<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN">
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META NAME="Generator" CONTENT="MS Exchange Server version 5.5.2653.12">
<TITLE>Applications invited for Microsoft Australia and Victorian Government Excellence in Software Innovation Award</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><A NAME="_MailData"></A></P>
<P ALIGN=CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#000099" SIZE=4 FACE="Arial">Applications invited for</FONT></B><B></B><B> <FONT COLOR="#000099" SIZE=4 FACE="Arial">Microsoft Australia and Victorian Government Excellence in Software Innovation Award</FONT></B><B></B><B></B></P>
<BR>
<BR>
<P ALIGN=CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#0066CC" FACE="Arial">Summary</FONT></B></P>
<P ALIGN=CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">The</FONT></B><B></B><B> <FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">Microsoft Australia and Victorian Government Excellence in Software Innovation Award</FONT></B><B></B><B><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial"> will provide recognition for students who have developed innovative software using Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Professional. The student and school will share in the $15,000 award. Students must be enrolled in a secondary school.</FONT></B><B></B><B><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial"></FONT></B><B></B><B> <FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">The closing date for applications is Friday, 19 September.</FONT></B></P>
<BR>
<BR>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The</FONT> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Microsoft Australia and Victorian Government Excellence in Software Innovation Award</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> will provide recognition for students who have developed innovative software using Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Professional. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Department of Education and Training (DE&T) has a strong commitment to information and communications technologies (ICT) and innovation in Victorian schools. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">For the second year, DE&T, in conjunction with the Department of Infrastructure and Microsoft Australia, is offering a $15,000 award for excellence in software innovation.</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The successful student will receive $5,000 in cash and $2,500 worth of Microsoft software. The successful school will receive $5,000 in cash and $2,500 worth of Microsoft software. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The $5,000 cash grant to schools must be used</FONT> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">to purchase information technology</FONT> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">and support information technology related activities in the school.</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><B><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Student software applications must be developed using Microsoft</FONT></B><B> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Visual Studio .NET Professional.</FONT></B><B></B></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Both the successful student and the school that the student attends will be expected to</FONT> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">participate in appropriate public relations opportunities with Microsoft Australia and the Victorian Government.</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Student software applications can either be those developed in the course of completing school curriculum or out of personal interest.</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Student applicants must be enrolled in a secondary school, but there is no age restriction on student applicants.</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><B><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">To apply, students must:</FONT></B></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Wingdings">§<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">ensure that the principal completes the school application form (see the Internet address below)</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Wingdings">§<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">be enrolled in a secondary school</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Wingdings">§<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">complete the student application form (see the Internet address below)</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Wingdings">§<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT><B> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">provide a fully functioning software application created with</FONT></B><B> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Professional</FONT></B></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Wingdings">§<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">provide minimal user documentation for the software application</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Wingdings">§<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">provide a software demonstration or walkthrough that demonstrates the key features of the program. The most appropriate form for this is a PowerPoint presentation with up to ten slides.</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The student and school application forms are available on SOFWeb at:</FONT> <A HREF="http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/itcareer/"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/itcareer/</FONT></U></A><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">under Student ICT Projects.</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><B><FONT COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial">Selection criteria</FONT></B></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The selection process will involve a panel of representatives from the Department and its ICT project partners. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The software application developed by the successful student applicant will be assessed according to the following criteria:</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Wingdings">§<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">be developed using Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Professional</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Wingdings">§<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">demonstrate innovation by contributing to a software development environment that aims to make information available any time, any place, on any device</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Wingdings">§<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">use appropriate software development techniques such as internal documentation, formatting conventions, minimal user documentation and a software demonstration or walkthrough of key features</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Wingdings">§<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">be the intellectual property of the student.</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Appropriate types of student applications would include:</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Wingdings">§<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">communications utility</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Wingdings">§<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">database interface </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Wingdings">§<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">knowledge management</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Wingdings">§<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">file transfer and management.</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Successful school applicants will be required to</FONT> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">submit a proposal explaining how the $5,000 and software will be used to develop IT and software skills in the school.</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Appropriate content for the school proposal in terms of developing IT and software skills would include:</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Wingdings">§<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">providing professional development for teachers</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Wingdings">§<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">purchasing training texts, videos or software</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Wingdings">§<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">developing programming courses to be offered in the school.</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><B><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">A maximum of two applications will be permitted per school</FONT></B><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">. Your school may nominate up to two applicants for consideration by the selection panel. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">No correspondence shall be conducted by the nominating schools/students with the Department after applications close.</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><B><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Three copies of the student and school applications should be faxed or mailed to (</FONT></B><B><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">please do not submit bound applications</FONT></B><B><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">): </FONT></B></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Microsoft Australia and Victorian Government Excellence in Software Innovation Award</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">C/-</FONT> <FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Anne-Marie Chase</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Learning and Teaching Division</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Department of Education and Training</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">GPO Box 4367</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Melbourne 3001</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Fax: 9637 2880</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The software applications and software demonstration or walkthrough should be emailed as attachments to</FONT> <A HREF="mailto:ict.skills@edumail.vic.gov.au"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">ict.skills@edumail.vic.gov.au</FONT></U></A><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> ensuring that the subject line is '2003</FONT> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Excellence in Software Innovation Award' and the student and school are identified in the body of the message.</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><B><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The closing date for applications is the close of business on Friday, 19 September 2003.</FONT></B></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Further information may be obtained from</FONT> <FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Anne-Marie Chase</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> on telephone 9637 2854.</FONT></P>
<BR>
<P ALIGN=LEFT></P>
<BR>
<BR>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">*******************************************************************************</FONT>
<BR><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Important</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> - 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.</FONT></P>
</BODY>
</HTML>