Preface: Using This Integrated Resource Package

This Integrated Resource Package (IRP) provides some of the basic information that teachers require to implement the Music 11 and 12 curriculum. The information contained in this IRP is also available through the Internet. Contact the Ministry of Education's home page: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/

The Introduction

The Introduction provides general information about Music 11 and 12, including special features and requirements. It also provides a rationale for the teaching of Music 11 and 12 in BC schools.

The Composition and Technology 11 and 12 Curriculum

The main body of this document consists of the Composition and Technology 11 and 12 courses of the Music 11 and 12 curriculum. When the other music courses are revised, they will be added to this IRP. There are four columns of information for each organizer in the Composition and Technology 11 and 12 curriculum. These columns describe:

provincially prescribed learning outcome statements for each subject area
suggested instructional strategies for achieving the outcomes
suggested assessment strategies for determining how well students are achieving the outcomes
provincially recommended learning resources

Prescribed Learning Outcomes

Learning outcome statements are content standards for the provincial education system. Prescribed learning outcomes set out the knowledge, enduring ideas, issues, concepts, skills, and attitudes for each subject. They are statements of what students are expected to know and be able to do in each grade. Learning outcomes are clearly stated and expressed in observable terms. All learning outcomes complete this stem: "It is expected that students will. . . ." Outcome statements have been written to enable teachers to use their experience and professional judgment when planning and evaluating. The outcomes are benchmarks that will permit the use of criterion-referenced performance standards. It is expected that actual student performance will vary. Evaluation, reporting, and student placement with respect to these outcomes depend on the professional judgment of teachers, guided by provincial policy.

Suggested Instructional Strategies

Instruction involves the use of techniques, activities, and methods that can be employed to meet diverse student needs and to deliver the prescribed curriculum. Teachers are free to adapt the suggested instructional strategies or substitute others that will enable their students to achieve the prescribed outcomes. These strategies have been developed by specialist and generalist teachers to assist their colleagues; they are suggestions only.

Suggested Assessment Strategies

The assessment strategies suggest a variety of ways to gather information about student performance. Some assessment strategies relate to specific activities; others are general. These strategies have been developed by specialist and generalist teachers to assist their colleagues; they are suggestions only.

Provincially Recommended Learning Resources

Provincially recommended learning resources are materials that have been reviewed and evaluated by BC teachers in collaboration with the Ministry of Education according to a stringent set of criteria. They are typically materials suitable for student use, but they may also include information primarily intended for teachers. Teachers and school districts are encouraged to select those resources that they find most relevant and useful for their students, and to supplement these with locally approved materials and resources to meet specific local needs. The recommended resources listed in the main body of this IRP are those that have a comprehensive coverage of significant portions of the curriculum, or those that provide a unique support to a specific segment of the curriculum. Appendix B contains a complete listing of provincially recommended learning resources to support this curriculum.

The Appendices

A series of appendices provides additional information about the curriculum and further support for the teacher.

Appendix A lists the prescribed learning outcomes for the curriculum arranged by curriculum organizer and grade.
Appendix B contains a comprehensive, annotated list of the provincially recommended learning resources for this curriculum. This appendix will be updated as new resources are evaluated.
Appendix C outlines the cross-curricular reviews used to ensure that concerns such as equity, access, and the inclusion of specific topics are addressed by all components of this IRP.
Appendix D contains assistance for teachers related to provincial evaluation and reporting policy. Prescribed learning outcomes have been used as the source for samples of criterion-referenced evaluation.
Appendix E acknowledges the many people and organizations that have been involved in the development of this IRP.
Appendix F contains definitions of terms specific to this IRP.

Revised: January 25, 1999

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