[Year 12 IPM] IT structure in lower sceondary levels

[fiona at balmoralhs.vic.edu.au]

We teach year 7 I.T in the second semester as 2 x 50 min blocks.  I felt that this was ineffective as it meant there was no teaching of how to use our system (saving to the network, printing etc) In addition, there was no guarantee that all the students would have sufficient I.T skills to be able to complete the tasks in other subjects.  Our solution was for me to team with the S.O.S.E teacher and work with him in producing a course that would involve more computing skills.  For this last term we have been working through a multiple intelligence matrix that centred around I.T but I have to be honest we have missed so many classes during the semester for sports, holidays etc that I think we have only got through about 60% of what I was hoping to achieve.  If nothing else between SOSE and their French class (which I also teach) they can use the network, print, insert images, change fonts etc.  

When I broached the subject with my principal last year we discussed the idea of teachers in other subjects teaching I.T.  My response to that was totally honest - they dont have the skills required.  Some do, but not many.  I think if my principal wanted it taught through other departments my first solution would be to carry out a skills survey of the staff to see how many can actually use the software effectively.  In particular I would question them about using software other than microsoft word.

With regards our physical set-up we use the computers in the lab and I go in with the students or we use the pod in one of the other classes.

Hope this helps

Fiona Bain
Balmoral High School
Rob Attrill <attrill.robert.j at edumail.vic.gov.au> on Tue, 07 Jun 2005 10:06:28 +1000 wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> I have been approached by our admin over the issue of how IT is 
> delivered in Year 7 and its impact on student skills and attitudes in 
> subsequent years (all the way up to our Year 12 classes). Our principal 
> is keen on the idea of delivering IT skills from within the other 
> subject areas (ie to be taught by the maths, SOSE, etc. Eng teacher). I 
> guess this model is still called "Computers Across the Curriculum" - CAC 
> for want of another term.
> 
> I know this has been raked over regularly, but if you have the time I 
> would appreciate if you could let me know if you have any personal 
> experience or strong opinions on the matter. I have some specific 
> aspects to consider, one of which is the impact on and experience of the 
> model on senior IT classes.
> 
> I am interested in a wide range of related aspects. What is the most 
> likely physical resourcing model for CAC? (eg IT labs, pods, classroom 
> based pc's etc) What funding and resourcing priority does that require 
> wthin a school? What training and support structure is required? What 
> impact does it have on computer skills and subject choice as students 
> move up through other levels? How reliable a structure is it to nurture 
> these IT skills (or will they tend to wither away)?
> 
> I know of the Northcote SC case, but am more interested in schools using 
> (present or past tense) CAC that have not had the benefit of Navigator 
> funding. I would love to hear from people who have experienced this 
> model for themselves, especially if the model has been introduced and 
> then reexamined, regardless of whether it has continued or not.
> 
> regards
> 
> Rob Attrill
> Mill Park SC
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---
fiona at balmoralhs.vic.edu.au
http://www.balmoralhs.vic.edu.au/