[Year 12 Its] IT in VELS

[Frank Merlino]

Dear IS Colleagues,
I am aware that ICT is to be integrated into all KLAs as part of VELS. I know IT is no longer strictly a KLA. The situation still remains, who is going to teach the basic skills of ICT? The usual answers are that these will be covered in various KLA units, teachers will implement programmes designed to teach the basic ICT skills etc..etc. May I suggest that this is a recipe for disaster? Ideally,the notion that ICT skills are introduced as require into units of study is great...ideally!! Experience shows that all sorts of excuses emerge from many teachers when it comes to teaching basic IT skills....couldn't book a computer room...we ran out of time...... I am not suggesting that teachers are not well intentioned, but for many the teaching of basic ICT skills is something out of their comfort zone.
 
We (as a technology faculty) still exist at the school I work in. I have managed to maintain several IT units in our vertical years 8-10 curriculum. We have set up a "foundation" unit that will be compulory for all students (it is a level 5 CSF unit). We will teach what we consider as basic knowledge and skills, eg. basics of hardware, word-processing, spreadsheets, etc, digital property rights etc. Our view is that at least teachers in "other" KLAs will not have to teach the basic skills but rather apply the basic skills and if necessary introduce extension ICT skills as required. The foundation unit will be taught by IT staff in a consistent manner, using IT formats and conventions. It was amazing to see the objections some KLAs had to this idea...all of a sudden their staff were going to become teachers of basic ICT skills, as long as the IT people told them what these skills were....a bit of PD here and there and hey, what's the problem?!!!"
 
For the present, we have managed to survive in this VELS environment, but for how long? We need to develop IT units that interest students. Our foundation unit has to be "spot on" in terms of the basic skills it teaches.
 
I am interested in what is happening in this area in your schools...or, as it is put in Parliament, "is the minister aware of an alternative policies?"
 
...Be passionate about IT.......
 
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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