VELS Bingo Russell! If you add other activities around the programming activitity, you can create a string of very rich Info Tech lessons, chockablock full of suitable assessment points and activities that nicely fit into the VELS ICT domain.
<br><br>Last year when I ran our programming lesson with GameMaker, students sketched out and scanned their plans, blogged about their learning experiences, reflected on their problems with some discussion forms, added to a collaborative wiki then we finished creating some movies with voice overs that demonstrated their final games, all inside the authenticated environment of Moodle. You can see some samples of this work on the VCAA website.
<br><br>No, I didnt have all the programming answers to their problems but it was fun to work out how to solve these together. Once we got past the initial stepwise tutorial and learned how to use
the software, the rest of the activity scaffolding that I set in place
supported a constructivist and collaborative model for learning with
increasing emphasis on self direction and learning.<br><br>Whilst I have an eye on some of the exciting stuff that is happening with VPython etc, for now I am happy to run along with the mix of GameMaker and Moodle.<br><br>
Regards Roland<br><br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 26/03/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">Russell Edwards</b> <<a href="mailto:edwards.russell.t@edumail.vic.gov.au">edwards.russell.t@edumail.vic.gov.au</a>> wrote:
</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><br>A quick question for the gamemaker enthusiasts.<br><br>Have you had any issues from parents or staff regarding putting
<br>gamemaker in your elective IT subjects?<br><br>I am thinking of giving it to my 9/10 "Advanced Computer Skills"<br>elective class, however I have already stretched that subject, being<br>originally advertised in the course handbook as "Advanced Word
<br>Processing" (boooring!). So far I have given them blogs and XHTML/CSS up<br>to a fairly advanced level. For next term I was thinking of going for<br>gamemaker but I would worry that some people would rather that the kids
<br>were learning more directly tangible practical skills, i.e. advanced<br>topics in Word/Excel/Publisher/PowerPoint/Access etc.<br><br>What would you do in this situation? Just do it? Or have the Course<br>Handbook for changed to advertise it first (
i.e. wait for next year)?<br><br>Russell<br><br><br>Important - 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.
<br>_______________________________________________<br><a href="http://www.edulists.com.au">http://www.edulists.com.au</a> - FAQ, resources, subscribe, unsubscribe<br>Year 7 - 10 IT Mailing List kindly supported by<br><a href="http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au">
http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au</a> - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and<br><a href="http://www.vitta.org.au">http://www.vitta.org.au</a> - VITTA Victorian Information Technology Teachers Association Inc<br></blockquote>
</div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College<br><a href="http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au">http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au</a><br><br>"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead