VCE Unit 3 History Conference FEBRUARY 2010 - 19 Feb 2010

Date
Friday 19 February 2010

Time
9.00–3.30

Venue
Cliftons Training Centre,
440 Collins Street,
Melbourne (between Market Street and Williams Street)

Registrations close: Wednesday 17 February 2010

Prices: (GST inclusive)
HTAV Individual Member (metro): $145
HTAV Individual Member (country): $120*
HTAV Institutional Member (metro): $190
HTAV Institutional Member (country): $145*
Non HTAV Member: $230

HTAV ABN: 44 005 739 239

PROGRAM: VCE AUSTRALIAN HISTORY
8.30–9.00
Registration

9.00–10.00
SENIOR HISTORY IN THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM
Pat Hincks, VCAA
What impact will the development of national history curriculum at the senior secondary years have on VCE history provision? What about histories that are not ‘ancient’ or ‘modern’? What will be the impact on assessment and certification? What is the timeline for implementation in Victoria? What support will be available to teachers and schools to ensure a smooth transition? Senior secondary curriculum is being developed in Ancient History and Modern History and will be available for consultation in 2010. This session will provide an overview of senior secondary history, an update on developments and address implementation issues from a Victorian perspective.

10.15–11.15
Academic Lecture: Area of Study One
Professor Gary Presland, The University of Melbourne
This presentation focuses on issues in Area of Study One, specifically those relating to Aboriginal culture. The basic point to be made is that to fully understand the impacts on the indigenous population, first we need to have some understanding of Aboriginal society. It is important to realise that elements such as human/place connection, inter-group social relationships, and how people made a living were crucial to the ways in which that society was affected by European settlement.

11.15–11.45
Morning Tea

11.50–1.20
Teacher Workshop: Approaches to Teaching VCE Australian History
Geraldine Carrodus, Sacré Coeur
This workshop will focus on the practicalities of managing this course. It will examine timing; use of resources; the balance between student research and teacher input; SACs and assessment of SACs and preparation for the exam. This will be a sharing session and teachers, especially those who are more experienced, will be encouraged to contribute their approaches and best practice ideas.

1.20–2.00
Lunch

2.00–3.30
Examiner’s Report
Shane Bourke, Mackillop College
Shane will discuss the 2009 VCE Australian History exam paper to assist teachers in the preparation of course work in 2010.

PROGRAM: VCE RENAISSANCE ITALY
8.30–9.00
Registration

9.00–10.00
SENIOR HISTORY IN THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM
Pat Hincks, VCAA
What impact will the development of national history curriculum at the senior secondary years have on VCE history provision? What about histories that are not ‘ancient’ or ‘modern’? What will be the impact on assessment and certification? What is the timeline for implementation in Victoria? What support will be available to teachers and schools to ensure a smooth transition? Senior secondary curriculum is being developed in Ancient History and Modern History and will be available for consultation in 2010. This session will provide an overview of senior secondary history, an update on developments and address implementation issues from a Victorian perspective.

10.15–11.15
Academic Lecture: Some Ideas and Values of Renaissance City States
Dr Kamoya Peterson, Methodist Ladies’ College
In this session, Dr Peterson will outline some of the recent writing on Renaissance concepts, such as ‘magnificence’, ‘liberty’ and ‘tyranny’. These terms were used in the political and artistic life of the Renaissance and historians’ understanding of what they involved seems to have changed. This is a very tentative look at some of the ways these ideas can be approached.

11.15–11.45
Morning Tea

11.50–1.20
Teacher Workshop: Approaches to Teaching Area of Study One
Nicholas Smith, Trinity Grammar School
Nick will assist teachers to link together the various aspects of Area of Study One which can appear so daunting to students at this stage of the year. By finding links between all the various aspects, students will hopefully see this daunting area of study as manageable and provide confidence for the rest of the course. We will explore some of the physical structures of Renaissance Italy, particularly Florence, and discuss how the one example can be linked back to many of the aspects of the area of study. Nick will allow time for participants to share ideas on how to approach Area of Study One.

