Original Unit Plan

The unit plan developed for Year 8 Music at Hoppers Crossing Secondary College (HCSC) was designed to deepen students' understanding of musical elements and composition through a blend of Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) and explicit instruction methods.

The primary goals are to engage students in exploring musical genres, categorising these genres, and applying their knowledge to create original compositions. By employing the 5E model of inquiry

• Engage
• Explore
• Explain
• Elaborate
• Evaluate

and aligning with curriculum standards VCAMUE033 and VCAMUM035, the plan promotes active learning, critical thinking, and creativity.

To achieve these objectives, activities such as the "Musical Memory Game" and "Musical Genre Scavenger Hunt" stimulate engagement and encourage exploration. Explicit instruction in Week 3 consolidates learning by guiding students through key musical concepts and techniques not likely to be engaging in IBL

The plan incorporates formative assessments like KWL Chart and exit tickets to monitor student progress and understanding along with providing artefacts to guide the educator in future classes.

These elements work together to build foundational knowledge and skills while encouraging creative application of learning.

In summary, the unit plan’s combination of IBL and explicit instruction is designed to enhance student engagement and skill development.

The next section will explore how feedback from a teacher peer, a Deakin Assessor, and AI tools can further refine and improve the program to better meet educational goals and student needs.