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G'day all<div><br><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><div><br></div></span> </div><br><div><div>On 18/02/2008, at 12:10 PM, Michael Walker wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">In a nutshell from the top of my head:</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">* VELS incorporating ICT as a cross curricular domain is being used as a reason for cutting IT classes because "other subject teachers can teach them". Some schools redeploy IT teachers as some sort of coach/mentor but I suspect many don't = lost positions.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">* VCE IT is on the nose with students as the perception is that it gets marked down for their ENTER score unlike say various Mathematics subjects. Also, it's not a prerequisite for anything at uni unlike Maths or English. So classes get smaller and eventually unviable which is what happened here. Negative feedback spiral some might say.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">* Careers Coordinators are suggesting it as an "easy" topic for students who may struggle in other subjects, thus putting off the more academic students.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">* The subject isn't as sexy or interesting as say Art or Drama or Psych or the Science ones so again it loses out. This one is a little subjective but the nerd^H^H^H^H more science / maths / IT oriented students that may choose IT are more likely to choose Biol or Chem or Maths Methods or Specialist leaving less of a likelihood of choosing IT for the reasons listed above.</div></blockquote><br></div><div>Other reasons for its low numbers may be</div><div>* overlap with Business Management - choose one or the other</div><div>* not seen as interesting as year 11 or even year 10 IT, with strong emphasis on theory (Virtual teams, Project Management, IPC, etc) rather than the development of IT skills (i.e. less hands-on).</div><div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div><div>Graham Gales</div><div>Bright P-12 College</div><div>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - </div><div>ITA, Science and Maths Teacher</div><div>Timetabler/ Daily Organiser</div><div>Gifted & Talented Co-ordinator</div><div>Heir apparent to the Chief Cook and BottleWasher</div><div>Understudy to the general Dogsbody</div><div><br><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div></div><div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div></div><p></p><p><b>Important - </b>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 and Early Childhood Development.</p>
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