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

Tue Aug 18 18:33:15 EST 2009

Love this!

Please keep the conversation going.

We need input from all of you about the course

Robert Hind (Semi-retired)
Ashwood and Traralgon
robert at yinnar.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Margaret Lawson" <margaret.lawson at konstantkaos.net>
To: "Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List" 
<itapps at edulists.com.au>
Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 5:25 PM
Subject: Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] REVIEW OF VCE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, 
SUMMARYOF PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE STUDY DESIGN

>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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>>> Information Technology Teachers
>>> Association Inc
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
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>> Teachers Association Inc
>
>
> -- 
> Margaret Lawson
>
> Konstant Kaos Designs
>
> ABN 50 523 597 927
>
> 26 Nash Street
> Northcote 3070
> Victoria Australia
> M: 0407 896309
> P: 9489 6309
>
> margaret.lawson at konstantkaos.net
>
> _______________________________________________
> http://www.edulists.com.au - FAQ, resources, subscribe, unsubscribe
> IT Applications Mailing List kindly supported by
> http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/infotech/itapplications3-4.html - 
> Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and
> http://www.vitta.org.au  - VITTA Victorian Information Technology Teachers 
> Association Inc
> 