Fraser High students integrate subjects
Hamilton’s Fraser High has become one of a select few secondary schools to integrate a range of subjects into one large project.
Hamilton’s Fraser High has become one of a select few secondary schools to integrate a range of subjects into one large project.
Twenty students have been given the opportunity to take part in the project which focuses on the production of a visual culture magazine, while integrating several areas of the curriculum.
The project aims to maximise the learning and practical skills of the year 12 and 13 students involved, while still allowing them to gain the required number of credits to pass.
Head of the Arts Faculty at Hamilton’s Fraser High School, Sam Cunnane, is in charge of the project.
He said the class is “about turning the way we approach NCEA upside down by getting students to produce an authentic project”.
The project incorporates elements of art, art history, English, media studies and graphic design. Students also do one other subject of their choice outside of the project.
Year 13 student Jeremy Healey said, “If I didn’t get into this class I would have dropped out of school… [there were] no other classes I was interested in.”
Mr Cunnane said the idea began last year when he had a discussion with Peter Robinson, Fraser’s information technology system manager, about wanting to change the way the NCEA directed teaching.
Mr Cunnane said the project has had a reasonable amount of interest from teachers in New Zealand and around the world.
The magazine is expected to be completed by the end of June, just before the school holidays. The progression of the project can be followed at http://www.curriculumintegrationproject.blogspot.co.nz/
