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Ethical Capability

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  1. F-2
  2. 3-4
  3. 5-6
  4. 7-8
  5. 9-10

Foundation to Level 2

Foundation to Level 2 Description

From Foundation to Level 2, the curriculum focuses on developing the knowledge, skills and understandings to approach ethical problems and evaluate outcomes. Students develop a vocabulary to engage with ethical problems and an understanding that personal feelings can effect decision-making and actions.

Foundation to Level 2 Content Descriptions

Understanding Concepts

  1. Explore the meaning of right and wrong, good and bad, as concepts concerned with the outcomes of acts (VCECU001)

Decision Making and Actions

  1. Explore the type of acts often considered right and those often considered wrong and the reasons why they are considered so (VCECD002)
  2. Explore the effects that personal feelings can have on how people behave in situations where ethical issues are involved (VCECD003)

Foundation to Level 2 Achievement Standard

By the end of Level 2, students identify and describe ethical concepts using illustrative examples from familiar situations and a basic vocabulary about ethical problems and their outcomes.

Students identify and explain acts and situations that have ethical dimensions, using illustrative examples. They explain that personal feelings may influence the way people behave in situations where ethical issues are involved.

Levels 3 and 4

Levels 3 and 4 Description

In Levels 3 and 4, the curriculum focuses on developing the knowledge, skills and understandings to evaluate particular acts, and to identify and critically respond to ethical problems. Students...

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Levels 3 and 4 Content Descriptions

Understanding Concepts

  1. Explore the contested meaning of concepts including fairness and harm and how they can seem to differ in different situations (VCECU004)
  2. Explore the extent to which particular acts might be regarded by different people as good or bad, right or wrong, better or worse, and explain why (VCECU005)
  3. Discuss the ways to identify ethical considerations in a range of problems (VCECU006)

Decision Making and Actions

  1. Explore how apparently wrong actions can sometimes lead to good outcomes and the reverse (VCECD007)
  2. Discuss the role of personal values and dispositions in ethical decision-making and actions (VCECD008)

Levels 3 and 4 Achievement Standard

By the end of Level 4, students use concrete examples from a range of contexts to explain the contested meaning of concepts and significance of acts. They explain how to identify ethical considerations in problems.

Students use examples to evaluate ethical actions in relation to their outcomes. They explain the role of personal values and dispositions in ethical decision-making and actions, recognising areas of contestability.

Levels 5 and 6

Levels 5 and 6 Description

In Levels 5 and 6, the curriculum focuses on developing the knowledge, skills and understandings to evaluate the significance of ethical matters. Students explore the basis of a range of ethical...

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Levels 5 and 6 Content Descriptions

Understanding Concepts

  1. Examine the contested meaning of concepts including truth and happiness and the extent to which these concepts are and should be valued (VCECU009)
  2. Discuss how ethical principles can be used as the basis for action, considering the influence of cultural norms, religion, world views and philosophical thought on these principles (VCECU010)
  3. Examine how problems may contain more than one ethical issue (VCECU011)

Decision Making and Actions

  1. Explore the significance of ‘means versus ends’ by considering two ways to act when presented with a problem: one that privileges means and one ends (VCECD012)
  2. Discuss the role and significance of conscience and reasoning in ethical decision-making (VCECD013)

Levels 5 and 6 Achievement Standard

By the end of Level 6, students evaluate the meaning of ethical concepts and analyse their value, identifying areas of contestability. They explain different ways to respond to ethical problems and identify issues related to these.

Students identify different ethical issues associated with a particular problem. They identify the basis of a range of ethical principles and explain the role and significance of conscience and reasoning in ethical decision-making.

Levels 7 and 8

Levels 7 and 8 Description

In Levels 7 and 8, the curriculum focuses on developing the knowledge, skills and understandings to explore the tensions related to ethical concepts and decision making. Students extend their exploration...

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Levels 7 and 8 Content Descriptions

Understanding Concepts

  1. Explore the contested meaning of concepts including freedom, justice, and rights and responsibilities, and the extent they are and should be valued by different individuals and groups (VCECU014)
  2. Investigate why ethical principles may differ between people and groups, considering the influence of cultural norms, religion, world views and philosophical thought (VCECU015)
  3. Investigate criteria for determining the relative importance of matters of ethical concern (VCECU016)

Decision Making and Actions

  1. Explore the extent of ethical obligation and the implications for thinking about consequences and duties in decision-making and action (VCECD017)
  2. Discuss the role of context and experience in ethical decision-making and actions (VCECD018)

Levels 7 and 8 Achievement Standard

By the end of Level 8, students explain different ways ethical concepts are represented and analyse their value to society, identifying areas of contestability. They articulate how criteria can be applied to determine the importance of ethical concerns.

Students analyse the differences in principles between people and groups. They explain different views on the extent of ethical obligation and analyse their implications for the consequences of and duties involved in ethical decision-making and action. They analyse the role of context and experience in ethical decision-making and action.

Levels 9 and 10

Levels 9 and 10 Description

In Levels 9 and 10, the curriculum focuses on developing the knowledge, skills and understandings to analyse and evaluate ethical problems and their resolution and to identify and manage contestability in ethical matters. Students reflect on whether there are ethical concepts and principles common across people, groups and cultures.

Levels 9 and 10 Content Descriptions

Understanding Concepts

  1. Investigate the connections and distinctions between and the relative value of concepts including fairness and equality, and respect and tolerance (VCECU019)
  2. Explore a range of ethical problems and examine the extent to which different positions are related to commonly held ethical concepts and principles, considering the influence of cultural norms, religion, world views and philosophical thought (VCECU020)
  3. Distinguish between the ethical and non-ethical dimensions of complex issues, including the distinction between ethical and legal issues (VCECU021)

Decision Making and Actions

  1. Discuss issues raised by thinking about consequences and duties, in approaches to decision-making and action, and arguments for and against these approaches (VCECD022)
  2. Investigate how different factors involved in ethical decision-making can be managed by people and groups (VCECD023)

Levels 9 and 10 Achievement Standard

By the end of Level 10, students explain connections and distinctions between ethical concepts, identifying areas of contestability in their meanings and relative value.

Students analyse and evaluate contested approaches to thinking about consequences and duties in relation to ethical issues. They examine complex issues, identify the ethical dimensions and analyse commonality and difference between different positions. They explain how different factors involved in ethical decision-making can be managed.

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