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Dear friend,
The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia is pleased to support Australian educators by providing quality resources to support teaching and learning in schools via the Seriously Social school program. This newsletter provides you with our latest resources and information, plus an update on Social Sciences Week, happening from 9-15 September.
Your feedback and input are invaluable to us, please find links below to connect with us to discuss Seriously Social.
We look forward to working with you and continuing to support the great work you do in the classroom.
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Professor Barry McGaw AO, FASSA, FAPS, FACE
Chair, Education Committee, former President
Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
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Seriously Social: new look
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Seriously Social has been a forum to inform the public about a range of relevant social science topics since 2020. While the great material developed during this period remains available and relevant, Seriously Social now turns its attention to address an identified gap in school resources.
This year, Seriously Social will respond to findings in the 2023 Department of Education Improving outcomes for all: report of the Independent Expert Panel’s Review to Inform a Better and Fairer Education System that reiterated findings from the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia 2021 State of the Social Sciences report; namely, that high-quality social science school
resources are urgently needed in Australian schools. The Academy intends to bring together free quality education materials that are fact-checked by academic experts in the social sciences as part of this outreach initiative.
The Academy’s Education Committee is chaired by Professor Barry McGaw AO, a former President of the Academy. He was a Professor of Education at Murdoch University, Executive Director of the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) and then Director for Education in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris. After returning to Australia, he was awarded a Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne and appointed Foundation Chair of the Board of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). Professor Barry McGaw is joined by other leading social scientists and educators who we look forward to introducing to you as Seriously Social continues to expand.
Seriously Social has a new look website and pilot of resources that focus on civil discourse, geography and debating with social science content. These pilots have been decided through consultation with curriculum authorities, teacher networks and education providers.
We invite you to explore Seriously Social and access these resources.
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CIVIL DISCOURSE: POST-REFERENDUM
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For democracies to work, people need to be able to express their opinions, particularly on issues of national importance. It is crucial that these conversations are respectful, approached in a factual way, do not use stereotypes or denigrating language and importantly, do not cause harm.
Civil discourse education equips student with the knowledge needed to promote understanding, with the aim of maintaining an Australian society where people with different ideas and views can work together fairly, ensuring everyone feels included and valued, despite differing opinions.
This becomes even more important when the issues being discussed particularly affect some individuals or communities, such as the referendum on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.
Despite the outcome from the Voice referendum, the Uluru Statement from the Heart continues to be relevant in Australia, with ongoing efforts to advance reconciliation.
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| VIDEO: What was the Voice referendum all about? |
| BOOKLET: Civil Discourse: Post Referendum (Year 7 & 8) |
| BOOKLET: Civil Discourse: Post Referendum (Year 9 & 10) |
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GEOGRAPHY: WATER IN THE WORLD
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In this resource, experts have provided contextual information about water as a natural resource in Australia that includes the interconnected and relevant issues of sustainability, climate change and natural disasters.
The message from experts has been captured in an educational video that accompanies this booklet. It is a message of adaptability and hope. Water is an indicator of climate change, with evidence of natural disasters associated with water increasing in Australia and across the globe. Learning experiences provided in this booklet set out to increase student knowledge, while building skills and an understanding of how to be an agent of change.
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| VIDEO: Water in Australia |
| BOOKLET: Water in the world (Year 7) |
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DEBATING GUIDE
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This booklet provides teachers with a framework for debating in the classroom or as an extracurricular activity. An accompanying brochure provides the topic, key points for debate and weblinks for research and planning purposes.
Debating offers a teaching methodology that develops valuable knowledge, skills and attributes including: public speaking, critical thinking, communication skill, research skills, persuasion, confidence, empathy and understanding, time management, teamwork, and civic engagement.
A debate kit, Should we lower the voting age to 16? is also available.
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| BOOKLET: Debating guide for teachers |
| KIT: Should we lower the voting age? |
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Feedback
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The Seriously Social school resources have been produced by the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia as part of a pilot for a broader suite of evidence-based, peer-reviewed classroom resources for Australian students and teachers in the social sciences. Feedback and further inquiries are welcome via email: info@socialsciences.org.au.
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Save the date: SSW2024
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Social Sciences Week 2024 is an annual celebration highlighting the rich diversity and impact of social sciences in Australia. This year it will be held during Term 3 from 9-15 September 2024 and is an opportunity for schools and students to hear from Australia’s leading experts on issues that help us understand humanity, society and the institutions which govern our daily lives.
There are a variety of ways that your school and community can be involved in Social Sciences Week. This may include displaying posters in your classroom or library, registering your class for a free event such as a webinar or film screening or listening to a podcast! Sign up to stay in the loop.
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Subscribe to stay up to date
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Please help to spread the word—educators are invited to subscribe to the Seriously Social mailing list to keep informed of developments in the Academy’s school program.
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Click here to unsubscribe | Sent to: _t.e.s.t_@example.com
Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, 3/95 Northbourne Ave , Turner ACT 2612, Australia
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