Inquiry
Through a model of Inquiry based on Rich Concepts and Understandings, students develop a range of strategies and tools empowering them to discover, inquire and apply their understandings to the world and how it works. Inquiry based learning caters for a diverse range of students’ learning styles and involves students in decision making about their own learning. Experiences are designed to promote students’ capacities to manage themselves as learners, social beings and active citizens. At St Cecilia’s the Inquiry Cycle is a 2 year program that incorporates:
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History
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Geography
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Science
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Civics and Citizenship
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Economics and Business
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Critical and Creative Thinking
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Ethical and Intercultural Capabilities
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Design and Digital Technologies
We utilise the Horizons of Hope Learning schema where reverence for the sacred dignity of each learner provides a foundation for pedagogy. Through pedagogical choices our educators seek to develop deep learning, powerful teaching and to create animated learners who are inspired by the Holy Spirit to act for justice and strive for the common good. (Horizons of Hope: Pedagogy in a Catholic school, p.2 & 6)
Digital Technologies
Digital Technologies is taught at St Cecilia’s in the classroom and integrated in all subject areas.
At St Cecilia’s students have the opportunity to develop digital literacy skills and enhance their learning across all curriculum areas. Students at all levels have experience in using coding programs such as Scratch and Scratch junior. The students use a range of hardware, including iPads and Chromebooks which are used extensively as tools to enhance learning.
We have a one to one device program at St Cecilia’s where each of the students from year 1 to year 6 have their own allocated Chromebook for use at school.
Students have access to a wide variety of software to support teaching and learning. The Class Dojo application is used by students to share their learning with their families in an effort to strengthen the relationship between school and home.
The school also continues to invest in and develop our digital technology resourcing to keep up to date with the rapid developments in this area of the curriculum, particularly developing school hardware and teacher capabilities in the areas of coding, programming and computational thinking.
Programs related to cyber safety are implemented across all levels. We aim to develop skills and understandings which will enable students to become safe, responsible and respectful digital citizens.
STEM
What is STEM? Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Our aim is to develop skills and confidence to design, develop and implement our own STEM-based teaching resources. We provide innovative teaching tools that are relevant to the world of science today and we are extremely excited and enthusiastic to bring these newly developed skills to create high-quality classroom activities that tap new ideas in STEM.
Our Science/STEM Program is taught from Prep to Year 6, engaging and encouraging our students to look at all things scientifically. Our students participate in science lessons, through a variety of ways, including hands-on investigations, incursions and excursions, group discussions and theory based learning. Programs such as Prep – Year 6 Robotics continue to foster and stimulate their curiosity and interest. Students investigate all units of science, including Space science, energy and change, natural disasters, force and motion, sustainability, living things, materials, solids-liquids-gases, and famous Australian scientists. Students and staff are extremely excited about our commitment to the building of a new Stem Centre in the heart of our school, commencing very soon.
We believe that a STEM approach to teaching and learning will increase student motivation to learn about real world issues that they can relate to in a relevant and meaningful way. This enables positive impacts on students' attitudes to their learning.
By implementing the many specific STEM resources within the students’ learning, they can develop a deeper knowledge of how to use digital solutions, as well as develop an understanding on the processes associated with being a creator of digital technologies, so that they can take up an active role in addressing current and future needs, as local and global citizens.
