Curriculum Development at HPS

The Highton PS Learning Glossary for Parents

To help our families navigate the language of the International Baccalaureate and Victorian Curriculum, here is a quick guide to some of the common terms you will see in our newsletters and hear in the classroom.

• Explicit Teaching: This is a highly structured, purposeful way of teaching where the teacher clearly explains and models a new skill (the "I do, We do, You do" approach). At Highton PS, we use Explicit Instruction to ensure every student has a solid foundation in core Literacy and Numeracy to support deeper inquiry.
• Concepts: These are the "big ideas" (such as Form, Function, or Change) that help students think beyond simple facts. By focusing on concepts, students can take what they learn in one area and apply it to different situations throughout their lives.
• Inquiry-based Learning: A teaching method that prioritises student curiosity and investigation. Students explore "big questions" to discover how the world works.
• Transdisciplinary: This means "across the subjects." Instead of teaching Science or History in isolation, we connect them through a central theme, reflecting how information is used in the real world.
• Unit of Inquiry (UOI): An in-depth study of a specific theme, usually lasting 4–8 weeks. Each year level completes six of these units annually, except for Foundation.
• Central Idea: The "big idea" or core takeaway of a unit. It is a concise statement of the deep understanding we want students to retain long after the unit ends.
• Agency: This refers to students having  "voice and choice." We empower our students to take initiative and ownership of their learning journey.
• Learner Profile: Ten attributes that are purposely developed to help students become responsible, internationally minded global citizens. The profile aims to develop learners who are:
  • Inquirers
    • Knowledgeable
    • Thinkers
    • Communicators
    • Principled
    • Open-minded
    • Caring
    • Risk-takers
    • Balanced
    • Reflective. 
• Action: The "so what?" of learning. This is when students take what they have learned and apply it to make a positive difference in their own lives or the community.

For more information on our curriculum, you can visit the International Baccalaureate (IB) website or the Victorian Department of Education.

Tracy Thornton

Assistant Principal