Humanities

Curious about our changing world. Guided by our vision to nurture collaborative innovators and compassionate leaders, the Humanities Department sparks curiosity about our changing world through inquiry-based learning.

Last updated on 2 November 2026

Department Vision:

To nurture and develop Canberrans who are collaborative innovators and compassionate leaders who aspire to become complex problem-solvers and able to work collaboratively in designing innovative solutions, and values-driven leaders with a heart to lead and serve others with compassion and empathy.

Aligning with our school's vision of "Nurturing Future Ready Canberrans," the Humanities Department is dedicated to fostering critical thinking about global issues while cultivating a deep sense of empathy for our communities.

We aim to spark curiosity in our students, encouraging them to explore our VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) world and understand how communities interact. By nurturing and expanding this curiosity, we help our students become well-rounded individuals who actively engage with and positively contribute to the world around them.

Inquiry-based learning is central to our approach in teaching Humanities at Canberra Secondary School. Through Geographical Investigation, Historical Investigation, and Issues Investigation, we encourage students to:

Actively explore historical events, geographical phenomena, and social issues
Ask questions and conduct research
Critically analyze information

Students learn to formulate inquiries, seek answers through research, and draw evidence-based conclusions. This approach deepens their understanding of historical contexts, geographical landscapes, and societal complexities while developing essential 21st-century skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving.

In the teaching and learning of humanities at Canberra, we integrate educational technology purposefully: to augment existing instructional strategies, modify tasks, and even redefine conventional way to teaching and learning to empower students to take ownership of their learning, developing them as active learners.

We leverage on online tools such as:

Student Learning Space (SLS)
Google Classroom
Class Point
Padlet
Kahoot

These platforms enrich classroom learning and facilitate class discussions, encouraging active student participation. We also guide students in digitally documenting their research and learning experiences, promoting digital literacy and effective online research skills.

Our ultimate goal is to equip students with the competencies to use their Personal Learning Devices effectively and responsibly, fostering autonomous learners with essential digital skills for lifelong learning beyond their secondary education.

At Canberra Secondary School's Humanities Department, we are committed to the holistic growth of our students, continuously exploring new platforms and methodologies to enhance their learning experience and prepare them for the challenges of the future.