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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Hi everyone, (and apologies for the cross-posts),<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt;background:white'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The DE&T /
VITTA Programming in Excellence Awards are on again, and you can now register
via the official web site for the free PD sessions that are being offered
around the state. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt;background:white'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt;background:white'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>For those not
familiar with the Programming in Excellence Awards - s</span></font><font
size=1 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>ince 2001, DE&T in conjunction with Microsoft have conducted
an annual award for programming excellence. This award has a total prize
value of $26,000, making it one of the richest prizes available to students in
this area. The award features three categories - Novice Programmers,
Intermediate Programmers and Open, which each have a set problem. <br>
<br>
The categories have been designed to allow students with differing programming
skills to participate in the award. The Novice Programmer's category
assumes no prior programming experience. The task will be at an introductory
level, with an emphasis on basic skill development. The Intermediate
Programmer's category assumes that students have some programming experience,
but not necessarily in VB.net. It would be an ideal way of introducing
VB.net to students who are currently using VB only. The Open category is
aimed at students who have some background in VB.net already (or very quick
learners!)? The task will be more challenging and a little more open
ended.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt;background:white'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt;background:white'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>The open category prizes will constitute the $26,000* associated
with the award. <br>
<br>
Prizes are as follows: <br>
First place: $4,000 + a Tablet PC or Notebook <br>
Second place: $2,000 + a Tablet PC or Notebook <br>
Third place: $1,000 + a Tablet PC or Notebook <br>
Fourth place: $500 + a Tablet PC or Notebook <br>
<br>
Fifth to Fourteenth places: Xbox + 5 Games <br>
<br>
The total value of the prizes (1st to 14th places) is $26,000. In addition,
Microsoft's software development tools will be made freely available to
participating teachers and students.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;line-height:12.0pt;background:
white'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;line-height:12.0pt;background:
white'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:black'>Each PD day consists of two half day sessions. The
morning session is the beginner's session, where the basics of VB will be
explained. The novice category task will be reviewed, with a focus on the
tips and tricks involved in assisting students with this task. The
afternoon session will focus on the intermediate and open categories, and will
investigate the tasks to be completed and what is involved in each of these. <br>
<br>
Teachers are free to attend both the morning and afternoon sessions if they
wish. <br>
<br>
There are 6 sessions in the program, at the following locations: <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt;background:white'><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on"><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:black'>Bendigo</span></font></st1:place></st1:City><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'> - Tuesday 19th July <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt;background:white'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>Moonee Ponds - Monday 25th July <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt;background:white'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>Moorabbin - Wednesday 27th July <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt;background:white'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>Ringwood - Wednesday 3rd August <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt;background:white'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>Warrnambool - Friday 5th August <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt;background:white'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>Traralgon - Friday 12th August <br>
<br>
Lunch will be provided for teachers attending either session. All
teachers attending the sessions will be required to bring their own laptops,
and VS.net will be installed onto them at the start of the session. Please
note that VS.NET will only run on systems running Windows 2000 and above
(Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, etc). <br>
<br>
More information can be found at the VITTA web site: <a
href="http://www.vitta.org.au/">http://www.vitta.org.au/</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt;background:white'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>And on the official competition web site: <a
href="http://www.progawards.openlab.net.au/">http://www.progawards.openlab.net.au/</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt;background:white'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt;background:white'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>As these dates are approaching fast, if you are interested, log on
to the official web site and register your interest. Hopefully I will see
some of you at these sessions! <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt;background:white'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt;background:white'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>All the best,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt;background:white'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>Adrian Janson<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt;background:white'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>VITTA committee <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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