Is another language other than English your first language or dialect? Do you require additional support with English? English as an Additional Language (EAL) is designed to meet the needs of students with a wide range of expectations and aspirations, including those for whom English is an additional language. You will be equipped with critical and creative thinking, aesthetic appreciation and creativity. You will engage with texts from the contemporary world and the past, and using texts from Australia and other cultures.
VCE: Unit 1, Unit 2 and Unit 3 & 4 sequence available
Learning Activities & Assessment
Critically analyse written and spoken texts
Create pieces of writing in a range of styles and forms
Analyse the ways spoken and visual language is used to persuade
Apply written and spoken skills to a range of creative, analytical and media texts
Complete classwork and final exams to demonstrate competence and confidence in writing and speaking for different purposes
Do you like interacting with the natural environment? Are you adventurous? Studying Outdoor and Environmental Studies will enable you to make critically informed comments on questions of environmental sustainability, as well as, you’ll understand the importance of environmental health, particularly in local contexts. Through both passive and active outdoor activities, you will develop experiential knowledge of outdoor environments. This is further enhanced through the complex interplay between outdoor environment and humans including environmental history, ecology and the social studies of human relationships with nature.
Unit 1: Examines how humans connect with outdoor environments and why these connections are important. Throughout the unit we learn about our place within outdoor environments and learn safe and sustainable participation in outdoor experiences.
Unit 2: Focuses on the different ways to understand outdoor environments and the impact of humans on outdoor environments. We also learn about planning trips and learning about the weather and minimal impact strategies.
Unit 3: Focuses on the ecological, historical and social contexts of relationships between humans and outdoor environments in Australia. Including the changes over time, from historical time periods to modern day contexts.
Unit 4: Explores the sustainable use and management of outdoor environments. Observing and assessing the health of outdoor environments and considering the importance of this health for the future of Australian outdoor environments and the Australian population.
Students have the opportunity to attend one (3-4 day) outdoor trip / experience each term, which directly links to the Unit 1-4 coursework and requirements. These trips include kayaking, hiking, abseiling, caving, skiing, canoeing, surfing, canyoning, rock climbing and white water rafting.
VCE: Unit 1, Unit 2 and Unit 3 & 4 sequence available
Learning Activities & Assessment
Explore some of the ways in which people understand and relate to nature through experiences of the outdoor environment
Explore what motivates individuals towards outdoor environments and experiences, how people interact with the outdoor environment
Develop adventure skills in rock climbing, snow camping, skiing and boarding, bushwalking, horse riding or surfing including termly overnight/s outdoor activities
Investigate the ecological, historical and social effects of people on the Australian environment
Explore the sustainable use and management of outdoor environments
FAQ’s & Myth Busters
Will I miss too much school if I study Outdoor & Environmental Studies?
OED trips are only once a term for 3 to 4 days duration. In fact, the student who received the third highest ATAR score for 2019 did all the OED trips (as well as being involved in many of the sports teams).
Outdoor & Environmental Studies is too expensive
Whilst some trips do cost up to $300 there are always lower-cost options and payment plans available. Even the more expensive trips do offer excellent value for money. For example, the four-day surfing trip offered to Unit 2 students includes three surfing sessions, one surf kayak session, all gear and wetsuits, professional instruction, meals, accommodation and transport – all for approx. $300.
Do I need a lot of expensive gear to do outdoor & Environment Studies?
At the College, we have a large range of outdoor adventure gear that can be borrowed for adventure trips. You only have to have a good sleeping bag and we recommend that you buy thermals for the colder months’ activities.
Do you enjoy improvising and performing? Looking at a career as a performer? In VCE Drama you will focus on creating, presenting and analysing self-devised solo and ensemble performances. You will explore real or imagined characters based on stimulus material that reflects personal, cultural and/or community experiences and stories. You will analysis your own performance work and professional performances. You will explore a range of performance styles relevant to practices of story-telling, contemporary drama practice and the work of a variety of drama practitioners.
VCE: Unit 1, Unit 2 and Unit 3 & 4 sequence available
This study offers pathways for students whose main interest is a combination of performing, composing/arranging and investigating music through music making, analysing and responding in relation to their particular interests. Music making is a collective and integrated experience. It involves composing, arranging, interpreting, reimaging, improvising, recreating, performing and critiquing music in an informed manner. Students develop aural skills by responding to music from a range of sources across time and place. They analyse music works and/or styles and develop an understanding of how the treatment of music elements, concepts and compositional devices in one work and/or style can be identified and explained in the works of others.
VCE: Unit 3 & 4 sequence available
Learning Activities & Assessment
Perform a work in the style of a selected work/creator and explain how the performance relates to the selected music style and/or creator
Create and/or arrange music and demonstrate the connection to the selected music style and/or creator
Analyse and describe the treatment of music elements, concepts and compositional devices in two works
Listen and respond to selected music excerpts from a range of styles
Externally-assessed Task (EAT) – Submit a folio that contains documentation, video recording of a performance and an audio and/or video recording of a composition/arrangement
Students prepare a program for assessment in a live performance. They may be assessed as primarily a member of a group or as a solo performer. All performances must include at least one ensemble work with another live musician and an original work created by an Australian artist since 1990. All performances must include a personally reimagined version of an existing work. Original works may also be included in the program. Students identify technical, expressive and stylistic challenges relevant to works they are preparing for performance. They listen and respond to a wide range of music by a variety of performers in contemporary styles. They also study music language concepts such as sales, harmony and rhythmic materials that relate to contemporary music. Styles including (but not limited to) rock, pop, jazz, EDM, country, funk and R&B.
VCE: Unit 3 & 4 sequence available
Learning Activities & Assessment
Perform a selection of works being prepared for the performance examination, demonstrating an understanding of music style, authentic performance conventions and a range of techniques
Demonstrate and discuss performance development techniques and reimagining approaches relevant to the performances of selected works
Discuss a performer’s interpretation and manipulation of music elements and concepts in works
Identify, recreate and notate music language concepts
End of year performance examination-End of year written examination
