Mathematica
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- Apr 9, 2013
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- HSC
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If you could, what would you change about the how the HSC works, how the courses are structures etc. and why?
I am looking for intelligent and constructive responses so if you are going to respond with 'nothing, it is perfect', please don't.
There are so many issues with the current system. I will list some:
1) The system is not FAIR. School assessments can be unfair, some schools have better teachers, students and learning environment than others, etc.
2) The courses are not structured properly. Physics is not real physics, so is chemistry. Too much rote-learning, etc.
3) The subjects are too easy which means studying will be boring.
4) The HSC papers do not test one's understansding of the subject but they test how well one can memorise and how well one can guess the marking criteria.
5) Some subjects, like maths extension 2 don't have a proper syllabus.
6) English is compulsory but it is very badly structured and useless to some people.
7) There are no government endorsed textbooks which means students don't have a reference source.
What I would do is the following:
1) Everyone should receive the same level of good quality education regardless of scores on standarised tests, socioeconomic backgrounds, location etc... this can be done by testing all teachers and making sure they they are well qualified for teaching and also intelligent. They must be passionate about their students, strict and mature. The government should ensured sustainable funding to ensure FREE education for all, i.e. take care of ALL costs of tuition, learning materials, text books, transportation, new equipment, new facilities, student counseling, etc. This way the teachers are able to focus on teaching and learning, and bringing new ideas and practices in schools.
2) Increasing the difficulty of the courses will not affect any one! The people who want to learn and who score top marks will be the same people who will score top marks if the courses are more difficult. There should be no years 11 and 12 but the HSC should be over two years and both should count towards the final mark. Exams are done every semester and all schools should do the same exams and these marks are counted towards the final mark. Each semester should be worth 12.5% and the final mark should be worth 50%. Each exam should be 5 hours long and the final should be 10 hours long but divided into two papers. This ensures that only the best students can get top marks. The courses should involve actually studying the subject properly, just like they are studied in university. I would make the following changes for the following subjects:
a) Mathematics: should have a proper syllabus and should be divided into two main sections: pure mathematics and applied mathematics just like in university. In pure mathematics algebra, calculus, analysis, combinatorics, geometry, topology and logic should be the main topics. In applied mathematics dynamical systems, differential equations, mathematical physics, probability, statistics and computing should be the main topics. The course should be called Mathematics and should have two government endorsed textbooks, one called Pure Mathematics and the other should be called Applied Mathematics. The textbooks should have a wide variety of of questions with varying difficulty and it should have complete and proper explanations of theory.
b) Science:
i) Physics: this should be proper physics not like the current garbage, and Mathematics should be a prerequisite for this! It should have one big textbook, also endorsed by the government and should be called Physics. Mechanics, electromagnetism, optics, vibrations and waves phenomena, quantum physics and relativity should be the main topics.
ii) Chemistry: this should be real chemistry, not just rote-learning. It should have one big textbook, also endorsed by the government and should be called Chemistry. Organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, biochemistry should be the main topics.
c) English: The course should be completely restructured and if necessary should be divided into two version, one for lawyers and artists and one for scientists, engineers, doctors etc. This should be made useful in the real world. Literary analysis shouldn't be the only topic taught in english. I am not an expert in english but I think this should be taught the same way it is taught in university.
3) There should be no competition and high school should be a level playing field. My idea about removing school assessments should contribute to this as removing school assessments means that cohort performance does not affect the students, the assessments are done every semester and they are written by the government which means they are fair and marked fairly.
4) Scaling should remain because subjects will be of varying difficulties.
5) Students should be able to complain if teachers are not teaching to the best of their ability or are being biased in class etc. and the government should look into the issue.
The course structure may sound difficult but it will be done over two years and exams will be every semester so it should be easier.
I am looking for intelligent and constructive responses so if you are going to respond with 'nothing, it is perfect', please don't.
There are so many issues with the current system. I will list some:
1) The system is not FAIR. School assessments can be unfair, some schools have better teachers, students and learning environment than others, etc.
2) The courses are not structured properly. Physics is not real physics, so is chemistry. Too much rote-learning, etc.
3) The subjects are too easy which means studying will be boring.
4) The HSC papers do not test one's understansding of the subject but they test how well one can memorise and how well one can guess the marking criteria.
5) Some subjects, like maths extension 2 don't have a proper syllabus.
6) English is compulsory but it is very badly structured and useless to some people.
7) There are no government endorsed textbooks which means students don't have a reference source.
What I would do is the following:
1) Everyone should receive the same level of good quality education regardless of scores on standarised tests, socioeconomic backgrounds, location etc... this can be done by testing all teachers and making sure they they are well qualified for teaching and also intelligent. They must be passionate about their students, strict and mature. The government should ensured sustainable funding to ensure FREE education for all, i.e. take care of ALL costs of tuition, learning materials, text books, transportation, new equipment, new facilities, student counseling, etc. This way the teachers are able to focus on teaching and learning, and bringing new ideas and practices in schools.
2) Increasing the difficulty of the courses will not affect any one! The people who want to learn and who score top marks will be the same people who will score top marks if the courses are more difficult. There should be no years 11 and 12 but the HSC should be over two years and both should count towards the final mark. Exams are done every semester and all schools should do the same exams and these marks are counted towards the final mark. Each semester should be worth 12.5% and the final mark should be worth 50%. Each exam should be 5 hours long and the final should be 10 hours long but divided into two papers. This ensures that only the best students can get top marks. The courses should involve actually studying the subject properly, just like they are studied in university. I would make the following changes for the following subjects:
a) Mathematics: should have a proper syllabus and should be divided into two main sections: pure mathematics and applied mathematics just like in university. In pure mathematics algebra, calculus, analysis, combinatorics, geometry, topology and logic should be the main topics. In applied mathematics dynamical systems, differential equations, mathematical physics, probability, statistics and computing should be the main topics. The course should be called Mathematics and should have two government endorsed textbooks, one called Pure Mathematics and the other should be called Applied Mathematics. The textbooks should have a wide variety of of questions with varying difficulty and it should have complete and proper explanations of theory.
b) Science:
i) Physics: this should be proper physics not like the current garbage, and Mathematics should be a prerequisite for this! It should have one big textbook, also endorsed by the government and should be called Physics. Mechanics, electromagnetism, optics, vibrations and waves phenomena, quantum physics and relativity should be the main topics.
ii) Chemistry: this should be real chemistry, not just rote-learning. It should have one big textbook, also endorsed by the government and should be called Chemistry. Organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, biochemistry should be the main topics.
c) English: The course should be completely restructured and if necessary should be divided into two version, one for lawyers and artists and one for scientists, engineers, doctors etc. This should be made useful in the real world. Literary analysis shouldn't be the only topic taught in english. I am not an expert in english but I think this should be taught the same way it is taught in university.
3) There should be no competition and high school should be a level playing field. My idea about removing school assessments should contribute to this as removing school assessments means that cohort performance does not affect the students, the assessments are done every semester and they are written by the government which means they are fair and marked fairly.
4) Scaling should remain because subjects will be of varying difficulties.
5) Students should be able to complain if teachers are not teaching to the best of their ability or are being biased in class etc. and the government should look into the issue.
The course structure may sound difficult but it will be done over two years and exams will be every semester so it should be easier.
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