Australia and New Zealand: Do We Need to Understand ‘Progress’ Before We Can Develop Learning Progressions?

Abstract

In the past decade Australia and New Zealand have actively engaged in the process of mapping their national curriculum documents against international comparisons. In Australia, the federal system of distributed responsibility for schooling and curriculum administration is regulated by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) in collaboration with all states and territory Ministers of Education. In New Zealand the Ministry of Education sets and regulates National Standards. Both nations embrace sets of standards for years 1–10. For geography education this means implementing modules, which are designed to enhance geographical knowledge and understanding, geograph..