Student Work

Year 11 VCE Physical Education

Students annotating joint classifications on the human skeleton.

VCAL Literacy - Why VCAL for Me?

Why VCAL is for Me

- by Allysa Hayes

Welcome Year 10s. In this article I will be covering why I chose VCAL as my course for my senior years, and why I would like to inspire you to do the same.

As you start to enter your senior years, this will bring on many new challenges and tasks from all sides, starting with the course you choose at the end of the year.

There are currently two streams to choose from in our state. First is The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), while the second, and the one we’ll be covering today, is The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL). Now let’s dive in with my reasonings.

Firstly, VCAL gives you more hands-on experience when it comes to studying your chosen pathway. In my case, I’ve always disliked testing and doing tasks in more of a set time limit. Since these types of schooling practices tend to add more stress on top of what students are trying to achieve, this can be very damaging to the student’s wellbeing thus affecting their work output into the course. in VCAL when you start your first term, you are required to do a certain number of tasks and arrange them into a portfolio format. This then needs to be handed in to your teachers as well as your sign off sheet. A sign off sheet is just a piece of paper you need all your teachers to sign (including your course teacher) to say that you have done a satisfactory amount of work for the term. This is a much more relaxed way for students to hand in their work, since it gives them more freedom in how to efficiently manage their time between work and extracurricular activities, including relaxation and free time. It’s an easier strategy to pick up and if you put in the effort, this will work for you. It should be noted that VCAL is catered more towards those looking to join the trade business, such as being an electrician, a hairdresser, a plumber or a carpenter, to name a few. Since these businesses can be joined though the VCAL program, this means you get a head start in your field, which gives you more of a boost in the competitive scene that is the job market this decade.

Secondly, VCAL is a shorter course overall, meaning you have more time outside of school to sharpen and better your skills so that you can work to be the best person you can be. In my case I’ve been studying music almost all my life and my ambition is to be a performer one day. I’ve been working on this dream since I was just 6 years old, going into a variety of different choirs and shows throughout my schooling. I've often looked up to the artists I heard on radio and saw on TV growing up, seeing their stories of starting small and finding success when getting on the right foot always struck a chord with me, causing me to have a great sense of ambition in my life.

I am currently undertaking a course at Melton Secondary College which is a music performance program so I can work to become the Musician I’ve wanted to be since I was small. Schools really buckle down on the fact that you just need to get all your assignments in, so I’m going to work harder with my ambitions to get the dream I’ve always had into my corner of the world. This year I am using the school to my advantage by cooperating with staff and taking in their criticisms to improve my works so that I have a much higher chance of success for when I leave school this year.

I’m also working to dedicate more of my time to my education since I’ve finally come to understand that schools are not out to get me. Teachers and workers are just trying their hardest to give me the best education I can get from the schooling system by giving me challenges and goals to meet so that the 12 years I’ve currently spent in schools don’t go to waste and that I won’t be struggling for the rest of my life.

Lastly, VCAL is seeking out to give more students financial support, which allows for more people to get the affordable education they need in this generation and beyond. Without the VCAL program, going to the vet course of your choice would cost you from about $1000 to $5000 per year, meaning you would’ve had to have paid about $2000 to $5000 odd for your senior years. But thankfully for everyone the government pays most of your fees for you at no extra cost, meaning you only must pay from about $150 to $500 or so per year. This makes education much more affordable for every family meaning that every student has a better chance to be who they aspire to be.

In Conclusion VCAL gives out an abundance more opportunity to the youth of our generation whilst asking for truly little in return. Once again, I must reiterate that VCAL is more Catered to students looking for trade work, since they focus more on the practical side of things so you can get more experience which can land one into a job sooner. VCAL has genuinely been setting me up for my life beyond my senior years, so I highly recommend you take this course if you believe this is the right kind of pathway for you. I have a feeling a lot of your potential can shine though if you choose VCAL. Thank you for taking my story and thoughts into consideration, and I hope I have managed to help you choose out your future.

Why I chose VCAL

- by Madison Kurylowicz 

VCAL is a very underestimated pathway, a lot of people label this as “the dumb class” however this pathway is very rewarding and successful, the opportunity’s and careers you can lean towards in VCAL is outstanding. VCAL may be easier but it sets out a good future for the students completing it without the addition of university. There are many reasons why I chose VCAL and that is because it has alternative pathways, practical learning opportunities, personalised study plan and great access to industry’s.

Alternative pathways is a huge help when it comes to starting a career for yourself if you chose not to attend university, alternative pathways such as an apprenticeship, Vocational Education and Training (VET) or full-time employment creates a huge understanding of future Careers and gives students experience to boost their career in many ways. The certificate applies students to finish their senior secondary studies and work towards future training or employment aspirations at the same time.

Practical learning opportunities create a better understanding of the career your aiming for and helps mould you not only into a good worker but also can mould you into a successful business owner with experience, practical learning is a great way to learn as it gives u experience and knowledge and that will push u to succeed, VCAL vet courses is full of practice hands on learning which is a great pathway to success.

Personalised study plans make your studying easier and productive as it fits your requirements to build a career and become successful, personalised study plans can lead to access to industry’s that will help you get a better position in your job.

I chose VCAL because it has a lot of benefits and can help me be successful in many ways. 

VCAL LITERACY 1+2 DNA INTERMEDIATE 2021 – POSTER DESIGN

The VCAL Intermediate Literacy classes have undertaken a poster design project for the upcoming Staughton College Swimming Carnival.   The posters fit with Learning outcomes 1 and 2, Writing for Self Expression and Writing for Practical Purposes. 

The posters are a deliberate promotional strategy to make a quick, immediate visual impression on students to be part of their school community swimming day.   VCAL students have brainstormed a range of motto and slogans and then designed a poster that features a compelling message and provocative design. 

The best advantage of poster making is that it facilitates team work and understanding along with facilitating creative thinking and extensive research and reading. It provides students with an opportunity to learn by doing, in turn strengthening the learning outcomes and elements.