We are lucky to have so much variety and good options to pick and choose from. :-)<br><br>I will be using Gamemaker, an engaging bit of software that will sufficiently challenge the imagination and programming skills of my year 11's with Ooodles of resources and a good support network of teachers . Gamemaker has a sound pedagogical base as a teaching tool by the
<a href="http://www.cs.uu.nl/%7Emarkov/">Netherlands author</a>. My students can take it home on a USB key. :-)<br><br>I have seen some cool examples floating about where it was used to program a small database, lunar lander, food web, typing tutor and even a small climate simulator. Recently my students made small programs to simulate doctors running around Africa .. ala
<a href="http://www.msf.org">Medecins Sans Frontieres</a>. <br><br>Regards Roland<br><br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 29/05/06, <b class="gmail_sendername">Michael Warden</b> <<a href="mailto:warden.michael.d@edumail.vic.gov.au">
warden.michael.d@edumail.vic.gov.au</a>> wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">> ...just in case you are unaware of it, VB 2005 Express Edition is free to
<br>> download till the end of the year. We recently installed this across our<br>> school.<br>> Frank<br>><br>> -----Original Message-----<br>> From: <a href="mailto:ipm-bounces@edulists.com.au">ipm-bounces@edulists.com.au
</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:ipm-bounces@edulists.com.au">ipm-bounces@edulists.com.au</a>]On<br>> Behalf Of Lance Gibbens<br>> Sent: Monday, 29 May 2006 8:02 AM<br>> To: Year 12 Information Technology Processing and Management
<br>> Teachers'MailingList<br>> Subject: RE: [Year 12 IPM] Unit 1/2 2007+ Programming/Scripting<br>><br>><br>> Yep,<br>><br>> We have been through quite a discussion about this and have been nagging<br>
> Paula (sorry Paula) for the list of languages for the new Software<br>> Development course.... No point in getting a language that is not<br>> accepted. I have not seen the list yet, and it would be advisable to
<br>> wait for it, but it's looking like Delphi 2006 at this stage, but not<br>> set in concrete. I would go with VB if MS had the brains to sell it as<br>> VB rather than having to buy the whole Studio set... which we can't
<br>> afford.<br>><br>> Delphi is a souped up visual version of Pascal.... Which was always a<br>> great programming language to teach proper programming techniques<br>> (anyone old enough out there to remember teaching TP V 4-6?), but maybe
<br>> I biased.... I always though VB was sloppy.... Personal opinion.<br>><br>> My advice is if you have any thought at all about offering Software<br>> Development 3/4 wait for the list, then decide about 1/2.
<br>><br>> Kind regards<br>><br>> Lance<br>> Lance Gibbens<br>> Head of Teaching and Learning<br>> Flinders Christian Community College<br>> P.O. Box 45, TYABB, 3913<br>> Ph. 59732013 Mob 0419548036
<br>><br>><br>><br>><br>> -----Original Message-----<br>> From: <a href="mailto:ipm-bounces@edulists.com.au">ipm-bounces@edulists.com.au</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:ipm-bounces@edulists.com.au">ipm-bounces@edulists.com.au
</a>]<br>> On Behalf Of Michael Warden<br>> Sent: Monday, 29 May 2006 7:47 AM<br>> To: Year 12 Information Technology Processing and Management<br>> Teachers'Mailing List<br>> Subject: [Year 12 IPM] Unit 1/2 2007+ Programming/Scripting
<br>><br>> Hi,<br>><br>> Has anyone put some thought into the software they will use for the<br>> Programming/Scripting area of Unit 2 IT?<br>><br>> I am concerned about the depth of understanding required. eg. Loops,
<br>> If..End If etc.<br>><br>> Thanks for any feedback.<br>><br>> Michael<br>><br>><br>><br>><br>> Important -<br>> This email and any attachments may be confidential. If received in<br>> error, please contact us and delete all copies. Before opening or using
<br>> attachments check them for viruses and defects. Regardless of any loss,<br>> damage or consequence, whether caused by the negligence of the sender or<br>> not, resulting directly or indirectly from the use of any attached files
<br>> our liability is limited to resupplying any affected attachments. Any<br>> representations or opinions expressed are those of the individual<br>> sender, and not necessarily those of the Department of Education &
<br>> Training.<br>><br>> _______________________________________________<br>> <a href="http://www.edulists.com.au">http://www.edulists.com.au</a> - FAQ, resources, subscribe, unsubscribe IPM<br>> Mailing List kindly supported by
<a href="http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au">http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au</a> - Victorian<br>> Curriculum and Assessment Authority and <a href="http://www.vitta.org.au">http://www.vitta.org.au</a> - VITTA<br>> Victorian Information Technology Teachers Association Inc
<br>><br>> _______________________________________________<br>> <a href="http://www.edulists.com.au">http://www.edulists.com.au</a> - FAQ, resources, subscribe, unsubscribe<br>> IPM Mailing List kindly supported by
<br>> <a href="http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au">http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au</a> - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and<br>> <a href="http://www.vitta.org.au">http://www.vitta.org.au</a> - VITTA Victorian Information Technology Teachers
<br>> Association Inc<br>><br>> _______________________________________________<br>> <a href="http://www.edulists.com.au">http://www.edulists.com.au</a> - FAQ, resources, subscribe, unsubscribe<br>> IPM Mailing List kindly supported by
<br>> <a href="http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au">http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au</a> - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and<br>> <a href="http://www.vitta.org.au">http://www.vitta.org.au</a> - VITTA Victorian Information Technology Teachers
<br>> Association Inc<br><br><br>I am thinking of using Gamemaker which is a free download and uses a<br>scripting language based on the principles of programming - loops,<br>if-else-end if etc.<br><br>However, I am concerned that the students may face problems when completing
<br>the outcome relating to getting the "public" to plan a solution using this<br>software.<br><br>Michael<br><br><br><br><br>Important -<br>This email and any attachments may be confidential. If received in error, please contact us and delete all copies. Before opening or using attachments check them for viruses and defects. Regardless of any loss, damage or consequence, whether caused by the negligence of the sender or not, resulting directly or indirectly from the use of any attached files our liability is limited to resupplying any affected attachments. Any representations or opinions expressed are those of the individual sender, and not necessarily those of the Department of Education & Training.
<br><br>_______________________________________________<br><a href="http://www.edulists.com.au">http://www.edulists.com.au</a> - FAQ, resources, subscribe, unsubscribe<br>IPM Mailing List kindly supported by<br><a href="http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au">
http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au</a> - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and<br><a href="http://www.vitta.org.au">http://www.vitta.org.au</a> - VITTA Victorian Information Technology Teachers Association Inc<br></blockquote>
</div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College<br><a href="http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au">http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au</a><br><br>"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead