Courses within the Human Society & Its Environment Key Learning Area will challenge students to become more aware of the interacting factors in a changing society.
Students will be encouraged to become more responsible citizens of their community (local/national/global) and to make a Christian contribution to social justice.
HSIE courses will contribute to the development of literacy and numeracy skills and expose students to a wide range of learning activities which will develop specialist knowledge, skills and attitudes.
HSIE course will fulfill an integral role in the development of the full potential of students at
Studies of society involve the study of people, their interactions and the structures which they have developed in different places at different times. Studies of environment involve the study of natural surroundings, such as ecosystems, and social surroundings, such as the built environment, in different places at different times. Studies of HSIE courses are important because they expand the students' knowledge and understandings of their own society, other societies, local and global environments, and the relationships between environments and societies. Studies of HSIE courses develops knowledge about Australia, its people, its cultural and environmental heritage, its political, economic and legal systems, and its place in the world. This area promotes the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values that enable students to participate as active and informed citizens in a democratic society and within a global community. In HSIE, students deal with significant matters such as ethics, social justice and ecologically sustainable development and are actively involved in gaining the ability to make decisions and choices within a framework which promotes Christian ideals and a wide range of perspectives.
A CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVE...
HSIE courses at MSPC promote Gospel values with the broad aim of educating for a better world where students are encouraged to develop Christian attitudes towards the wide range of issues considered in their courses.
Teachers should maintain a current knowledge of Catholic teachings and become familiar with such publications as the Sense of the Sacred documents produced by the Sydney CEO as a guide to teaching Gospel values in HSIE courses. The HSIE KLA at MSPC possesses these documents and professional development programs have been implemented to assist teachers in the further development of classroom activities which will enrich the teaching of Gospel values in their courses and make specific entries into teaching programs.