Scotch College

GENERIC SKILLS

Rationale

The Generic Skills Program, introduced in Year 7, recognises the importance of specific skills for the personal success of our students. In Year 8 the program seeks to extend and consolidate the strategies introduced in Year 7 through their implicit integration into the Year 8 Curriculum. This task is undertaken by the teachers of the core subjects but students are encouraged to use and recognise the relevance of these strategies and skills in all subject areas.
Course content
Thinking and Learning
1. Application and Active Learning
Team teachers will work to:
a) develop student concentration during class; motivate to work and achieve; help him to take a proactive approach to improving understanding and study skills; and develop his ability to set goals for self-improvement.
b) monitor the ability and willingness of the student to ask questions, to compare new ideas with previous knowledge and identify whether he recognises different learning styles and is working to develop and extend these.
2. Thinking strategies for both academic and personal problems
Team teachers will:
a) revisit strategies and skills introduced in Year 7, including brainstorming, using graphic organisers and diagrams, visualising, and de Bono strategies.
b) encourage awareness of individual learning styles.
c) monitor individual persistence with tasks and the ability of a student to select appropriate strategies but also to change strategies when necessary.
d) encourage students to refine their use of memory strategies.
3. Research Skills
Plan research, gather and organise information, form and test hypotheses, draw conclusions.
Organisation
1. Punctuality and Time Management
Team teachers will monitor the student’s ability to arrive at school and classes punctually, complete and submit work on time, and to use class time effectively.
2. Managing Equipment, Recording and Filing
There is a strong focus on the students being proficient in this aspect of self management. It includes bringing the correct equipment to class, and effective use of the Record Book and Learning Point. The clear organisation of folder notes is considered important so boys can find information easily. This is especially important as students prepare for end of year exams.
Teamwork
1. Co-operation, Compromise and Responsibility
Team teachers will provide a variety of opportunities for students to work collaboratively in a range of group structures.
An emphasis will be placed on:
a) Responsibility: Students will be encouraged to try different roles within a group structure and to be reliable in their fulfilment of these roles. An emphasis will also be placed on working responsibly to deadlines. This also recognises the need for individuals to be able to work independently within the group setting.

b) Communication: Students will be encouraged to share their ideas clearly and confidently and to listen to others respectfully and carefully.
c) Cooperation: Students will be encouraged to use different strategies to reach consensus in their groups.
Communication
1. Active Listening Skills
Students will be encouraged to develop concentration and to listen actively, both to their teachers and to peers. Active listening is demonstrated when: students contribute relevantly to discussion through question asking or comments, listen without interrupting, display appropriate body language, including eye contact and facing a speaker.
2. Oral Communication
Students will be given a variety of opportunities to develop these skills both within and outside the classroom, and in informal and impromptu activities like small group discussion and in more structured, prepared activities like debating. An emphasis is placed on: effective use of the voice for clear and expressive delivery; appropriate body language including stance, eye contact and effective use of gestures; and an ability to respond clearly to questions from the audience, or to rephrase ideas to overcome misunderstandings.
3. Document Skills
Students are encouraged to think carefully about the presentation of their work, both freehand and word processed. Emphasis is placed on neatness, effective layout, appropriate choice and use of headings, subheadings, captions, footnotes, bibliographies, fonts, font sizes and editing, both with computer assistance and proof-reading.
Assessment
The progress of each student is monitored by his teaching team and self evaluation is encouraged. At the end of each semester each student will receive a  report reflecting on his progress in the mastery of the nominated Generic Skills. Each team of teachers spends a considerable amount of time discussing the progress of each student, suggesting comments and gradings, based on the student’s performance in individual subjects.

Year 8 Curriculum 2011

Subject booklet
Subject Booklet
(pdf) 100k

Introduction
Generic skills
Outdoor Learning

Art
Christian Education
Design and Technology
Drama
English
Geography
History
ICT
Language Other Than English (LOTE)

Chinese
French
German
Indonesian

Mathematics
Music
Physical Education
Science

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Scotch College: ABN 86 852 826 445 ACN 005 650 395 CRICOS 00624A (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students)