Two weeks ago, all Year 11 students at the Australian Science and Mathematics School (ASMS) embarked on their ‘Activating Identities and Futures’ (AIF) learning journeys. AIF is a pivotal subject that replaces the Research Project and contributes to a student’s Year 12 results.
To earn the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) and qualify for an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) at the end of Year 12, students must successfully complete and pass AIF. This subject involves students selecting a learning focus and, with the guidance and feedback of teachers, designing a learning programme to achieve a specific goal. Emphasis is placed on obtaining and responding to constructive feedback from experts in their chosen area.
Assessment in AIF includes creating a Portfolio of Evidence collected throughout the learning journey, completing two ‘Progress Checks’, developing an ‘Output’ of their learning, and conducting an Appraisal of their learning journey. Students who began at ASMS in 2024 are well-prepared, having experience in an academic environment that prioritises ‘evidence of learning’.
The overarching aim is for students to demonstrate their ability to self-motivate and self-direct their learning, while deeply exploring an area of personal significance.