects on offer, as both core and elective subjects, as well as at VCE are diverse, providing students great opportunities to develop knowledge and interests in many different ways. We are also looking forward to resuming excursions and activities that connect what students are learning in the classrooms to the real world.

Last year’s VCE Humanities results continued to reflect the passion and diligence of our students, as well as the expertise and support of the teachers here at St Catherine’s, not just in the Units 3&4 subjects, but in preparing the students for VCE in previous years of study.  The median Study Scores in all Humanities VCE subjects continued to greatly exceed those of State and like schools, reflecting the hard work of all our students. Additionally, many students achieved outstanding results in each Humanities subject, including Study Scores above 45. A number of students achieved the maximum possible Study Score of 50 in both Business Management and Global Politics.

We are also very pleased to welcome four new teachers to the Humanities Faculty in 2022, all of whom bring a wealth of experience and expertise in their respective areas of Humanities teaching.  Ms Penny Williams is teaching Units 3&4 Business Management, Mr Michael Hein, Units 1&2 Accounting, Business Management and Year 9 Humanities, Ms Roslyn McCulloch, Year 10 Geography and Years 9 and 7 Humanities and Ms Roxanne James is teaching Years 7 and 8 Humanities, as well as English subjects.

This year, we are very excited to be implementing a completely new innovation in the teaching and learning of both Geography and History in Year 9.  During the second half of 2021, a group of Humanities teachers planned for, and developed the curriculum to create a new way for classes to operate. This new model is inspired by the Harkness Method used in many schools across the USA and UK. Alternatively known as a Socratic Method, St Catherine’s has embraced piloting this new model in completely changed classroom spaces that are centred around a large oval table that has been crafted from local timbers.

This new model of learning involves teachers and students working together on developing knowledge around key challenges relating to Geography and History topics. Most significantly, students read and prepare in advance of the discussions, including viewing videos, reading texts and interpreting graphics, maps and other data. They then conduct ‘critical conversations’ that develop their thinking and knowledge skills and arrive at shared understandings about issues. As part of the process, students reflect on their learning and the conversation dynamics are mapped (see diagram).  Students have already participated in a number of these critical conversations, including one focusing on whether we can prevent biomes (particular types of environments – such as tropical rainforests) being destroyed.

The positive sense of being involved in something dynamic and new is clearly being felt by both students, their families and teachers. We look forward to the further development of the program throughout the year.

Term 1, as always, is synonymous with Year 8 Geography students getting out to Port Melbourne and St Kilda to undertake fieldwork on coastal environments. In the past weeks, students have had the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills from the classroom in examining the features that make and change the beach landscapes in northern Port Phillip Bay. Pictured are students with their teachers Miss Jennifer Molloy and Mrs Sue Collister undertaking their research at the beach.

Mr Paul Gilby, Head of Humanities