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O U R L A DY O F M E R C Y C AT H O L I C C O L L E G E B U R R A N E E R
18
The Human Society and its
Environment (HSIE) subjects
which include Commerce,
Geography and History, once
again in 2015, have provided
students with an opportunity
to engage in the world in
which they currently live,
and their ancestors have
lived for millions of years,
via
authentic
teaching
and learning experiences
delivered by Ms Lauren Cheung, Mrs Sue Boss, Mr
Ric Sucgang, Mrs Riley Veldekis, Mrs Christoforidis
and Mr Anthony Moore (HSIE Coordinator) .
Throughout 2015 the HSIE Staff ensured the girls
of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic College engaged in
learning experiences which were delivered with care,
enthusiasm and compassion amidst innovative and
challenging classroom environments.
The teaching in these great subjects also contributed to
providing students with a holistic approach to learning
and faith formation via embedded Catholic Social
Teaching including Care of Creation, Dignity inWork
and Community Participation; whilst simultaneously
developing the skills, knowledge, concepts, values and
competencies required to successfully function in a
21st Century family unit, workplace and environment.
During the year, the young women of OLMC College
have supplemented their learning via authentic
experiences; including excursions and field trips
which immersed the girls in their subject studies. For
the first time, the HSIE staff conducted an “online”
digitally guided site study where Year 7 students
travelled to the historic Rocks precinct in Sydney
to investigate various landmarks. The girls, via their
phones, accessed an app designed by the staff which
provided excursion specifics and an online worksheet
giving them a series of clues to a “History Mystery
Tour”. In May, Year 7 girls also viewed an Imax film,
Under the Sea 3D when studying Geography and
conducted fieldwork in Darling Harbour.
Year 10 travelled to Pyrmont and Ultimo to aid their
understanding of the unit Urban Growth and Decline,
and later in the year watched The Martian as part of
their study of the unit Popular Culture and the topic
of Hollywood film and changing film technologies. A
great time was had by all - especially the staff. Year 10
Commerce students visited Sydney’s Downing Centre
Courts to experience criminal court proceedings.
Although a somewhat daunting exercise, this learning
adventure provided a rich encounter with the legal
system and concepts of justice; a truly valuable
exercise.
Authentic learning based upon real world experiences,
and innovative, creative and collaborative learning
environments characterised a rich and diverse
HSIE pedagogy, including assessment in 2015. The
end product was a range of assessments including:
listening and viewing tasks across all stages, creation
of Youtube videos and package designs in Year 9
Commerce, appropriated Egyptian artworks in Year
7 History; marketing campaigns and entrepreneurial
school based businesses in Year 10 Commerce;
engaging presentations, vibrant and informative
desktop published brochures, humorous videos and
sophisticated persuasive texts amongst many others
in all year groups. High quality literacy practices,
numeracy and values based education underpinned
many of the above assessments.
Thank you to the staff, students and parents who
contributed to another fulfilling and productive year
in the HSIE Faculty.
Mr Anthony Moore
HSIE Coordinator
human society and it’s environment REPORT