New subjects at BTC
It is the duty of schools to prepare their students to enter
the world of work. This world is fast
moving and ever changing. Jobs that did
not exist 20 years ago now are common, whilst others have fallen by the way
side. The College has decided to offer 5
new subjects to senior students and 1 new subject for middle school students in
an effort to give students the widest possible opportunities. This new offering must come with a caveat
though; these subjects need students.
Once the first round of subject selection is complete, the college will
decide which subjects should run based on their popularity; it is simply not
efficient to run a senior class with one or two students when instead we could
deploy that teacher to work in the Middle School.
Senior Subjects
Film and TV (OP)
For most of us, film, television and new media are our
primary sources of information and entertainment. They are important channels
for education and cultural exchange. Moving-image media enable us to understand
and express ourselves as Australian and global citizens, consumers, workers and
imaginative beings. The "information" and "creative"
industries are already among the largest employers and drivers of the economy
in many countries. Their significance in our lives seems set only to increase,
given that moving-image media will play an increasingly prominent part in our
work and leisure. Students will critique and create moving images, radio
broadcasts and internet websites.
Health Studies (OP)
Health Education examines health in the context of society,
and the mechanisms necessary to develop and promote health for individuals,
groups, communities and nations. Health Education is a subject that would
interest students who are concerned about social justice issues and who have a
strong commitment to community. Students considering the following careers
would find this subject beneficial:
Health-related fields
— health policy development, health and safety laws and regulations, health
information management
Medical and Social
health fields — health advocacy, counselling, social work, medicine and
nursing.
Technology
Technology Studies involves students in designing,
engineering and producing innovative and creative products. These products
encompass artefacts, processes, systems and environments. It is a course that
encourages knowledge and application of available resources, systems and
practices through inquiry, design and problem-solving methodologies. The
subject helps students understand and use past, present and future industrial
technologies to meet the demands and needs of the 21st century, and to be
responsive to current and emerging economic, industrial, social and
technological changes.
Technology Studies offers a variety of perspectives and depth
of study oriented towards work, training and university pathways. The course
aims to prepare students for careers in, for example, the building and service
professions (architecture, surveying, and engineering), industrial design,
environmental design and manufacturing design.
Tourism SAS
Tourism has become the world’s biggest industry and its
potential impact on societies and their economic and ecological future is
enormous. The tourism industry is one of Australia’s fastest growing
industries, and has assumed increasing importance in Australian society as a
source of expanding employment opportunities.
The study area specification in Tourism has been designed to
support the needs of entrants into the tourism industry, to provide an
introduction to a broad understanding of tourism, and to develop the personal
and interpersonal skills that underpin employment in the tourism industry. It
examines the dynamic nature of global tourism and the broader social, cultural,
ecological and economic implications of sustainable tourism. The study area
specification in Tourism is designed to provide students with a variety of
intellectual, technical, operational and workplace skills. It also enables
students to gain an understanding of the role of the tourism industry and the
structure, scope and operation of the related tourism sectors of travel,
hospitality and visitor services. The development of students’ tourism-related
knowledge and skills will also allow for the development of the key
competencies, in contexts that arise naturally from the learning experiences
and assessment practices of the subject. †
In the course of their studies, students will collect, analyse, and
organise information, individually and in teams, particularly in the
performance of practical tasks. They will plan and organise activities, and
will have opportunities to propose and implement solutions to tourism-related
situations. They will be involved in communicating ideas, information,
opinions, arguments and conclusions, in a variety of formats for a variety of
audiences. As part of their learning and classroom experiences, students will
have opportunities to employ mathematical skills, and will be continuously
involved in using technologies related to tourism business. The tourism industry
provides the context for students to understand the industry’s workplace
culture and practices, and also to develop the skills, processes and attitudes
crucial for making valid decisions about career pathways. Students are also
encouraged to investigate tourism as a source of leisure activity, life skills
and as an avenue for further study.
Certificate in Physical Training
This certificate starts students on the path to becoming a
physical trainer. It will involve both
the practical and theoretical elements of effective coaching someone to improve
their physical performance.
Middle School Subjects
Commerce and Legal
Though Commerce was offered this year, the College has
decided to update the course to include some elements of the Senior Legal
studies program to allow students to experience both of these areas.
Media Studies
This subject is the precursor to the Senior
subject ‘Film TV and New Media. It will
examine the role of the modern media in society, involve students in critiquing
it effectiveness through the examination of films and television programs; and
also include the production of modern media.