[Year 12 IT Apps] ITA Proposed U3O2 - a bias towards databases?

[Litsa Tzelepis]

Hello. All discussion is very interesting and clearly shows a love for our 
subject.

Today in class I was covering security hardware and went into backup 
mediums. I mentioned burning CD's and DVD's as part of the conversation. One 
of my students asked about Blu-ray and did it mean she couldn't use her 
DVD's for much longer. Anyway, the class got right into the whole discussion 
and I have to say it was refreshing.

Databases and spreadsheets are great and have their place like most things, 
but like many others have mentioned, there is a lot more to our subject. 
Although we are named "IT Applications" is it possible to include current 
advancements in technology? What is wrong with studying a graphics 
manipulation program and properly understanding image size, dpi, etc. - 
these are just random ideas of course.

We shouldn't be spicing up the course for numbers, we should be doing the 
right thing by the students and providing them with a course that teaches 
them a wide range of skills and information, that is interesting and not 
stifling - kids love IT and they will consider studying it; let's try and 
keep it fresh and relelvant.

Litsa xo



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert" <robert at yinnar.com>
To: "Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List" 
<itapps at edulists.com.au>
Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 5:47 PM
Subject: Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] ITA Proposed U3O2 - a bias towards databases?


> Sorry, Robert back again. Can't keep quiet :-)
>
> 1.  Many people use a spreadsheet essentially as a flat file database. If 
> so this is not efficient. Massive data redundancy in a large "database". 
> Nuff said.
>
> 2.  I am also very much into graphics manipulation and web site design. It 
> was good when that was part of the course, and more interesting for the 
> "kids" (Hey I can call them that at my age!)
>
> 3.  So what are we really talking about?
>          Should we be making the course more attractive to the students to 
> keep class numbers up? A student designed course perhaps.
>          How flexible should the course be in terms of software used?
>          ?
>          or should Robert keep quiet!
>
> Robert Hind (Semi-retired)
> Ashwood and Traralgon
> robert at yinnar.com
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Robert" <robert at yinnar.com>
> To: "Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List" 
> <itapps at edulists.com.au>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 4:22 PM
> Subject: Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] ITA Proposed U3O2 - a bias towards 
> databases?
>
>
>> Robert? Me?
>>
>> My last experience of the finance world involved the production of a 
>> database to hold full details of investors through a financial planner, 
>> keep track of investments, allow updates, etc. A database and not a 
>> spreadsheet.
>>
>> Other than that I shall add no more to this great discussion at this 
>> stage. Fantastic to hear all the opinions/ideas.
>>
>> Robert Hind (Semi-retired)
>> Ashwood and Traralgon
>> robert at yinnar.com
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Mark Scott" <msc at luther.vic.edu.au>
>> To: "'Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List'" 
>> <itapps at edulists.com.au>
>> Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 3:47 PM
>> Subject: RE: [Year 12 IT Apps] ITA Proposed U3O2 - a bias towards 
>> databases?
>>
>>
>>>
>>> A very interesting comment from Mark here.
>>>
>>> Can anybody else back this up? Robert?
>>>
>>> There is certainly much more that we could teach our students about 
>>> spreadsheets.
>>>
>>> Most will use a database in the workplaces. Not sure how many will have 
>>> to create one.
>>>
>>> A spreadsheet though?
>>>
>>> Mark Scott
>>> Luther College
>>>
>>> (You reading this Paula?)
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au 
>>> [mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Mark Kelly
>>> Sent: Wednesday, 19 August 2009 3:34 PM
>>> To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List
>>> Subject: [Year 12 IT Apps] ITA Proposed U3O2 - a bias towards databases?
>>>
>>> Snipped...
>>> P.S. I was just talking about the proposed IT design to our VCE 
>>> accounting teacher and she said it was mad to have so much databasing.
>>> Spreadsheet skill, she said, is what the finance world is really keen 
>>> on.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Mark Kelly
>>> Manager - Information Systems
>>>
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>>> Teachers Association Inc
>>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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
>