What is the project

Following feedback received from schools and the community in the 2018 SACE Stage 2 Review [PDF 172KB] the SACE Board began to redesign Stage 2 Research Project, to be replaced with Activating Identities and Futures (AIF).

We used the SACE Board’s promise to shape education so that students thrive to reconceptualise the subject, the pedagogy, the assessment, and quality assurance procedures.

AIF will meet the requirements for SACE completion.

Activating Identities and Futures (AIF)

The intention behind the AIF subject is for students to explore ideas related to an area of personal interest through a process of self-directed inquiry. They draw on relevant knowledge, skills and capabilities applying these in new contexts and selecting relevant strategies to progress the learning to a resolution. 

In AIF students take greater ownership and agency over their learning ‘learning how to learn’ as they select relevant strategies ‘knowing what to do when you don’t know what to do’ to explore, create and/or plan to progress an area of personal interest.

Pilot 1

The pilot tested the first version of the new AIF subject outline and the shift in teacher practice in a live environment with 27 participating government, independent and catholic schools across South Australia. The SACE Board worked closely with schools and teachers, providing support and evaluating what worked and what needed to change. 

Analysis and evaluation of the pilot identified whether the new subjects delivered the intended impact. This process also provided valuable insights and recognised refinements that will be adapted into the delivery of the subject to support the second pilot. Some key learnings from the initial pilot include: 

• understanding what professional learning is needed to support co-agency, metacognition, natural evidence of learning and feedback 
• involving school teaching and learning leaders in the implementation of professional learning for their school’s teachers 
• ensuring teacher practices support success for all students, including students who experience disadvantage
• pedagogical change required to successfully deliver the new subjects across a diversity of teachers 
• role of school leadership in sponsoring and resourcing the new subjects.

Pilot 2

The second pilot for AIF will run during Semester 1, 2023, made up of 61 schools. The pilot community includes schools from metro and regional South Australia, the Northern Territory and all sectors: government, Catholic and independent.

Pilot 2 will see us to continue to work closely with schools to design, adapt, and test new curriculum, assessment, and pedagogical approaches to improve the learning experience for students.

During Semester 1, we will extend the testing and learning from the first pilot to specifically focus on:

• pedagogical change required to successfully deliver the new subjects across a diversity of teachers
• development and testing of professional learning to support the main pedagogical themes
• involving school teaching and learning leaders in the implementation of professional learning for their school’s teachers
• role of school leadership in sponsoring and resourcing the new subjects
• ensuring teacher practices support success for all students, including students who experience disadvantage.

So far, our Pilot 2 community has:

• engaged in professional learning about the four pedagogical themes central to the intent of AIF, with a deep dive into:
  • agency (including co-agency in learning design) 
  • natural evidence of learning, 
  • self-regulation (metacognition and self-efficacy), and 
  • feedback.
• developed professional learning plans to test different ways to build teachers’ pedagogical practice in their site context
• engaged in initial meetings with cross-site communities of practice to workshop ideas, discuss their experiences, and adapt to the nuances of their specific context.

What’s next?

Analysis and evaluation will be undertaken directly following the conclusion of the pilot. Learnings and insights will be shared and inform further development and next steps towards implementation.

Professional Learning

As the Revitalisation of the Research Project steps closer towards future implementation of Activating Identities and Futures (AIF), the SACE Board is providing early professional learning.

Activating Identities and Futures (AIF) & Exploring Identities and Futures (EIF) workshops for Senior Years Teaching and Learning Leaders (also known as Curriculum Directors, Assistant Principal Curriculum, Director of Teaching and Learning). 

Various locations, 21 March – 17 April.