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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">The Examiners report will be an interesting read Adrian.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">When it comes out?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Frank Russo, ICT Teacher
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<img width="199" height="180" style="width:2.0729in;height:1.875in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D5D79D.6A940320" alt="McKinnonLogo_300dpi_TEXTBelow"> <br>
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<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> sofdev <sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Adrian Janson<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, 29 January 2020 5:05 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Edulists - Year 12 Software Development <sofdev@edulists.com.au><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Year 12 SofDev] An open letter re: the Software Development exam<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Coming into a new study design and seeing the call for exam writers, it would be the perfect time to reflect on this study as a whole.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Last year, I had a strong Software Development class. Having taught Software Development since its inception (and no – don’t ask me how long it has been), I feel I have a pretty
good handle on class ability. I’ve certainly had stronger classes, but I don’t think I have had a class of such even ability across the board. My best student had potential to get a 50 (as indeed probably the top 3 did) and my bottom student had strong 40
potential. Obviously this wasn’t my expectation, but it’s a useful measuring stick.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">I’m not talking up my own ability, but I was very pleased with the year. We covered off everything in good order and (at times) in depth. Our exam preparation consisted of
over 20 exam papers – and many I marked and gave personal feedback on. Like we all do – I left nothing on the table. And then came the exam….</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">As I said to my class in the revision sessions I ran, an easy exam would not be their friend. Sadly this was the case. My class went into the exam and I did the exam in time
for them to come out. They were over the moon excited as they all felt they had aced it. I knew the reality – and that was that the exam was way too easy and that it would ultimately penalise those students across the state who had put the work in and reward
those who had barely done anything.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">I’ve always been an advocate for this subject – it’s my favourite subject to teach and the one that I find the most engaging. The SAT is terrific!! But an exam of this poor
quality does nothing to raise the status of this subject. Actually – I think it actively damages it.
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">My students spent a large amount of time on code / algorithms. This was not out of proportion either – the AOS are filled with algorithms and coding content. That is the emphasis
of the subject and the argument that some used to remove elements. Networking was removed – “it’s not software development”. The OSI model was removed – “it’s not software development”. Well that is fine – if the emphasis is on software development, the exam
needs to reflect this. Rigour in the exam rewards those students that have a deep understanding of the study. The exam had barely any algorithm questions and those that were included were (seriously) of the standard that I would be teaching in Year 7 DigiTech.
An exam such as this does damage in that future students don’t see the value in doing the subject. We are already fighting scaling – and we all know that parents and students ask us about this (it is often their first question).</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">The new Software Development study design looks good. There are things that we would all change, but it will continue to be an enjoyable subject to teach. But we must have
an exam that is challenging and rigorous – otherwise, why have an exam at all? </span>
<span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">I know others feel this way. Listen – as a teacher, you just want your students to have a fair shot and be rewarded for their efforts. The 2019 exam didn’t do this.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Kind regards,</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Adrian </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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