Achieving Success in AIF

Achieving Success in AIF

Semester One, 2025, saw the Year 11 cohort at SAC undertake the new Stage 2 SACE Subject ‘Activating Identities and Futures’.  Designed as the senior companion to ‘Exploring Identities and Futures’ (Stage 1 compulsory subject, undertaken at Year 10 here at SAC), AIF, as it is ‘affectionately’ known, gives students the freedom to select Learning Goals that are important to them.  It encourages students to explore their topics deeply and strategically, paying attention to methods by which they can extend their learning, perspectives of their topics and stakeholders, and effective and efficient time management.  They are required to obtain feedback from those with some expertise and respond to that feedback.  Students document their progress in a Portfolio, using the genre that suits them best, and check in with their coaches/teachers regularly.  These processes make up the 70% School Assessment, and when they have reached a conclusion or desired level of achievement of skills and understanding, they appraise their learning in a formal way for their 30% External Assessment.  The subject must be passed in order to attain the SACE.

Many fascinating projects were undertaken, including developing skills in animation, dance choreography, painting, and writing Khmer language in script, comparing programs for rehabilitation of alcoholics, understanding scoliosis and even overcoming perfectionist procrastination!

What some students enjoyed about AIF:

“That it was very mouldable to my strengths, and it was very personal and self-focused.” Rosie

“Having the opportunity to reach out to people (experts and patients) whom I would NEVER normally talk to even though it was scary and took time.” Holly

“Doing skill development because I saw noticeable improvements with my drawing skills with each sketch.” Jasmine

And some words of advice from Alice…. “Jump right into it. If you end up changing course or doing something wrong that’s ok, it’s all part of the subject and it just means you can put more stuff in your portfolio. But don’t waste time, because leaving everything to the last minute takes all the enjoyment out of the subject.”

Almost two thirds of the cohort achieved a result in the A band, with, as the accompanying photos attest, 15 students being assessed at the A+ level.  It is a great testament to the hard work of both teachers and students that SAC’s first ever results in this subject were so high.  Congratulations to all.

Ms Sandra Eustace
AIF Coordinator

Above:  The Output of Summer Scardigno’s learning in AIF: A painted portrait of Khmer Rouge survivor, Bou Meng

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