The importance of critical thinking for success in PDHPE and CAFS

Critical thinking means being able to present evidence for our ideas, analysing the way we think instead of simply learning facts without ever questioning them. In the PDHPE key learning area and in life, it is essential we inquire critically and question to ensure our opinions, our behaviours, our values and our ideas are supported by evidence.

Critical thinking:

• improves our ability to express ideas. The ability to think logically has a huge impact not only on how students understand ideas, but on how they express them.
• makes learning more interactive. It adds relevance and can increase engagement as students link learning to their own lives and lived experiences.
• will prepare students to learn, adapt and keep up to date with relevant changes in their fields of study, whatever they may be.
• is considered a key skill alongside problem solving for an uncertain future, especially considering how remote work is increasingly popular and accessible. Our ability to adapt will be an important skill in an uncertain future. Keeping an open mind, being able to self-direct, self-discipline and self-monitor, is what will allow this generation to succeed no matter what happens next.
• will allow students to ensure their decisions are based on facts and logic.

Join the PDHPE statewide staffroom to access the PDHPE 11/12 channel and the CAFS channel for support, professional learning. resources and collaboration.

PDHPE resources

Use the following resources to assist with planning, delivery and assessment in Stage 6 PDHPE.

The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Years 11 and 12 PDHPE page contains the syllabus and support materials including a sample assessment grid, HSC exam specifications, sample questions and examination rubrics.

Blood through the circulatory system (DOCX 530KB)

This activity is designed for preliminary PDHPE. It uses enriching experiences by allowing students to move through the system like a drop of blood, seeing the process from a different lens to support understanding.

Promoting critical thinking through HSC resources

Core 1 Health priorities in Australia graphs (DOCX 2.1MB)

This activity focuses on graphs, building students’ ability to interpret information and analyse data and trends. It is designed to fit within an existing teaching program or be used as a revision exercise on the conclusion of the Core.

Core 2 Factors affecting performance physiological adaptations (DOCX 74KB)

Students will apply their knowledge and understanding to a case study to examine how reversibility can affect the physiological adaptations for the athlete. The activity is designed to fit within an existing teaching program or be used as a revision exercise on the conclusion of the Core.

Core 2 Factors affecting performance principles of training (DOCX 73KB)

This activity uses a case study approach to encourage students to apply their understanding of the principles of training to real life scenarios. It is designed to fit within an existing teaching program or be used as a revision exercise on the conclusion of the Core.

Core 2 Factors affecting performance psychology (DOCX 77KB)

This activity uses the population health based decision to apply social distancing and remove crowds from sporting venues and activities. Students will examine the impact on athlete motivation. It is designed to fit within an existing teaching program or be used as a revision exercise on the conclusion of the Core.

Breaking down the HSC exam (DOCX 74KB)

An overview of the HSC exam for PDHPE and what it takes to excel in the exam.A support document to guide student revision and understanding of the HSC examination

Community and family studies resources

CAFS toolkit to boost success in the HSC examination (DOCX 78KB)

Strategies and resources that students can use to support their own success in CAFS examinations.

Glossary of key terms

Thes CAFS resources support students to build their understanding of the glossary words and uses sample responses with guided support.

The NESA Community and family studies (CAFS) page contains the syllabus and support materials including a sample assessment grid, HSC exam specifications, sample questions, examination rubrics and resources list.

NESA CAFS support document clarifies the requirements of the syllabus and illustrates these through a number of scope and sequence models and two sample units of work.