The Elephant In The Room: Health & Movement Science

PDHPE teachers across New South Wales are preparing to implement the new Health and Movement Science Syllabus for Year 11 & 12 students. With changes from the previous syllabus, many teachers have been left feeling overwhelmed by the task of unpacking and understanding the new requirements. 

Downloading Key Documents
The first step is downloading all relevant documents from the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA) website. This includes the full Health & Movement Science Syllabus as well as supporting documents covering areas such as Life Skills, Depth Studies and the Collaborative Investigation. PDHPE could save digital copies to their devices for easy reference throughout the planning process. Having both electronic and hard copies allows for annotation with highlights and notes.

Unpacking the Syllabus Content
With the documents in hand, teachers can then start unpacking the Health & Movement Science Syllabus content. Set aside 45-60 minutes to carefully read through the new requirements and outcomes. While all options have been removed, much of the content from Cores and Options remain familiar. Teachers are reassured that much of the existing content can be repurposed or tweaked for the updated syllabus. Understanding how the content is now structured will help in developing programs.

Developing a Plan of Attack
The next crucial step is creating a plan to systematically work through the Health & Movement Science Syllabus in preparation to teach. Strategising how each term or unit will cover different focus areas and embed required elements like the Collaborative Investigations and Depth Studies. With clear goals and timelines, teachers can feel in control of the large task ahead. Repurposing existing successful lessons and teaching and learning activities is also advised to save time.

Embracing Collaboration
No teacher should try to navigate the new syllabus alone. Connecting with other PDHPE and Health & Movement Science teachers, both locally and through online communities, allows valuable knowledge sharing. The Health and Movement Science membership provides ongoing support through resources, templates and professional learning events. Working together ensures diverse perspectives are brought to understanding the updated requirements and developing teaching strategies.

By following this four-step process and embracing collaboration, teachers can feel confident and prepared for the upcoming implementation of the new Health & Movement Science Syllabus. With the right support systems in place, the significant changes become manageable and provide exciting opportunities to enhance students' learning experiences in health and physical education.

Click here to find out more about the Health & Movement Science Membership: https://www.thelearnnet.com/hms