[Year 12 IT Apps] REVIEW OF VCE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE STUDY DESIGN

[Margaret Lawson]

I think that the biggest problem with studying databases is that the 
kids do not have time to get engrossed in the wonder of data 
manipulation. Often we hurry through the unit skipping over the fact 
that databases are sexy! They run the world and knowing how to 
manipulate that data is powerful.

Perhaps the fascination with databases, or lack of, starts much earlier 
.... As for the creative side ... you can still have databases with 
images and linked to avi files, problem solving with databases is a very 
creative process.

What I would love to see is the VCAA supply schools with some "test 
databases" with dummy data. Not 10-15 records worth, but 200-400 records 
worth. So that the kids get a real sense of the power of databases. I 
often find that they HATE to create test data for their databases, but 
if I give them one with some meaty data, all of a sudden they can see 
why databases are sexy!

2 cents

Margaret

Bane, Janet A wrote:
> Robert, with all due respect, I think you're missing the point.  Our ITA numbers are decreasing.  Whenever I start to go on about databases or spreadsheets, their eyes start to glaze over.  Students start to nod off.  The occasional one has even fallen off their chair in a deep deep slumber.  They look at me pityingly when I say "its part of the study design, and we have to do it".  Their response is its BORING!
>
> So how will doing two database SACS, (worthy though they might be) help us to attract numbers to our study?  One database SAC is enough (if it has to stay at all). Lets offer a course that is a bit more interesting for the kids (and one which they will hopefully enjoy and be attracted to because its FUN).
>
> I think the way to go is to include a task that will appeal more to their creative side  - eg.a multimedia task (eg. using powerpoint, photo story, movie maker, flash, kahootz, scratch  etc.) where they have to manipulate picture and sound files (which IMHO have been sadly neglected and the kids love playing with) to produce a product suitable for an audience.  It can still be rigorous in terms of designing, producing (& testing) and evaluating as well as following our  beloved "problem solving methodology".
>
> What do others think???
>
> regards
>
>
> Janet Bane
> Patterson River SC
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au on behalf of Robert
> Sent: Tue 18-Aug-09 3:29 PM
> To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] REVIEW OF VCE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY,SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE STUDY DESIGN
>
>
>
> Oh dear!
>
> I happen to like databases. They are used considerably in the "real world".
> Sure they are not the only IT app, but should we "tart" the course up to
> attract the less interested students, or should we have a course that does
> mirror the real world of IT?
>
> Robert Hind (Semi-retired)
> Ashwood and Traralgon
> robert at yinnar.com
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mark Kelly" <kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au>
> To: "Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List"
> <itapps at edulists.com.au>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 3:18 PM
> Subject: [Year 12 IT Apps] REVIEW OF VCE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, SUMMARY OF
> PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE STUDY DESIGN
>
>
>   
>> http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/vceconsult/itsumofchanges.doc
>>
>> *TWO* ITA outcomes using databases?  O! no no no...
>>
>> ITA enrolments have been bad enough recently.
>>
>> This will surely kill them stone dead.
>>
>> --
>> Mark Kelly
>> Manager - Information Systems
>> McKinnon Secondary College
>> kel AT mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
>> McKinnon Rd, McKinnon 3204, Victoria, Australia
>> Direct line / Voicemail: 8520 9085 Fax +613 9578 9253
>>
>> Webmaster - http://www.mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au <http://www.mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au/>
>> IT Lecture notes: http://vceit.com <http://vceit.com/>
>> Moderator: IT Applications Mailing List
>>
>> Why do people mis-spell 'grammar' and mispronounce 'pronuniciation'?
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>>
>>     
>
>
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-- 
Margaret Lawson

Konstant Kaos Designs

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