I see your point, Paula, but the main distinction between the old and new tasks (in terms of workload) seems to be the removal of the annotations, which was never onerous anyway. Still, it's a step in the right direction.<br>
<br>I do appreciate the moves towards developing depth of knowledge rather than skating over the surface to get everything out of the way in time (as we do now.) Removing project management was sensible; while it was (dare I say it?) <i>fun</i>, it wasn't our <b>core</b> business. (My kids always perked up when we had PERT problems. Dunno why...)<br>
<br>The focus on depth is long overdue, and a satisfying return to the days of CATs when true depth was attainable.<br><br>The choice of spreadsheets/databases is also warmly welcomed. The chance to exercise some choice never goes astray.<br>
<br>---<br><br>Eight days left until the exam! I really, <b>really</b> hope it's the best one ever. Please Santa. That's <i>all</i> I want this year.<br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On 1 November 2010 15:07, Christophersen, Paula P <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:christophersen.paula.p@edumail.vic.gov.au">christophersen.paula.p@edumail.vic.gov.au</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">
<div link="blue" vlink="purple" lang="EN-AU">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri;">Hi Mark </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri;">I would like to clarify some points regarding workload for
U4O1. In essence the current outcome requires students to:</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><font face="Symbol" size="1"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></font></span></span></font><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri;">Create a solution, including an
evaluation of the solution (annotations)</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><font face="Symbol" size="1"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></font></span></span></font><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri;">Prepare user documentation</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><font face="Symbol" size="1"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></font></span></span></font><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri;">Prepare a visual representation of
decisions/actions.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri;">This is demonstrated through three tasks.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri;">In essence the 2011 outcome requires students to:</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><font face="Symbol" size="1"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></font></span></span></font><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri;">Create a solution, including user
documentation </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><font face="Symbol" size="1"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></font></span></span></font><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri;">Evaluate the solution (report or
annotations).</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri;">This is demonstrated through two tasks. By all accounts
this is a reduction in workload.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri;">Also, if selected by the teacher, students do not have to
acquire knowledge and skills related to a new software tool (spreadsheets). The
choice is either to extend knowledge and skills of an RDBMS or take up
spreadsheets.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri;">It was never ‘sleight of hand’ –
this is a genuine effort to focus on depth rather than breadth, and
reduce workload.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri;">Regards</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri;">Paula</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Paula Christophersen</span></font><font color="navy"><span style="color: navy;"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">ICT Curriculum Manager</span></font><font color="navy"><span style="color: navy;"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">VCAA</span></font><font color="navy"><span style="color: navy;"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">41 St Andrews Place</span></font><font color="navy"><span style="color: navy;"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">EAST MELBOURNE</span></font><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> 3002</span></font><font color="navy"><span style="color: navy;"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">(03) 9651 4378</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;" lang="EN-US">
<hr size="2" align="center" width="100%">
</span></font></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-US">From:</span></font></b><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="EN-US">
<a href="mailto:itapps-bounces@edulists.com.au" target="_blank">itapps-bounces@edulists.com.au</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:itapps-bounces@edulists.com.au" target="_blank">itapps-bounces@edulists.com.au</a>] <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">On Behalf Of </span></b>Mann, Warrick D<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Monday, 1 November 2010 9:19
AM<div class="im"><br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> Year
12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List<br>
</div><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> Re: [Year 12 IT Apps]
Abracadabra! The magical disappearing task.</span></font><span lang="EN-US"></span></p>
</div><div><div></div><div class="h5">
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="#1f497d" face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Hi Mark I agree,</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="#1f497d" face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="#1f497d" face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">But at least
Students only have 2 tasks to get an “S” in, instead of three.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="#1f497d" face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="#1f497d" face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">But, yes, same sh*t
different day.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="#1f497d" face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="#1f497d" face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Cheers</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="#1f497d" face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Warrick</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="#1f497d" face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-US">From:</span></font></b><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="EN-US">
<a href="mailto:itapps-bounces@edulists.com.au" target="_blank">itapps-bounces@edulists.com.au</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:itapps-bounces@edulists.com.au" target="_blank">itapps-bounces@edulists.com.au</a>] <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">On Behalf Of </span></b>Mark KELLY<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Sunday, 31 October 2010
12:33 PM<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> Year
12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> [Year 12 IT Apps]
Abracadabra! The magical disappearing task.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hi all. One of the
stated improvements of the new ITA U4O1 next year is that it only has 2 tasks
instead of 3.<br>
<br>
It's seems magical - but it's only sleight of hand.<br>
<br>
This year there are 3 tasks:<br>
<br>
1. software solution (35 marks)<br>
2. user documentation (15)<br>
3. visualising of thinking. (10)<br>
<br>
Next year there are 2 tasks:<br>
<br>
1. software solution INCLUDING USER DOCUMENTATION (50 marks - Hey presto: 35
plus 15!)<br>
2. Evaluation (10)<br>
<br>
Still 3 tasks. Same amount of work. It's just the packaging has changed,
and VCAA has added "NEW! IMPROVED!" to the package.<br>
<br>
I'm annoyed that it's taken me so long to see that the rabbit was in the hat
the whole time... :-[<br>
<br>
-- <br>
Mark Kelly<br>
Manager Information Systems<br>
Reporting Manager<br>
IT Learning Area Manager<br>
<br>
McKinnon Secondary College<br>
McKinnon Rd
McKinnon 3204<br>
Victoria, Australia<br>
Direct line / Voicemail: +613 8520 9085<br>
Fax +613 9578 9253<br>
<a href="mailto:kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au" target="_blank">kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au</a><br>
<br>
VCE IT Lecture Notes: <a href="http://vceit.com" target="_blank">http://vceit.com</a><br>
Moderator: IT Applications Edulist<br>
<br>
For no reason, my friend became a square, flat surface with four legs. I rushed
him to hospital. His condition is table.</span></font></p>
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Reporting Manager<br>IT Learning Area Manager<br><br>McKinnon Secondary College<br>McKinnon Rd McKinnon 3204<br>Victoria, Australia<br>Direct line / Voicemail: +613 8520 9085<br>Fax +613 9578 9253<br><a href="mailto:kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au" target="_blank">kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au</a><br>
<br>VCE IT Lecture Notes: <a href="http://vceit.com" target="_blank">http://vceit.com</a><br>Moderator: IT Applications Edulist<br><br>For no reason, my friend became a square, flat surface with four legs. I rushed him to hospital. His condition is table.<br>
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