This course focuses on progressing learners from an emergent to early conventional level. It encourages learners to develop their independence as they explore, participate and engage in the world around them. Expectations for learner achievement are set at four stages which are not associated with age or year level that links chronological age to developmental progress. As learners progress through these stages the level of coactive support required decreases moving towards independence.
This document is Stage 2 in four Stages of the course Preliminary Science.
Stage 1
Within Stage 1 learners experience a range of learning activities that will assist them to attend to and explore the world around them with as much independence as possible. Experiences are designed for learners at an emergent level. Learners require high levels of coactive support and focused attention from the teacher to assist them to engage, react and participate. Learners demonstrate some awareness and recognition of familiar people and routine activities.
Stage 2
Within Stage 2 learners are reliant on verbal and physical prompts to facilitate their learning. They begin to explore their world independently and engage in cause-and-effect learning activities. Learners are able to focus on structured learning activities for short periods of time. They respond to familiar people and events in a familiar environment and begin to use ‘yes/no’ responses.
Stage 3
Within Stage 3 Learners display the first signs of independence, are less reliant on partial physical prompts and respond more consistently to verbal and visual prompts and clear directions from the teacher. Learners begin to interact with their peers in social opportunities. They participate in structured activities alongside their peers and use pictures, photos and objects to communicate personal interests and experiences. They begin to use and link some familiar words and images to form a meaningful communication.
Stage 4
Within Stage 4 learners participate cooperatively in group learning activities with indirect supervision and gestural prompts. They express their feelings, needs and choices in increasingly conventional ways and combine and sequence key words and images to communicate personal interests and to recount significant experiences. They indicate beginning understanding of social rules and expectations and are beginning to reflect on their own behaviour.