1.20–2.00
Lunch

2.00–3.30
Examiner’s Report
Anne McIIroy, Genazzano FCJ College
Anne will outline the strengths and weaknesses of students’ responses to the 2009 November exams in order to assist teachers in the preparation of course work in 2010.

PROGRAM: VCE REVOLUTIONS
8.30–9.00
Registration

9.00–10.00
SENIOR HISTORY IN THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM
Pat Hincks, VCAA
What impact will the development of national history curriculum at the senior secondary years have on VCE history provision? What about histories that are not ‘ancient’ or ‘modern’? What will be the impact on assessment and certification? What is the timeline for implementation in Victoria? What support will be available to teachers and schools to ensure a smooth transition? Senior secondary curriculum is being developed in Ancient History and Modern History and will be available for consultation in 2010. This session will provide an overview of senior secondary history, an update on developments and address implementation issues from a Victorian perspective.

10.15–11.15 (choose one)
AMERICA: Academic Lecture: The American Revolution as First Great Revolution or Birth-of-the-Modern Event
Professor Rhys Isaac, La Trobe University
The talk/invitation to discussion will review the overthrow of monarchy and the founding of the first modern republic (actually thirteen first republics) as a world-shattering event, to which the French Revolution was merely a sequel.

FRANCE: Academic Lecture: Creating a New Society 1789-1795
Prof Peter McPhee, The University of Melbourne
What did the revolutionaries of 1789 hope to achieve? What were the obstacles to the realisation of these hopes, and to what extent had they been realised by 1795? This presentation draws on recent historiography to answer these questions.

RUSSIA: Academic Lecture: Area of Study One
Dr Adrian Jones, La Trobe University
Dr Jones will discuss Area of Study One. Come prepared with plenty of questions and concerns for the session.

CHINA: Academic Lecture: What Were the Chinese Revolutions?
Dr Lewis Mayo, Asia Institute, The University of Melbourne
It will soon be 100 years since republican revolution brought an end to imperial rule in China, often seen as a major historical turning point. This revolution was followed up by a socialist revolution, which one recent writer has characterised as being among the most radical and traumatic attempts to reorder social relations in modern human history. Yet other interpretations of these revolutions see them as little more than elite power plays, in which conflict over leadership positions was more important than any real transformation of social structures or political systems. This presentation will examine these differing readings of the Chinese revolutions, with reference to the wider problem of whether or not we can see social groups as real actors in historical change.

11.15–11.45
Morning Tea

11.50–1.20 (choose one)
AMERICA: Teacher Workshop: American Top 40
Vince Toohey, St Kevin’s College
This session is suitable for the novice and experienced teacher of the American Revolutions in VCE History. Vince will discuss course outlines, sample questions and answers, historiography, resources, and provide you with valuable tips on the dos and don’ts.

FRANCE: Teacher Workshop: Engaging Activities for the French Revolution and Building a Wikispace for Your Class
Lucy Rodgers-Wilson, Wesley College
This session will be an introduction to some fun activities to get your students up and engaging in the details of the French Revolution (using chocolate and other means!) as well as an introduction to the world of Wikispaces - a simple ‘build it yourself’ website to keep your students and parents informed.

RUSSIA: Teacher Workshop: What Did It Feel Like?
Ross Smith, Parade College
The most interesting and most difficult aspect of studying and teaching history is being able to put yourself into the shoes of the people who were there. Unless teachers attempt to understand ‘what it felt like’, then the Russian Revolution will remain just a series of events without any real understanding. Fortunately, teachers of the Russian Revolution, there are now materials available for use with students. Hence, this session will explore some practical ways of trying to bring to life the Russian people before and during the Revolution.

CHINA: Teacher Workshop: Making Sense of the Middle Kingdom
Tom Ryan, Woodleigh School
This session will discuss approaches for effective teaching and learning of the Chinese Revolution. Tom will focus on ‘teachable moments’ (engaging stories), revision strategies, key personalities of the Imperial and revolutionary eras, and activities that help encourage students’ critical and creative thinking.

1.20–2.00
Lunch

2.00–3.30
ALL REVOLUTIONS: Examiner’s Report
Di Wolff, Mentone Girls’ Secondary College
Di will discuss the 2009 Examiner’s Report and provide samples of responses to some questions.