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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello Frank</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>While I too lament the loss of teaching 'real
stuff' about computers, I think the answer to your questions is "when was the
last time you taught someone how a pencil works, or a calculator, or a car?"
When viewed as a tool for use across a variety of situations - and IT is -
then how it works isn't considered important. What is important is "can I use
the tool well?"</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I don't have a problem with the <STRONG>use
of</STRONG> ICT being seen as interdisciplinary, but I think the effective loss
of technology as a whole in the curriculum is a problem.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regards</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Robert T-A</FONT></DIV>
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style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=frankm@sjc.vic.edu.au href="mailto:frankm@sjc.vic.edu.au">Frank
Merlino</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=yr7-10it@edulists.com.au
href="mailto:yr7-10it@edulists.com.au">yr7-10it@edulists.com.au</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Cc:</B> <A title=is@edulists.com.au
href="mailto:is@edulists.com.au">is@edulists.com.au</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, June 02, 2006 5:46 PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Year 12 Its] VELS and IT</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV id=idOWAReplyText98968 dir=ltr>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>Dear
Colleagues,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>Maybe someone can share their knowledge
about this one with me....</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>In the design of VELS, where did the
"planners" think such areas as computer programming, robotics, learning about
how computer systems work, etc were going to fit? One would imagine that in
this day and age, it would be considered essential learning to know something
about how hardware works, how programs work, how robotics is implemented and
its basics, etc. Do the "planners" in their wildest dreams think these topics
will be covered well in the "disciplines"? What's your opinion?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regards,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV id=idSignature44310 dir=ltr><PRE>Frank Merlino
Technology (IT and Systems) Co-ordinator
Web Site Manager
St. Joseph's College
135 Aphrasia St, Newtown
Geelong, Victoria, Australia, 3219
Phone: 03 52 268100 </PRE></DIV>_______________________________________________
<BR><A href="http://www.edulists.com.au">http://www.edulists.com.au </A>IT
Systems 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</BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>