[Year 12 IT Apps] itapps RIP

Mon Nov 1 13:19:10 EST 2010

Dear Andrew

Like everyone on this list you have a right to express an opinion about
the study design, but I would like to clarify a couple of your comments
in fairness to the panel ('course writers') and the curriculum
development process. Just as an elaboration, the panel comprises
teachers from each sector (all outstanding, and highly regarded
teachers), academics and representatives from subject associations and
industry.

Industry groups were consulted during the development of the study, and
industry groups were also able to engage in the public consultation
process in July/August last year (as were teachers). The panel also drew
on a range of reputable reports, and was informed by research undertaken
by the VCAA. Such reports included 2008 ICT Skills Snapshot; The State
of ICT Skills in Victoria, (Multimedia Victoria) and University IT
graduates for ICT occupations in Victoria 2008 - 2022, prepared for
Multimedia Victoria by Monash University. The VCAA conducted its own
research into why the enrolments in IT applications had declined, and as
a generalisation, the following reasons were provided by schools. 

*          Students believed that they possessed 'enough' ICT skills
without having to do formal study

*          Students had the impression that IT employment prospects were
poor and that IT is no longer 'trendy'

*          Competition between other subjects and university
prerequisites (IT apps not a university pre-req; students think that IT
apps has a heavy workload and are they are concerned about scaling;
there is less pressure and greater flexibility in VET IT; Software
development has better career prospects)

*          Structure of subjects in the middle years - embedding of ICT
leads to the perception that IT cannot be a stand-alone subject.

*          Misconceptions about VCE IT - some students think that the
course will be mainly practical (in particular playing games) and are
put off by the theory

*          Many students don't like databases - more interested in
social software tools than database.

Regarding constraints, the development of the study design commences two
years before its implementation. The design process takes 12 months and
schools are then given a 12 month lead time. The study design also has
an accreditation period for 4 years. All of these constraints are
imposed for the benefit of teachers to give them some level of stability
(4-year accreditation period) as well as an opportunity to become
familiar with the study (workshop, resources, lead-time). When designing
the study design, the impact of these constraints is seriously
considered, and a range of techniques are used to accommodate the
dynamic nature of the ICT field. E.g. annual listing of approved
websites to support online communities. 

And to finish off my 'few words worth', every teacher and organisation
had a 4-week opportunity last year to provide feedback on the study
design - not one response indicated that the study design was outdated
and irrelevant. 

Regards

Paula

Paula Christophersen

ICT Curriculum Manager

VCAA

41 St Andrews Place

EAST MELBOURNE 3002

(03) 9651 4378

-----Original Message-----
From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au
[mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Andrew Kemp
Sent: Monday, 1 November 2010 10:29 AM
To: itapps at edulists.com.au
Subject: Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] itapps RIP

The reason for the death of ITAPPS is because the course writers
couldn't keep up to date with the emerging technology and school budgets
were ill-equipped to provide the hardware required to successfully teach
the technology. The course ended up being stuck in no-man's land, with
spreadsheets and databases considered irrelevant by the kids, or better
suited to business management. There was not enough consultation done
with business/industry groups to look exactly at what IT skills need to
be explicitly taught. 

I quite enjoyed teaching the old IPM course, but the ITA course did
nothing for me or the students and the revised study design will
terminate it.

regards

Andy Kemp

Message: 3

Date: Sun, 31 Oct 2010 22:40:42 +0000

From: Kent Beveridge <kbeveridge at stbc.vic.edu.au>

Subject: [Year 12 IT Apps] ITApps RIP. Kent.

To: "Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List"

        <itapps at edulists.com.au>

Message-ID:

<64FBC7D59E9D6B4DA547B82B7F07665C229C6A9D at garlic.stbc.vic.edu.au>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Alas...ITApps is no longer at my school for 2011. (replaced by the Cert
3.)

Looking to intro SD in 2012. (may use PHP, Python or maybe VB as the
languages. Also looking at the ADOBE collection for suitable programs to
develop an 'App' as I have noted it is possible with this software. One
of my brighter y9'ers is already experimenting with this tool too as we
are collaborating on this one). Might also purchase one of the texts
around and try the work. ).

Have already joined AJ's web site for ideas and possible teaching tools.
Anyone else willing to share info and course development/teaching
materials during next year so I can get myself up to speed, would be
greatly appreciated.

Also considering introducing building some 'apps' for my year 9 and 10
classes as a new incentive to build/rebuild interest in middle level
computing here(not just around the games theme as I already do that for
term 1). Again, any help or suggestions welcomed folks..

Rather than let I.T. die a slow death here..I am proactive in trying to
keep its content dynamic AND actively encourage the female gender to
continue with computing beyond the junior years..

The biggest challenge I find is that the kids grow up with tech toys and
computers...

Perhaps I will put my hand up to be an Assessor next year for Apps as am
not teaching it in 2011.

KB.

Kent Beveridge

ICT Co-ordinator, St.Brigids CSC, HORSHAM,Vic,Aus.

________________________________

From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au [itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au] on
behalf of Mark KELLY [kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au]

Sent: Sunday, 31 October 2010 12:33 PM

To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List

Subject: [Year 12 IT Apps] Abracadabra! The magical disappearing task.

Hi all.  One of the stated improvements of the new ITA U4O1 next year is
that it only has 2 tasks instead of 3.

It's seems magical - but it's only sleight of hand.

