NGSC Newsletter

SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS

Sarah Bridges

Senior Sub-School Manager

 

Thanks to all students and families in Senior Sub School for their efforts in transitioning to remote and flexible learning. Your consistent resilience and adaptability are appreciated, and they are skills that will be very useful as you transition to work or further studies.

Reports were released this week and it is an opportune time to discuss your results and set goals for the upcoming semester. Please ensure you attend Parent Teacher Conferences so that you can make the most of your educational opportunities. You are encouraged to contact the relevant YLC if you have any concerns or questions.

It is essential that students are checking their emails, Compass and Google Classrooms, as this is the main way we are communicating essential information. Any VCAA updates, relating to GAT, etc, will be posted as soon as possible. 

VCE

Unit 3 and 4 students have been provided with information about the upcoming Connect Lectures. These are study and revision lectures presented by tertiary students who have recently studied VCE and achieved high marks. Students and staff from previous years have found them very valuable.  NGSC is providing these lectures for the students, free of charge, as they are normally $35 per lecture per student. ALL Unit 3 and 4 students are required to attend.

VCE Google Classroom contains information regarding other supports available to students. Please use them.

Year 11

Sample 2022 Year 12 jumpers are available for students to try on in the Senior Sub School Office.

Stay safe, take care and please contact us or Student Wellbeing for support if needed.

Nicolle Brigden

Learning Specialist/Teacher

VCE EXTENDED INVESTIGATION (E.I.) 

What is E.I.?

In 2022, NGSC will offer a new VCE subject, Extended Investigation. This unique subject is perfect for students interested in University-level research. 

 

E.I. students undertake a self-directed investigation into an area of personal interest over the course of one school year.  There is no subject-specific prescribed content; instead, students learn the skills of inquiry, research, analysis and critical thinking while investigating a topic or subject that THEY find interesting.

   

What do E.I. students learn? 

E.I. students will learn about all aspects of the research process, including:

  • what constitutes a good research question and how to develop one that is ethical, robust and practical
  • how to conduct a literature review, to situate their research in what’s already known on this topic
  • research project management and how to work within the limits that time and resources impose
  • a broad range of academic research methods, then how to gather independent data in response to their research question and how to analyse this.
  • skills in presenting, communicating and defending their research findings.

What kinds of topics could an E.I. student research?

Pretty much anything they are interested in! Of course, their research question must be ethical and they cannot research something that is already an assessment task in another VCE subject, but other than that the only restrictions are time and money.

 

To give some examples, here are some research questions studied by past VCE E.I. students: 

  • How are women portrayed in pop music videos and does this influence adolescent girls' views about gender roles?
  • Does daily washing with camel’s milk soap reduce the symptoms of psoriasis and eczema?
  • What change of attitude towards speeding whilst driving do the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) ads have on young male and female drivers?
  • What are the effects of ultraviolet irradiation on diseased canola seeds?
  • What is the effectiveness and reliability of a spring pendulum in comparison to a passive pendulum in reduction of side-to-side (lateral) movement at resonant frequency of a scale-model of the Eureka Tower in Melbourne?
  • How has Japanese cultural identity been portrayed in the American film industry since 2000?
  • What is the effect, if any, on middle school students’ test results when they listen to music when studying?

How is E.I. assessed?

E.I. is a fully scored subject and students complete a range of school-based and externally assessed tasks, including:

  • a written Research Question Rationale and Research Plan
  • an online Critical Thinking Test
  • two extended Oral Reports, including Q&A segments from the assessment panel
  • a Written Report that follows tertiary research report conventions

There is no final written VCAA examination for VCE Extended Investigation, which is a subject that is scaled up. 

 

Why should students pick E.I. in 2022? 

For students who intend to head to University after Year 12, studying VCE E.I. will mean they are better prepared for the ‘independent research’ subjects found in a range of Bachelor Degrees. The VCAA consulted with lots of Australian Universities when developing the E.I. Study Design, with the goal of creating a subject that provides students with the skills needed for success at the tertiary level.

 

'It encourages you to step out of your comfort zone. Through these challenges, my skills developed. I could approach my other Year 12 subjects with a unique perspective, and it made the transition between VCE and university easier.' 2015 VCE Extended Investigation alumnus, Madison Schenck

 

What kind of student is E.I. for? 

E.I. is a unique VCE subject in that students do not need extensive knowledge in a particular discipline and can undertake research into any field of interest. Students who are independent thinkers who would like to develop their knowledge and understanding in an area of extended research of interest to them, are encouraged to consider selecting this subject.

 

Students who enjoy working independently and are self-motivated, will find this subject gives them the opportunity to engage in inquiry-based learning, pursue an academic interest and focus on a research project for an extended period. As such, it requires a degree of passion, self-motivation and self-organisation. E.I. is a ‘Unit 3 / 4 only’ subject; there is no Unit 1 and 2 in this study. 

 

For further information about VCE Extended Investigation email nicolle.brigden@education.vic.gov.au or click here