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<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2">Hi everyone,</SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2">OK.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So serves me right for not turning my email on today!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2">I think I should clarify my stance (which is of course mine and not VCAAs)!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2">The programming language panel had a discussion about whether VB6.0 would be allowed or not.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For my part – I argued that it was probably time to ‘retire’ VB6.0 as it is getting fairly old now.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I use VB.Net and always the most current version – but don’t teach all of the OOP concepts (although I do demo some of them so that my students can see what OO is).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In reality, the study design just assesses 3GL concepts – but this is not the issue.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In part the languages in the approved list are there to ensure currency.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Now I for one am a believer that it ultimately doesn’t matter what language we use as by the time our students a graduating an IT course – there will be something else out there.... a new version or a new language?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>What we give our students is an understanding of logic and syntax and they can apply this to languages beyond the one they use in SD.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2">So when languages are being considered for the approved languages list – the first question is always – does the language allow all aspects of the course to be taught and assessed?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Some languages do not pass this test.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The ones that are left are then considered – and I think it is wise that the list is not too large.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Consideration is given to current popularity and use.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I do feel that we should at least be making an attempt to teach languages that are currently being used and this is where VB6.0 is/was on the cusp.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Can you teach all aspects of the course with VB6.0?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The answer is definitely yes – but I think that there are OO things in VB6.0 that are not the same as the OO things in VB.Net – and VB6.0 is not a true OO language.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I think that if we were discussing the inclusion of Cobol in the approved languages list, then it would be a non-argument and everyone would agree that it is too old a language to include.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2">I also feel that we should be making every effort to make the course as attractive to students as possible and potential SD students will probably not be excited about VB6.0.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Students have a pretty good idea about what is being in industry and have an expectation that they should be using current tools.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There are also definite advantages in using the most current version of a language as there is more support for it on the www and the Express Edition can be downloaded and used for free.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There are great resources out there to support all of the languages in the list so the transition should not be too difficult.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I for one am very willing to assist anyone who needs help going from VB6.0 to VB.Net. </SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2">Cheers,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2">Adrian<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><A name=_MailAutoSig><B><SPAN style="COLOR: #002060; FONT-SIZE: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Adrian Janson </FONT></SPAN></B></A><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig"><B><SPAN style="COLOR: #002060; FONT-SIZE: 7pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes"><FONT face="Times New Roman">B.Sc, Dip.Ed, M.Ed<BR></FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig"><B><SPAN style="COLOR: #002060; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Director of ICT<BR></FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig"><SPAN style="COLOR: #244061; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes"><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">Melbourne High School, Forrest Hill, South Yarra, Victoria 3141 Australia.<BR>Phone: 03 9826 0711 International: +61 3 9826 0711<BR>Fax: 03 9826 8767 International: +61 3 9826 8767<BR>E-mail: </FONT></SPAN></SPAN><A href="https://www.edumail.vic.gov.au/mail/janson.adrian.a/Drafts/janson.adrian.a@edumail.vic.gov.au"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig"><SPAN style="COLOR: blue; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes">janson.adrian.a@edumail.vic.gov.au</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig"></SPAN></FONT></FONT></A><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig"><SPAN style="COLOR: #244061; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig"><SPAN style="COLOR: #244061; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes"><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">Website: </FONT></SPAN></SPAN><A href="http://www.mhs.vic.edu.au/"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig"><SPAN style="COLOR: blue; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes">http://www.mhs.vic.edu.au</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig"></SPAN></FONT></FONT></A><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig"><SPAN style="COLOR: #244061; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes"><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">Blog: </FONT></SPAN></SPAN><A href="http://jansona.edublogs.org/" target=_blank><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig"><SPAN style="COLOR: blue; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes">http://jansona.edublogs.org</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig"></SPAN></FONT></FONT></A><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig"></SPAN>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P></FONT></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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