[Year 12 SofDev] No ITA at McKinnon in 2012

[Matheson, Heath A]

As a small school (16 year 12's this year) with a really strong focus on VCE breadth there were a few options I looked at
In the past we have run alternating Units 1/2 then SD with accelerating students. We have never taught ITA or IPM.
In 2010 we ran units 1/2 with 5 students, 3 chose not to continue with 3 and 4. We make a commitment that we will offer subjects in a 1,2,3,4 sequence even if all but one drop the subject half way through. However, a class of 2 is not the best financially, so I needed some more numbers.
I could have run units 1,2,3,4 at once in the same class for this year. This is done in a couple of other subject areas, usually with 1,2 being a dumbed down version of 3,4.
I decided to run only SD (because of my familiarity with it) and accelerate those that wanted to do Units1,2. Got a class with one year 12, two year 11's and two year 10's and next year we will run only ITA with a similar cohort. I'm trying to put significant amounts of units 1 and 2 into our 9/10 IT electives.
I told the accelerating students to treat doing 3/4 as a bonus, that will add a bit to their ATAR. They also have the chance to complete both Year 12 IT subjects.

So ITA for the first time ever next year. Mark, you are not inspiring me to start work on it!
We will see how it goes!

Heath Matheson
Mt Beauty Secondary College.

From: sofdev-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:sofdev-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Claudia Graham
Sent: Thursday, 20 October 2011 10:06 AM
To: Year 12 Software Development Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Year 12 SofDev] No ITA at McKinnon in 2012

We have a growing group of SD and a reducing ITA.

Regards
Claudia

*********************************************************************
Claudia Graham
VCE Coordinator
Overnewton College
9334 0049 (direct)



From: sofdev-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:sofdev-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Mark KELLY
Sent: Thursday, 20 October 2011 9:30 AM
To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List; Year 12 Software Development Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: [Year 12 SofDev] No ITA at McKinnon in 2012

Hi all.

As I feared, ITA didn't get enough enrolments to run in 2012 - for the first time in about 15 years.

Strangely enough, Software Development *is* running - and before this year it hasn't run for 3 years.

Actually, I'm kind of relieved since SD is more interesting anyway, and ITA seems old, dry and tired. Perhaps it's just because I've been teaching it since forever, or it may be that the new study design is partly to blame - and yes! normal forms, I AM looking at you.  And I'd also put some blame on the freakishly large and long U4O1 - my kids were exhausted at the end of that.

After a hiatus this year, Units 1&2 return to McKinnon in 2012, and since I have barely looked at them it will be another fun year compiling resources for those units.
If the ITA embargo continues and SD continues to run, I may craft units 1&2 to be heavy on programming to better funnel kids into SD in the following year.

Do you guys know what units will run at your places next year?

--
Mark Kelly
Manager of ICT, Reporting, IT Learning Area
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<http://www.edulists.com.au/>

Want a good time? Call 0112358. Ask for Mr Fibonacci.
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