[Year 12 SofDev] A comment about Re: SD key knowledge

[Andrew Shortell]

Dear all

My intention was not to impugn the ability and knowledge nor to ³target² the
panel. I regret that my communication was not as clear as I thought I had
made it.

My intention was to note that the study design panel members will have a
clear understanding of everything in the study. Thus we should get the word
from them.

I have been very much aware of the comments made about the exam in this
subject at times and believe that the exam setting panel has been unfairly
treated on their interpretation of the study design.

Teaching year 12 students is a very serious matter when , as a teacher, I
want my students to do as well as is possible ­ certainly to achieve their
³personal Bests².

As a consequence I abhor this concept of guessing what is meant and perhaps
guessing wrong. I feel that guessing is not doing justice to the trust
placed in me by the students and their parents to deliver the best
opportunity for them to be successful. Students are under enough pressure
already without the teachers upon whom they rely making guesses about
content.

When I was Panel chairperson back in the early 90¹s I was amazed at the
efforts made by teachers. When I marked CATs at VCAA through the 90¹s I saw
a lot of variation. When I write exams ( as I have for Monash and RMIT and
others) I always ensure that I am understand what is meant by the base
material. I mark the exams I set so I can see where I might have failed to
give the students their real opportunity.
When I was on the study design panel that produced the 99/2000 study I asked
many questions, clarifying the things about which I was unsure of the
meaning in the study. When it was implemented I was able to say that I
understood what was meant by it.

I came to teaching after some years in other careers. It was a choice, not
an accident. I have stayed as a teacher by choice. I believe that we should
not guess at content. We should not guess at process. We should learn,
communicate, understand, evaluate and eventually reach wisdom. Without self
reflection, self evaluation and honesty how can we move forward in our lives
and help those whom we seek to lead into knowledge?

The above should, I hope, communicate to you that my intention is not to
target anyone but to say that if we do not know then ask those on whose work
we rely. If any other concept was communicated to you by my previous email
then I regret that my communication was not as clear as I thought I had made
it.

Any further comments on this matter should really be made off list,
personally, to me, by phone email or fax (as some have already done). There
are those on this list aware that most of my communication is off list and
it will remain so.

Andrew
(still passionate about creating authentic learning experiences that enable
students to achieve knowledge and understanding, to learn how to learn, to
become lifelong learners, to love learning and the opportunities and
excitement that can open up, to advance themselves and to enable students to
develop passion about what they do. -- vision of old man climbing down off
small soapbox and staggering off to say goodnight to his child. )

-- 
Andrew Shortell

mailto:shortell at get2me.net
Heidelberg Teaching Unit
Ph 9470 3403
Fax  9470 3215

c/o Reservoir High School
855 Plenty Rd
Reservoir 3073



On 10/03/11 4:55 PM, "Christophersen, Paula P"
<christophersen.paula.p at edumail.vic.gov.au> wrote:

> Dear Andrew
>  
> I would like to express my disappointment at the tone and nature of your
> comments regarding the expertise and the responsibilities of the study design
> review panel. 
>  
> Everyone has a right to express their views in a fair and reasonable way, and
> to me in this instance you have the right to let the VCAA know of your
> concerns, but I believe that it is unfair and unprofessional to target the
> individuals comprising the review panel.
>  
> I will respond to your study design query tomorrow.
>  
> Regards
> Paula
>  
>  
> 
> Paula Christophersen
> ICT Curriculum Manager
> VCAA
> 41 St Andrews Place
> EAST MELBOURNE 3002
> (03) 9651 4378
> 
> 
> From: sofdev-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:sofdev-bounces at edulists.com.au]
> On Behalf Of Andrew Shortell
> Sent: Wednesday, 9 March 2011 8:18 PM
> To: Year 12 Software Development Teachers' Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Year 12 SofDev] SD key knowledge
>  
> Hi Mark
> 
> [nice ppt btw]
> 
> Each and EVERY member of the study design panel should be able to clearly and
> unequivocally, definitively  answer your question because they put it in the
> study design. It did not get there by accident. All members of the panel are
> responsible for the document...
> Members of the panel discuss (and read) the document and have the opportunity
> to clarify anything that they do not understand.
> Just occasionally something gets missed ... That is why we have errata and
> corrections published (and I know all about those!)
> 
> If it is not an errata the there must be a definitive answer so let¹s just ask
> the panel to provide it rather than us guessing, perhaps not getting it in the
> way that the panel intended  and absolutely missing what the exam setting
> panel might think. We do NOT want the exam setting panel to receive a torrent
> of unwarranted adverse comments.
> 
> As mature sensible professionals we should all be working towards a common set
> of understandings that are generously shared (as per this list).
> 
> 
> [btw ­ at least a dead dog does not fight you when you stick the cotton bud in
> to its ears! Try doing an alive Alaskan malamute! ]
> 
> 
> Andrew
> 

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