[Design and Technology] Return to school

[Lorraine Tran]

Hi David

You've started a very important discussion here.

A few things I've been thinking about are:
1. What information is the Department of Education, Catholic Education or
Independent Schools (as the employer) supplying teachers?
There doesn't seem to be anything too specific about prac classes in terms
of what the Department has on its website at
https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/Pages/coronavirus-advice-schools.aspx#link59
However, you could send an email with your specific concerns to
health.advice at edumail.vic.gov.au

2. What PPE do you and your students need in additional to what you
normally do? Will this need to be cleaned or disposed of, and will your
employer provide this? We are told that masks do not need to be worn (in
general) but what about the possibility of coming into contact with an
asymptomatic student or a student who sneezes out of the blue?

3. In a work situation, to assess the OHS risk of activities, we need to
assess the LEVEL of risk. On what basis can we do this? We are told that
students are low-risk, but many of our senior students have part-time jobs,
such as at McDonalds. How about the level of risk of transmission of
Covid-19 to teachers, technicians etc?

4. At the VCAA webinar held this week for VCE Product Design and Technology
teachers, we were informed that students are to do the mandated production
work in Units 3 and 4 because it's an important part of the curriculum and
what students enjoy. VCAA explained that they had done extensive
consultation with the 3 sectors (Department of Education, Catholic
Education and Independent schools). So can the VCAA inform us of what that
extensive consultation told them in terms of shared use of tools and
equipment needed for safe delivery of the practical component of the
curriculum they mandate must be delivered to VCE PDT students, beyond
trying to maintain a safe distance, handwashing and personal hygiene (which
are difficult to implement in any class of students anyway)?

5. David - as the OHS rep at your school, are you being provided with
professional learning by your employer in response to the coronavirus
environment and is it specific to the different learning areas within the
school? It's your employer's responsibility to do that.

Just a few thoughts and more questions.

Clearly, David, you have pointed out the lack of information/advice
available to allow you to safely carry out your work and to keep you and
your students safe whilst delivering the curriculum. Let's hope the
information, processes and procedures are forthcoming for the return of
teachers and students to schools.

Let's keep the discussion going.

Stay safe everyone.
Lorraine Tran









On Fri, 15 May 2020, 10:46 pm Foster, David B, <
foster.david.b at edumail.vic.gov.au> wrote:

> Hello everyone,
>
>
> I am just curious to find out what sort of processes have been put in
> place or are going to be put in place for  lessons in your Technology
> rooms. The department has provided money for a cleaner at state schools but
> it is only for the high use areas (well that's what I was told) like door
> handles, toilets and benches.
>
> I am a little concerned that my tools won't be wiped down after a lesson
> or even at the end of the day. I run woodwork, metals and systems by myself
> not to mention VCAL classes. Our students are very active as a rule and I
> want to make sure they are safe and so am I.
>
> I am also the OH&S rep at our school and I have a vested interest in
> making sure everybody is safe. I know there is no golden rule for dealing
> with this situation and solutions might sometimes work and on other
> occasions might not. As a designing community I feel we are in the best
> position to come up with some plans. So I would like to encourage a
> discussion on this matter.
>
>
> Regards, David Foster
> 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 and Training.
> _______________________________________________
> http://www.edulists.com.au - FAQ, resources, subscribe, unsubscribe
> Design and Technology Mailing List kindly supported by
> http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/designtech/destechindex.html  -
> Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and
> DATTA Vic - Design and Technology Teachers' Association of Victoria
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://edulists.com.au/pipermail/destech/attachments/20200516/31b7e5fa/attachment-0001.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Screenshot_20200516-105749_Word.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 424261 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://edulists.com.au/pipermail/destech/attachments/20200516/31b7e5fa/attachment-0001.jpg>