​VCAA Bulletin
No. 45 - February 2019
VCE curriculum

Reaccredited study designs for implementation in 2019

The following VCE studies have revised study designs for implementation in 2019:

• Accounting
• Classical Studies
• Dance
• Drama
• Extended Investigation
• Industry and Enterprise
• Languages Units 1 and 2: Arabic, Chinese Second Language (SL), Chinese SL Advanced, French, German, Greek, Indonesian SL, Italian, Japanese SL, Korean SL, Spanish and Vietnamese SL. Note that Units 3 and 4 of these studies will be implemented in 2020
• Philosophy
• Systems Engineering
• Theatre Studies.

Reaccredited study designs for implementation in 2020

The reaccredited study designs for VCE Agricultural and Horticultural Studies, Applied Computing and Foundation English are now available. These study designs are published online in the year before implementation on the relevant VCE study webpage.

These online publications are designed to assist teachers to prepare for the implementation of revised studies in 2020 and must not be used for the 2019 academic year. Updates and amendments to study designs are announced in the VCAA Bulletin and published on individual study webpages.

Implementation briefings for revised studies

In 2019 the VCAA will conduct statewide implementation briefings for teachers of revised VCE studies of Agricultural and Horticultural Studies, Applied Computing and Foundation English.

Full details of the briefings will be provided in the VCAA Bulletin and Notices to Schools during Term 1.

For further information, contact Robyn Douglass, Curriculum Program Manager on (03) 9032 1720 or at douglass.robyn.f@edumail.vic.gov.au.

VCAA consultation register now open

As part of the review and accreditation process for VCE studies, teachers and stakeholders are invited to join the VCAA consultation register for the following VCE studies:

• Biology
• Bridging English as an Additional Language Units 1 and 2
• English and English as an Additional Language
• Environmental Science
• Geography
• History
• Languages: Chinese First Language (FL), Indonesian FL, Japanese FL, Korean FL, Vietnamese FL, Classical Greek, Classical Hebrew and Latin
• Mathematics.

Teachers and stakeholders registered for consultation will be:

• notified via email once the draft of the relevant VCE study design is available online
• invited to respond via an online questionnaire
• given the option of allowing the VCAA to use their registration details to receive email notification of the implementation briefings for the revised studies in 2020.

Consultation drafts of the listed study designs will be available for consideration throughout the year. Each study or group of studies will have a four-week consultation period. The draft study design and consultation questionnaire will be available on the relevant VCE study webpage on the VCAA website.

School-based Assessment Audit in 2019

General information about the 2019 School-based Assessment Audit of Units 3 and 4 studies is available on the VCE General Advice and Policy webpage. Specific information relating to a School-assessed task (SAT) is located on the relevant individual study webpages for:

• Algorithmics (HESS)
• Art
• Computing – Informatics
• Computing – Software Development
• Product Design and Technology
• Media
• Studio Arts
• Systems Engineering
• Visual Communication Design.

Notification dates

Notification of studies selected for the Unit 3 School-based Assessment Audit will be released on Monday 25 February on VASS (go to School Program > VCE > School-based Assessment Audit).

Note the following dates:

• Monday 25 February – notification of studies being audited in Unit 3
• Monday 18 March – Unit 3 audit questionnaire responses due
• Monday 6 May – outcome of Unit 3 audit questionnaire delivered
• Monday 27 May – Unit 3 further evidence due (if applicable)
• Monday 15 July – outcome of Unit 3 further evidence delivered
• Monday 15 July – notification of studies being audited in Unit 4
• Monday 5 August – Unit 4 audit questionnaire responses due
• Monday 9 September – outcome of Unit 4 audit questionnaire delivered
• Monday 20 September – Unit 4 further evidence due (if applicable)
• Monday 28 September – outcome of Unit 4 further evidence delivered.

VCE studies with a SAT

The VCAA can collect student work through the School-based Assessment Audit. For VCE studies with a SAT, schools may be asked to provide photographic evidence that the works of three students addresses the related assessment criteria.

Further information about the School-based Assessment Audit can be obtained from Merry Young, Manager, School-based Assessment Audit on (03) 9032 1735 or at school.assessment.vcaa@edumail.vic.gov.au.

School-based assessment workshops for Further Mathematics Units 3 and 4

The VCAA will run two school-based assessment workshops on Friday 1 March and Monday 4 March, 9.30am–3.30pm for teachers of Further Mathematics Units 3 and 4. The workshops will cover the nature, purpose and scope of VCE school-based assessment, and the development and assessment of suitable application and modelling tasks for school-assessed coursework. As places are limited, schools can nominate only one teacher to attend one of the two workshops. The workshops will be held in the meeting room on Level 1, VCAA Assessment Centre, 189 Urquhart Street, Coburg. Register by Friday 22 February.

For further information, contact David Leigh-Lancaster, Curriculum Manager, Mathematics on (03) 9032 1690 or at leigh-lancaster.david.d@edumail.vic.gov.au.

School-assessed tasks professional learning sessions

As advised in the VCAA Bulletin in November 2018, professional learning sessions for studies with school assessed tasks (SATs) will be held in February in Coburg and in early March in Bendigo.

The dates, times and venue for the Bendigo sessions are yet to be confirmed. Teachers who register their interest will receive an email in February with these details.

Register to attend a session in Coburg.

Register your interest in attending a session in Bendigo.

For further information, email vcaa.vce.pd@edumail.vic.gov.au.

Administrative information for school-based assessment

SATs are now available for the following studies:

• Art
• Studio Arts
• Media
• Visual Communication Design
• Product Design and Technology
• Systems Engineering
• Computing
• Algorithmics.

For further information, refer to the relevant study design on the VCAA website.

VCE study design wall chart 2019

Schools will be sent a study design wall chart during Term 1. The chart, designed for VCE coordinators, teachers and librarians, is a quick visual reference of the accredited VCE study designs for 2019.

Each accredited study design is available on the VCAA website from the relevant study webpage. It is essential that teachers use the currently accredited study designs for course development and assessment of VCE studies.

VCE Philosophy text list 2019

The VCE Philosophy prescribed text list for 2019 is now available on the Philosophy webpage. For further information, contact Leonie Brown, Curriculum Manager, Humanities on (03) 9032 1693.

VCE English and English as an Additional Language, and VCE Literature text lists 2020

The VCE English and English as an Additional Language (EAL) and the VCE Literature text lists for 2020 are now available on the VCAA website. The lists are to be used with the following accredited study designs:

• VCE English and EAL – Units 1 and 2, 2016–2020; Units 3 and 4, 2017–2020
• VCE Literature – Units 1 and 2, 2016–2021; Units 3 and 4, 2017–2021.

Teachers should consider the lists in conjunction with the relevant text selection advice published on page 17 of the VCE English and EAL study design and page 15 of the VCE Literature study design.

VCE Drama playlist advice

This year, Lightning Jar Theatre Inc. will perform Anne Washburn's Mr Burns: A Post-Electric Play, which appears on the 2019 playlist for Drama Unit 3.

The theatre company advises it will perform the most recent playscript version of the play, which differs from the published version Unit 3 students will study. Unit 3 students are not required to study the performed playscript. This advice is given for teachers who intend to reference the performed playscript in their classes.

For further information, contact Margaret Arnold, Curriculum Manager, Performing Arts on (03) 9032 1681 or at arnold.margaret.j@edumail.vic.gov.au.

VCE Physical Education support material

Supplementary material has been developed to guide teachers in the approach to high-intensity interval training, as part of VCE Physical Education (2018–2021).

Refer to Notice to Schools 1/2019 for more information.

VCE Music

Prescribed lists

The 2019 solo and group lists of works are available on the VCE Music Investigation and the VCE Music Performance webpages. The same lists are used for Units 3 and 4 of both Music Investigation and Music Performance. Information about study specific requirements is provided on the lists. In 2019, the music publication details have been clarified, new works have been added, and works have been identified as due for deletion in 2020. The lists for Guitar – Classical, Voice – Contemporary, and Trombone have been the most substantially reviewed. An update is included in the introduction to the list for each instrument.

Note that for the majority of listed works, the cited editions are only recommended and equivalent editions may be used without seeking VCAA approval. Where a work is a specific arrangement or a transcription, it will have been generally published only in the cited edition. It is the responsibility of schools to ensure students perform only listed works or approved alternative works.

Music Investigation and Music Performance alternative works and instruments

Guidelines and application forms for approval of alternative works and instruments for solo performance are available on the VCE Music Investigation and VCE Music Performance webpages. Note that separate guidelines and application forms are provided for Music Investigation and for Music Performance. These forms must be submitted to the VCAA by 5pm, Wednesday 27 February.

Review of lists

Each VCE Music list includes information regarding the ongoing review process and how to submit suggestions of new works. For further information, contact Margaret Arnold, Curriculum Manager, Performing Arts on (03) 9032 1681 or at arnold.margaret.j@edumail.vic.gov.au.

Music Investigation Topic approval

Students enrolled in Music Investigation Units 3 and 4 must complete an Investigation Topic Approval form, available from the VCE Music Investigation study webpage. Schools must submit the completed form via VASS (go to Student Program > VCE > Approved Focus Area) by 5pm, Wednesday 27 February.

Note that it is the school's responsibility to:

• ensure each student is correctly enrolled in the study (VASS code MC05 3-4)
• enter the correct focus (instrument) code (a list of codes is available as a VASS download)
• submit a separate application for an alternative instrument, if applicable
• submit a separate application for an alternative work, if applicable.

Schools are not required to submit sheet music or audio files at this stage.

The VCAA will reply 'approved' or 'not approved' during March to the person identified on VASS as the Music Investigation school contact person. During the approval process, the VCAA may contact schools and request copies of sheet music and audio recordings of prescribed works.

Enquiries regarding this process should be directed to Margaret Arnold, Curriculum Manager, Performing Arts on (03) 9032 1681 or at arnold.margaret.j@edumail.vic.gov.au.

Higher Education Studies in the VCE program for 2019

Information about Higher Education Studies (HES) in the VCE program for 2019, including an updated list of participating universities and studies offered, is available on the VCAA website.

Schools must finalise VCE enrolments for students interested in applying for HES in the VCE course before Monday 6 May. A finalised school enrolment is required for universities to confirm a student's eligibility for their HES course.

Schools must also ensure that students have met the pre- and co-requisite requirements for their selected study.

VCE Extended Investigation professional learning day

Schools delivering VCE Extended Investigation in 2019 are invited to attend a professional learning day on Friday 22 February.

Sessions will provide practical information and advice for supervising teachers, and the opportunity to network with other schools delivering the study. The professional learning day will run from 9am–3pm at the VCAA, Level 7, 2 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.

Schools are invited to send up to two representatives. The VCAA recommends that all VCE Extended Investigation supervising teachers attend. Casual Relief Teacher grants are available.

Register your attendance by Wednesday 20 February.

Accreditation periods for VCE studies

The following accreditation periods for VCE studies, as approved by the VCAA Board, came into effect on 1 January.