Human Society and Its Environment Faculty

An Area
• Of Adventure and Discovery
• For Developing Responsible Citizens

Introduction

The HSIE Faculty is focused on “quality learning experiences that incorporate adventure and discovery and which develop responsible citizens.” The key learning area of Human Society & Its Environment (HSIE) involves the study of people, cultures, societies and environments in different places and at different times. Students develop knowledge/understanding, skills, values and attitudes about diverse societies, local and global environments and relationships between these environments and societies. Through their learning students also develop the ability to engage in the community as informed and active citizens.

Stage 5 Geography Fieldwork

Year 9 Geography Communities Fieldwork – Pyrmont/Darling Harbour

Subjects Offered

Junior Subjects

In Years 7 to 10 the HSIE faculty offers the following subjects:

• History
• Geography
• Commerce
• History Elective
• Geography Elective

The study of History and Geography is mandatory and culminates with an external School Certificate examination at the end of Year 10. Commerce, Geography and History are also offered as an elective course of study in Years 9 and 10.

Senior Subjects

In Years 11 and 12, the HSIE faculty offers the following subjects:

• Business Studies
• Economics
• Geography
• Modern History
• Ancient History
• Legal Studies
• Society and Culture

All these subjects are offered as 2 Unit Higher School Certificate courses of study.

The faculty is well equipped with video facilities and has a dedicated classroom that has fast internet access.

Fieldwork
A mandatory requirement for all Geography students is field work. This can involve practical research of such diverse issues as coastal management on the northern beaches to studies of communities and urban decay and renewal in inner suburban Sydney.

Both Commerce and Business Studies students are also given the opportunity to experience the realities of the business world when they undertake an investigation of a fully operational business.

Stage 5 Geography Fieldwork

Year 10 Geography Coastal Management Fieldwork Enrichment Activities
Meaningful learning within the HSIE faculty can never exist solely in the classroom and students are exposed to a number of different enrichment experiences to supplement classroom learning. Commerce students have won and lost fortunes as entrants in the Australian Stock Exchange Game.

Students also participate in a variety of national and state competitions such as the Australian Economics and Business Studies competition run by the University of NSW, the Plan Your Own Enterprise Competition, the National Financial Literacy Competition, Australia My Country History Writing Competition and the Australian Geography Competition.

Year 9 Commerce - Planning /Organising/Operating a Business Enterprise Activity

Focus on Academic Success and Continuous Improvement in Student Achievement
The HSIE faculty encourages all students to reach their full potential and places great emphasis on achievement in external examinations. Over recent years results in Higher School Certificate examinations have been outstanding with students in all subjects performing at a level above the state average.

Students studying subjects within the HSIE faculty are undoubtedly gaining meaningful educational and learning experiences in a number of ways. We are nevertheless very much concerned with continuous improvement and will continue to seek even better learning outcomes for the students placed in our care.