[vet-mm] 2006 exam

[Allan Barnes]

I agree, and I also think that part of the problem is that when students are
doing scripting in the classroom they have access to other resources such as
the trainer and the Internet and books, whereas they obviously don't have
access to this in the exam.

I guess this is where the conflict arises between competency-based
assessment training where assistance is available, and knowledge-based
exam-recall situations where students are relying on memory and recall of
facts. 


Kind regards


Allan Barnes, CEO
Australian Institute of Education and Training
Phone: (03) 9387 2051
FAX: (03) 9387 3470 
E-mail: abarnes at aiet.com.au

 

-----Original Message-----
From: vet-mm-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:vet-mm-bounces at edulists.com.au]
On Behalf Of Susan Bell
Sent: Saturday, 4 November 2006 11:55 AM
To: vet-mm at edulists.com.au
Subject: [vet-mm] 2006 exam

I don't know what others thought of the exam this year but the general
consensus of the Pixeled committee was that the exam was better than
2004 (that wouldn't be hard) but worse than 2005. 

The problem once again were the scripting questions. They are simply too
hard! We don't have the time to go in depth with scripting so kids only get
a superficial knowledge of conditionals, functions etc... I mean I've been
teaching this subject for 3 years now and I couldn't answer some of those
questions under exam conditions.
 
VCAA seem to forget that these students are 17 years old with 4 to 5 other
subjects to contend with in year 12. As if they have the time to become
fully fledged programmers in half a term. It is really ridiculous and puts
too much pressure on teachers - I mean we're not programmers either. I would
have thought the exam panel would have learnt by now that complex scripting
questions should be left to IT exams, not multimedia ones. And where were
the visual design questions? It appears a whole competency was missed so
that the exam panel could shove in more scripting questions.

It really is a shame that this subject has been hijacked by people who think
that year 12 students need to know scripting. Surely this stuff can be left
to TAFE or University. I'm not against some scripting, its fine to get the
kids to make interactive pieces but these can be done with some simple
button commands. I think the exam panel are doing the subject and the
students a disservice when they come up with all these ridiculous scripting
questions. Last year they got it right, how did they manage to get it so
wrong again?

Sue

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