[Year 12 Its] VELS and IT

[Robert Timmer-Arends]

Hello Frank

While I too lament the loss of teaching 'real stuff' about computers, I think the answer to your questions is "when was the last time you taught someone how a pencil works, or a calculator, or a car?"  When viewed as a tool for use across a variety of situations - and IT is - then how it works isn't considered important. What is important is "can I use the tool well?"

I don't have a problem with the use of ICT being seen as interdisciplinary, but I think the effective loss of technology as a whole in the curriculum is a problem.

Regards
Robert T-A
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Frank Merlino 
  To: yr7-10it at edulists.com.au 
  Cc: is at edulists.com.au 
  Sent: Friday, June 02, 2006 5:46 PM
  Subject: [Year 12 Its] VELS and IT


  Dear Colleagues,
  Maybe someone can share their knowledge about this one with me....

  In the design of VELS, where did the "planners" think such areas as computer programming, robotics, learning about how computer systems work, etc were going to fit? One would imagine that in this day and age, it would be considered essential learning to know something about how hardware works, how programs work, how robotics is implemented and its basics, etc. Do the "planners" in their wildest dreams think these topics will be covered well in the "disciplines"? What's your opinion?

  Regards,


Frank Merlino
Technology (IT and Systems) Co-ordinator
Web Site Manager
St. Joseph's College
135 Aphrasia St, Newtown
Geelong, Victoria, Australia, 3219
Phone: 03 52 268100 
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