This year there are 3 tasks:

1. software solution (35 marks)

2. user documentation (15)

3. visualising of thinking. (10)

Next year there are 2 tasks:

1. software solution INCLUDING USER DOCUMENTATION (50 marks - Hey
presto: 35 plus 15!)

2. Evaluation (10)

Still 3 tasks. Same amount of work.  It's just the packaging has
changed, and VCAA has added "NEW! IMPROVED!" to the package.

I'm annoyed that it's taken me so long to see that the rabbit was in the
hat the whole time...  :-[

--

Mark Kelly

Manager Information Systems

Reporting Manager

IT Learning Area Manager

McKinnon Secondary College

McKinnon Rd McKinnon 3204

Victoria, Australia

Direct line / Voicemail: +613 8520 9085

Fax +613 9578 9253

kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au<mailto:kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au>

VCE IT Lecture Notes: http://vceit.com

Moderator: IT Applications Edulist

For no reason, my friend became a square, flat surface with four legs. I
rushed him to hospital. His condition is table.

Click here<https://www.mailcontrol.com/sr/wQw0zmjPoHdJTZGyOCrrhg==> to
report this email as spam.

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Message: 4

Date: Mon, 1 Nov 2010 10:01:03 +1100

From: Roland Gesthuizen <rgesthuizen at gmail.com>

Subject: Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] ITApps RIP. Kent.

To: "Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List"

        <itapps at edulists.com.au>

Message-ID:

        <AANLkTi=-26SdATnejU9grs3qbZwU=pQUnr-PzosxEUGy at mail.gmail.com>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I am changing schools and oddly, I have just been told that nobody wants
to

now do IT at year 11. Not sure if this is related to my departure, had
some

doubts about the long term viability of ITA here so have switched the

remaining small 2011 year 12 group to SD. I hope the new teacher can do
it

justice. Declining enrollments of VCE international students and a
decline

in support for middle school technology classes are probably partly to

blame.

Regards Roland

On Mon, Nov 1, 2010 at 9:40 AM, Kent Beveridge

<kbeveridge at stbc.vic.edu.au>wrote:

>  Alas...ITApps is no longer at my school for 2011. (replaced by the
Cert

> 3.)

> 

> Looking to intro SD in 2012. (may use PHP, Python or maybe VB as the

> languages. Also looking at the ADOBE collection for suitable programs
to

> develop an 'App' as I have noted it is possible with this software.
One of

> my brighter y9'ers is already experimenting with this tool too as we
are

> collaborating on this one). Might also purchase one of the texts
around and

> try the work. ).

> 

> Have already joined AJ's web site for ideas and possible teaching
tools.

> Anyone else willing to share info and course development/teaching
materials

> during next year so I can get myself up to speed, would be greatly

> appreciated.

> 

> Also considering introducing building some 'apps' for my year 9 and 10

> classes as a new incentive to build/rebuild interest in middle level

> computing here(not just around the games theme as I already do that
for term

> 1). Again, any help or suggestions welcomed folks..

> 

> Rather than let I.T. die a slow death here..I am proactive in trying
to

> keep its content dynamic AND actively encourage the female gender to

> continue with computing beyond the junior years..

> 

> The biggest challenge I find is that the kids grow up with tech toys
and

> computers...

> 

> Perhaps I will put my hand up to be an Assessor next year for Apps as
am

> not teaching it in 2011.

> 

> KB.

> 

>  Kent Beveridge

> ICT Co-ordinator, St.Brigids CSC, HORSHAM,Vic,Aus.

>   ------------------------------

> *From:* itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au
[itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au] on

> behalf of Mark KELLY [kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au]

> *Sent:* Sunday, 31 October 2010 12:33 PM

> *To:* Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List

> *Subject:* [Year 12 IT Apps] Abracadabra! The magical disappearing
task.

> 

>  Hi all.  One of the stated improvements of the new ITA U4O1 next year
is

> that it only has 2 tasks instead of 3.

> 

> It's seems magical - but it's only sleight of hand.

> 

> This year there are 3 tasks:

> 

> 1. software solution (35 marks)

> 2. user documentation (15)

> 3. visualising of thinking. (10)

> 

> Next year there are 2 tasks:

> 

> 1. software solution INCLUDING USER DOCUMENTATION (50 marks - Hey
presto:

> 35 plus 15!)

> 2. Evaluation (10)

> 

> Still 3 tasks. Same amount of work.  It's just the packaging has
changed,

> and VCAA has added "NEW! IMPROVED!" to the package.

> 

> I'm annoyed that it's taken me so long to see that the rabbit was in
the

> hat the whole time...  :-[

> 

> --

> Mark Kelly

> Manager Information Systems

> Reporting Manager

> IT Learning Area Manager

> 

> McKinnon Secondary College

> McKinnon Rd McKinnon 3204

> Victoria, Australia

> Direct line / Voicemail: +613 8520 9085

> Fax +613 9578 9253

> kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au

> 

> VCE IT Lecture Notes: http://vceit.com

> Moderator: IT Applications Edulist

> 

> For no reason, my friend became a square, flat surface with four legs.
I

> rushed him to hospital. His condition is table.

> 

> 

> 

>  Click here <https://www.mailcontrol.com/sr/wQw0zmjPoHdJTZGyOCrrhg==>
to

> report this email as spam.

> 

> 

> This message has been scanned for malware by Websense.
www.websense.com

> 

> _______________________________________________

> 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

> 

--

Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College

http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can
change

the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead

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