How PLAN2 and your data will change in 2023


This article contains information about migration of indicatorschanges to observation statuses, and preparing for the change.

From T1 2023, NSW teachers will use an updated version of PLAN2.  

 

The updates to PLAN2 are in alignment with: 

  • the implementation of the new K-2 English and mathematics syllabuses in schools 
  • the department’s official uptake of version 3 of the National Literacy and Numeracy Learning Progressions. 

 

How is PLAN2 changing? 

 

 In 2023 PLAN2 will contain: 

  • version 3 (V3) of the Literacy and Numeracy Learning Progressions 
  • A new observation status scale 
  • new K-2 Mathematics and English outcomes and content points mapped to v3 
  • current 3-10 Mathematics and English syllabus outcomes mapped to V3 (interim mapping) 
  • enhancements to features in alignment with curriculum changes 


 

 

What happened to my PLAN2 observations before 2023? 

 

The observations made by teachers or assessments, existing against version 2 (V2) progression indicators in PLAN2, will be migrated against V3 progression indicators and converted to the new observation status. 

 

No observations will be lost. 

 

The migration of observations and conversion of status is an automatic process. There is nothing you or your school need to do. 

 

How have the observation statuses changed? 

 

To support more explicit analysis of observations and differentiated learning, the PLAN2 observation scale has been enhanced in these ways: 

  • new observation statuses have been introduced 
  • status names have changed 
  • status colours have changed

 


The diagram below summarises how existing observations in PLAN2 will be converted from existing statuses, to the new statuses:

 

In addition, a new asterisk status has been introduced: 

  

 

The asterisk status will allow teachers (and assessments) to apply an observation status to only some of an indicator. 

 

The ALAN helpdesk article Learn more about the new observation statuses’ provides more detailed information about the new observation scale. 

 

 

What types of changes can I expect to see to the progression indicators? 

 

As a result of ACARA’s revisions to V2 of the progressions, indicators have undergone 4 main types of changes:   

  • New 
  • Revised 
  • No change 
  • Retired 

 

How will I know which progression indicators remain unchanged, and which are new, revised or retired? How will I know where my observations were moved to? 

 

 

ONSCREEN FEATURES TO SUPPORT UNDERSTANDING 

 

When using the updated PLAN2 platform, on-screen features support  you to identify: 

  • which indicators changed,  
  • how they changed, and  
  • which indicators required a migration against a different indicator.  


  1. Tags beside individual V3 indicators: 

     
    In the example above, the purple tag to the left of the V3 indicator informs teachers that this is a ‘New’ indicator.
  2. V2/V3 mapping guide 

    The image below shows the V2/V3 mapping guide which will be available on the new platform

    This on-screen feature will support teachers in understanding the type of change which ACARA applied to the indicator, and whether individual V3 indicators contain migrated observations from V2 indicators.  

     
    In the example above, we are supported in understanding that the V3 indicator MuS3.1 is a ’Revised’ indicator and that it now contains the observations from V2 indicators MuS3.1, MuS3.2 and MuS4.2.  
  3. Individual student cell ‘All observations’ feature 

    Each observation cell, for each student, against each indicator in PLAN2 will contain information about status changes which applied to that indicator:  

Migration example: Indicators with no change 

If an indicator remains unchanged between V2 and V3, the observation is retained against the same indicator where it was originally made.


Version 2 

Version 3 

Phonic knowledge and word awareness 
NO CHANGE: PhA3.3 - identifies the number of phonemes that make up a spoken one-syllable word comprised of less than four phonemes 

Phonic knowledge and word awareness 
PhA3.3 - identifies the number of phonemes that make up a spoken one-syllable word comprised of less than four phonemes 

 

 

 

 

Migration example: Revised indicators 

If an indicator has been revised, the the original observation status and details which existed against the V2 indicator, will be recorded in the ‘All observations’ feature of the revised indicator in V3. 

 

Version 2 

Version 3 

Listening – Level 2 

REVISED: LiS2.2 - responds to short phrases relying on key words, tone of voice and intonation 

 
 

Listening – Level 2 

LiS2.1 - responds to short spoken texts relying on key words, obvious cues, tone of voice and intonation 

[The description and sequence of the v2 indicator were updated in v3] 

 

 

 

Migration example: Retired indicators mapping to existing indicators 

 

If an indicator was retired from V2, the observation data is migrated to an equivalent or relevant indicator (as indicated in the V2/V3 Mapping guide). 

  

A retired indicator may fully or partially match one or more indicators. 

 

Version 2 

Version 3 

Multiplicative strategies – Level 3 
REVISED: MuS3.1 - relies on perceptual markers to represent each group 

 

Multiplicative strategies – Level 3 

RETIRED: MuS3.2 - uses equal grouping and counting without individual items visible but needs to represent the groups before determining the total 

 

Multiplicative strategies – Level 4 
RETIRED: MuS4.2 - uses skip counting and may use fingers to keep track of the number of groups as the counting occurs 
 

Multiplicative strategies – Level 3 

MuS3.1 - uses perceptual markers to represent concealed quantities of equal amounts to determine the total number of items (e.g. to count how many whiteboard markers in four packs, knowing they come in packs of 5, the student counts the number of markers as 5, 10, 15, 20) 

 

[The V2 MuS3.2 and V2 MuS4.2 were retired and match part of the indicator MuS3.1 in V3] 

 

 

Migration example: Retired indicators mapping to new V3 indicators 

 

If an indicator was retired from V2, the observation data is migrated to an equivalent or relevant indicator.  

 

A retired indicator may fully or partially match one or more indicators. 

 

Version 2 

Version 3 

Quantifying numbers 
RETIRED: QuN1.5 - compares two quantities and states which group has more and which less 

Number and place value 
NEW: NPV1.2 - compares two collections visually and states which group has more items and which group has less