Applied Learning

VCE Vocational Major (VM) – all aboard and full throttle!

2024 sees full immersion into the VCE Vocational Major qualification across Years 11 and 12.

VCAL is a now a program of the past and the VCE VM curriculum and assessments have been revamped. There is much more structure provided and students continue to focus on building their Literacy and Numeracy Skills to be able to capably navigate the adult world. Work Related Skills hone in on important knowledge and skill extension to prepare students to be efficient, effective and safe employees, aware of their rights and expectations. Personal Development Skills curriculum challenges VCE VMers to grow, with units on self identity, healthy lifestyles, community connections, leadership and teamwork, and social awareness, culminating in a major project which aims to assist members of a community or promote awareness of an issue that prevails in society. It is really fabulous learning and so valuable in building a better world and active citizens. Religion in Year 11 VCE VM follows a VCE Unit, thus, providing credit to the VCE VM qualification, as VCE subjects are transferable to VCE VM. In Year 11 students focus on an exploration of the origins of religion and the many different religions that exist in our global world. Year 12 Religion has an emphasis on living out one’s faith and values, exploring ethical decision making, the importance of mindfulness and prayer, and looking out for the needy in our neighbourhoods.

Year 10 LEAP

We are back to record numbers of the past in this introduction to Applied Learning program. An amazing 21 LEAPsters have been introduced to Competency Based Assessment, with an emphasis on Knowledge and Skills underpinning all learning outcomes. Their Community Action class explores healthy lifestyles, issues in the local community and taps into community outreach, where students think and do for the benefit of others.

Half a day studying a VET subject of their choice opens opportunities that are not possible within our College. Having the courage to travel to and study in a new learning environment is a stepping stone to becoming a young adult. I praise our LEAPsters for the enthusiasm they have shown in enrolling in a VET course. These VET courses contribute to a student’s VCE or VCE VM program, so in fact, LEAPsters are accelerating their studies in Year 10!

Seeing our crew dressed in their VET gear and with smiles on their faces is so rewarding.

Structured Work Placements Required

All VCE VM students MUST undertake a day a week at work in their chosen VET study area. This is aimed at introducing them to the coal face of work in their chosen field, before they make definite decisions about their career pathways. Any employer can take on a Structured Workplace student, as long as they have a supervisor who will induct and oversee the student at work. Students have undertaken Work Health and Safety Training in VET lessons and as part of their VCE VM. This allows the students to qualify under the College’s Worksafe umbrella. There is a minimal cost to employers (nil for not for profit) of $5 per day, but some employers are so impressed by the work ethic of students that they choose to provide a wage, or even part time employment. A number of local businesses have also elected to provide a School Based Apprenticeship (SBAT) to our students, which means they attend school three days a week, work two days for the employer, and undertake Block Training at a TAFE throughout the year. When a student knows their career path and an employer establishes that they have found their next apprentice, an SBAT is the ideal way to progress, with the student commencing their apprenticeship Certificate III Training whilst still at school.

We require Structured Work placements (or School based Apprenticeships) in the following fields:

IT and Office Administration

IT Games Creation

Office Administration (general duties)

Electrical (parts store or electrician)

Appliance Installation and Repairs

Plumbing (parts store or plumber)

Building & Construction

Automotive (Mechanics)

Beauty

Retail Cosmetics

Salon Assistant

Animal Care (farm, shelter, pet shop, grooming, veterinarian etc)

If parents, neighbours, relatives or local businesses have any opportunities available for a student to take on a work placement, please email Caitlin.mackay@nazareth.vic.edu.au

Thank you in anticipation.

Ms Caitlin Mackay

Applied Learning Coordinator

Community

Applied Learning is about contributing to community. Teachers teaching VCE VM endeavour to use the five pillars of Applied Learning, which are:

Motivation to engage in learning
Applied learning Practices
Student Agency
Student Centred and flexible approach
Assessment practice which promotes success to be included in all the work that VCE VM students perform.

At the start of the year, students were asked to do something to make the Year 7 families feel welcomed to the College. We decided on making small packets of shortbread biscuits for the 170 families who joined our community in 2024.

We value the diversity of our community and try to meet the varying needs of members. In this instance, we took into account common food allergies and decided to make a batch of biscuits which was both gluten and dairy free. This created a problem solving activity for us in that we had to create a workspace with separate equipment, utensils and ingredients to ensure there was no cross contamination, even from gloved hands when kneading the dough!

Many elements of Numeracy were utilised in this activity – budgeting, measuring, calculating, rounding off, and learning that despite following a recipe strictly, cooking involves having a ‘feel’ for when the mixture is just right. Such a mammoth tasks of baking 1000 biscuits in eight hours, with the mixture requiring some time in the fridge prior to rolling, and a twenty minute bake per batch, required team work and leadership. We needed to give each other feedback, assistance and accept constructive criticism.

Ms Barbara Murphy

Numeracy Teacher