What do you really think?

You think what?

"A curriculum is not value-free, as values and attitudes cannot be divorced from content."

The Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Geography January 2011

HASS subjects and their teaching is not value free. It is almost impossible not to be political in some way when discussing HASS topics.

As Robert Butler was quoted as saying in the Economist in 2010:

“It is getting harder and harder in conversation to raise one or other of the most basic subjects in geography—agriculture, glaciation, rivers and population—without a flicker of panic crossing the other person’s face. You are no longer talking about a neutral subject.”


HASS has the potential to be relevant, dynamic and challenging for students in the classroom through providing the opportunity to develop a political frame around what is taught. How can we teach about water, population, migration and climate change for example without challenging students to place the discussion in a political context – that is, what do you believe is right and what are the values and ethical beliefs that guide ones opinion on an issue. 

Here are two excellent classroom polling tools to have a look at and use in our tutorial


* Straw Poll 

• A Straw Poll is a great resource to find out in an anonymous way what the class thinks about the issues profiled in the 'What are your politics ' questionnaire we answered this week. 
• Firstly here is some information on how to use Straw Poll
• Click on the URL's below and select your response. 

Q1. Gun ownership   https://strawpoll.com/eds3xxsy

Q2. Abortion on demand  https://strawpoll.com/2bbw492w

Q3. Capital punishment   https://strawpoll.com/rg9xxh73

Q4. Corporal punishment  https://strawpoll.com/9gxrs9xc

Q5. Australian Republic  https://strawpoll.com/zpzf1y4w

Q6. Removal of the Union Jack from the Australian flag  https://strawpoll.com/h3erf2ds

Q7. Privatisation of public facilities  https://strawpoll.com/9zf9y57a

Q8. School uniform  https://strawpoll.com/g48g4hs4

Q9. Immigration   https://strawpoll.com/dx57zadw

Q10. Unemployed and community service  https://strawpoll.com/3xs2zsf3

Q11. Coupons and benefit payments  https://strawpoll.com/7w7825k5

Q12. Compulsory service for 19 Year olds https://strawpoll.com/351hxr6r

Q13.  Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution.   https://strawpoll.com/7s5ek3p9

Q14. Removal of King Edward V11 statue  https://strawpoll.com/g5ada6c9

Q15.  Moving Australia Day  https://strawpoll.com/pr6x7ega


* Poll everywhere

Is a digital tool that is a wonderful way to get students involved (all students, not just the vocal and uninhibited) in discussion of a contestable nature is Poll Everywhere. The brilliant aspect of this program is that it is easy to use, is anonymous and inclusive of all, can be used and developed in real time in the classroom and provides instant feedback (graphs, word walls etc). The program gives all students a voice so that they can express their opinion without ridicule or embarrassment. The resulting graphs and graphics provide data for class research and discussion and can be archived for comparison over time presentations. As a tool it is a great interactive way to involve the geography class in some high order thinking and discussion. 
The brief video on the Poll Everywhere Home page gives an introduction to this free digital tool which can be used not only in the HaSS classroom but also with teachers in their professional learning in HaSS.Poll Everywhere is a great way to get discussion started in any gathering.  It is certainly worth the 30 minutes to get acquainted with the tool and make the learning more interactive for participants and create some inclusive and comprehensive data for contestable discussions.