Curriculum and Learning
The Humanities Curriculum at Ruyton ensures that each girl has the opportunity to achieve personal excellence and fulfil her academic potential. In Humanities, the skills, concepts, and knowledge of the disciplines of Commerce, Geography and History, give students a wide variety of experiences both inside and outside the classroom. In these varied experiences, an understanding of global responsibilities is developed so that girls will become effective global citizens.
Changes for 2011 - Australian Curriculum
There will be significant changes in Humanities as the introduction of mandatory History for all students in Australia means that all Year 9 students will study the required History course. Specialist History courses which were enjoyed by many students have been affected by this change in the Curriculum at Year 9 and Year 10. As the Australian Curriculum continues to be implemented, there will be further changes in the years ahead.
Year 9 History in 2011 will incorporate many elements of the electives now offered and will provide students with an understanding of Australia’s place in the world, a vital perspective for us all as global citizens. Some current electives will no longer be offered.
While courses and topics will remain essentially the same at Years 7 and 8, and in the Commerce and Geography electives, changes are happening all the time, providing students with a wide range of experiences from excellent teachers, to make the classroom more dynamic, interesting and relevant.
Curriculum and Learning within the Classroom
Within the Humanities classrooms, there are many more ways that students develop skills and achieve personal excellence. Briefly, these are:
Year 7 Curriculum
The skills, concepts and knowledge of the disciplines of History and Geography are developed in Year 7. Students began the year by recording a snapshot of their new life in secondary school in a Time Capsule which will be opened in 2015.
Individual work and group work during the year covers a wide range of topics and activities and culminates in the archaeology simulation project when ancient civilisations are uncovered in the dig beyond South House.The archaeological dig is an activity which all the girls in the School remember.
Year 8 Curriculum
The Year 8 Curriculum includes one semester each of History and Geography.
Global issues are the focus of the Geography course with studies of Antarctica and tropical rainforests.
In History, an understanding of life in medieval times is developed through individual assignments, class work and the popular Medieval Feast.
Years 9 and 10 Curriculum
The following electives cover a wide range of Humanities courses. In 2010, students were required to select three in each of Year 9 and Year 10.
• AC/DC WHAT POWER! Active Citizenship/Democratic Choices
• ANCIENT CULTURES (History)
• ASIAN STUDIES (History/Geography)
• AUSTRALIAN HISTORY
• BEACHES AND COASTS (Geography)
• FLORENCE AND VENICE (History)
• LIVING IN CITIES (Geography)
• NATURAL DISASTERS (Geography)
• PROTEST AND CONFLICT (History)
• THEIR SERVICE, OUR HERITAGE (History)
• WOMEN WHO HAVE CHANGED THE WORLD (History)
• WORLD RELIGIONS
• YOU AND YOUR MONEY (Commerce)
• VCE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Units 1 and 2 (Year 10 only)
• VCE HISTORY, Twentieth Century, Unit 1 (Year 10 only)
In these electives specialist teachers delivered interesting and varied courses and student centred activities included simulations, role plays, mummification and the use of Student Voice to enhance the development of skills and concepts.
Outside the classroom, learning was enhanced for a number of Geography classes by completing fieldwork activities at beaches on the Mornington Peninsula, studying volcanic features at Organ Pipes National Park, visiting the fire affected areas around Toolangi and looking at contrasts in the suburban areas of Melbourne.
The Year 10 girls in the VCE Business Management class run small businesses and donate their profits to charity. They also build towers to consider strategies of management.
VCE Curriculum in the Humanities Faculty
Excellent results are achieved by Ruyton students who study:
• BUSINESS MANAGEMENT: Units 1 and 2
• CLASSICAL CIVILIZATIONS: Units 1 - 4
• ECONOMICS: Units 1 - 4
• GEOGRAPHY: Units 3 and 4
• LEGAL STUDIES: Units 1 and 2
• HISTORY : Units 1 and 2 Twentieth Century History
• HISTORY: Units 3 and 4 Revolutions
Classes are offered at Ruyton and usually include boys from Trinity. Enhancement of coursework is evident in all courses, through activities which ensure the development of an appreciation of the values, knowledge and concepts integral to these disciplines. Students have participated in fieldwork, listened to guest speakers and attended student lectures.
Extra-Curriculum Highlight
One of the highlights again this year was the Justicecountry activity on July 30. Under the guidance of Mr Leo Keegan the Year 11 girls who were involved had the opportunity to simulate the mechanics of the parliamentary process. In his introductory presentation, Mr Keegan pointed out that social justice is an integral part of the School’s philosophy. By the end of the day, the elected Prime Minister, Jacqui Evans, led the country to a fairer system of the distribution of wealth. Perhaps the next female Prime Minister of Australia really will come from Ruyton!
Business Week at Deakin University
Stephanie Galea had an exciting week in June when she participated in Australian Business Week at Deakin University in Geelong. Stephanie’s excellent presentation at a School Assembly demonstrated the value of such activities for Ruyton students.
Staffing in 2010
• Ms Timmee Grinham enjoyed Long Service Leave in Term 1 and Ms Petra Fankhauser was welcomed into the department
• Ms Michelle Raatjes chose to take her Long Service Leave in Term 4 and, in her absence, the students and staff welcomed Mrs Elizabeth Gubbins.
• Humanities staff are often selected as VCAA examiners. In 2010, Ms Timmee Grinham again joined the VCAA Assessors in Economics.
• Mr Allan Kerr made contributions to Professional Learning of History teachers across the state by co-authoring a publication from the HTAV entitled VCE History of Revolutions Teacher Pack. He also conducted a workshop at the HTAV Annual Conference to engage and inform teachers on VCE History of Revolutions.
Students from across Victoria also benefitted from Allan Kerr’s expertise. He delivered a lecture at Melbourne University on Oedipus the King to assist students with VCE Classical Studies revision.