[vet-mm] 2006 exam
peterfowler at optusnet.com.au
peterfowler at optusnet.com.au
Wed Nov 15 20:28:16 EST 2006
Dear Daylan
Thanks for the feedback.
Perhaps you have misunderstood my comments.
I am not proposing that we water down the course, on the whole my students had no problem with the scripting component in the exam. And yes you can define design through scripting but surely that requires an understanding of what contributes good design. There are many web sites and interfaces that function beautifully, but surely functionality must follow design. If not then we are destined to view design by committee, concepts that are presently available through templates. I am passionate about the notion that we can encourage our students to look at contemporary design critically and help them produce something that is truly original and not a rehash of someone else's design. To have an exam that does not recognise the contribution of design in a contemporary society (including Multimedia) leaves me saddened and disillusioned. Where would we be without some of the cutting edge designers that look at mediocrity with disdain and strive for something more. Good design isn't!
just playing with photoshop and making funky buttons. You need an understanding of aesthetics and how objects and colours relate to and compliment each other, and much more...
I am not about to give you a lecture about the merits of design compared to programming but we are compelled to work with the constraints of a course that is flawed. You say that we need a greater emphasis on programming to meet future demands on our students, that may be so, but if they have no understanding of design aesthetics then their future product is bound to be banal and lacking in artistic merit.
Thanks for your comments. Its been an interesting discussion.
Yours Sincerely
Peter Fowler
Swinburne Senior Secondary College
> Daylan <daylan at impactcreativity.com.au> wrote:
>
> Hi Peter,
> Im not suggesting that the exam should focus primarily on
> programming and/or scripting, if anything i think the exam was lacking
> in scripting. I think that we should be focusing on trying to raise the
>
> bar as far as multimedia goes, and sitting comfortably doing motion
> tweens and making cool stuff in phototshop will only hurt this subject
> instead of help it. Sure doing the fun stuff will get more students in
> the seats, but ideally i thought we are always trying to improve
> students knowledge of the subject.
> As you said Peter "Part of our role is to provide student with a broad
> understanding of the MM industry" , if students are struggling with the
>
> small amount of scripting in the exam, then there's a problem in what's
>
> being expected to be taught and what actually is being taught.
> Look into web 2.0 (not learn it, but just have a look at it). THAT is
> where the industry is heading, that is what will be required in the
> future to remain even a chance to stay up to date in this industry. And
>
> before everyone jumps down my throat about it, it's just proving that
> design can be done purely through programming.
> Everyone may bite my head off for saying this , but from what i've
> seen, everyone wants multimedia and what we have to teach to get easier
>
> and its not going to.
> Scripting and programing is a neccessary "evil" in this course.
> Im just suggesting that we need to be showing these kids more
> imporatant stuff than basic design principles and how to make cool
> looking buttons etc.
>
>
>
> On 15/11/2006, at 5:07 PM, peterfowler at optusnet.com.au wrote:
>
> > You are dead right Susan,
> > The exam is supposed to test an understanding of the whole course at
> > year 12, its not intended to focus on individual competencies.
> > The students greater understanding of programming is assessed as part
>
> > of a scored SAC.
> > In most cases the MM job market will not be interested in students
> > with a Cert III qualification.
> > Part of our role is to provide student with a broad understanding of
> > the MM industry, they usually specialize when they hit University.
> > So lets put our personal bias on hold and lets try to get a better
> > balance in the exam next time around.
> > Yours Sincerely
> > Peter Fowler
> > Swinburne Senior Secondary College
> >
> >
> >
> >> Susan Bell <Susan.Bell at wesleycollege.net> wrote:
> >>
> >> I think the issue here was about programming in the exam - not
> whether
> >> you need programming when students venture into the job market. No
> >> one
> >> is denying that programming is important - but the exam was biased
> >> towards scripting which is simply not fair in a year 12 exam.
> >> Sue
> >>>>> daylan at impactcreativity.com.au 11/15/06 04:28pm >>>
> >> Hi all,
> >> I've been training Cert 2, 3 and diploma level multimedia
> >> for
> >>
> >> the past 3 years and working in the industry (clients etc) for 4
> >> years.
> >>
> >> This is my final year of training students however as i will be
> >> venturing of into that big, murderous multimedia world to work for
> >> MYOB
> >>
> >> but i thought i might add my 2 cents too.
> >> I felt that there wasn't enough emphasis on programming in the exam
> >> or
> >> in the course in general. I personally tried to train my students in
> a
> >>
> >> way that would give them actual skills that are relevant for
> industry,
> >>
> >> as well of course, as meeting competencies. And while i agree design
>
> >> is
> >>
> >> important, i fell that its only about 20% of most jobs.
> >> You just need to look at it.seek.com etc to see that 98% of jobs in
> >> the
> >>
> >> industry require more than awesome photoshop and design skills. In
> >> fact
> >>
> >> i'd say 80% don't even care if you are good at design, they want you
>
> >> to
> >>
> >> be a programmer.
> >> Its extremely hard in the industry to find a job that is purely
> design
> >>
> >> and even if you do they are usually the lowest paying jobs.
> >> Design is the fun stuff and it's a lot easier to keep students
> >> attention with fun things, but as far as vocational training goes, i
> >> feel programming is a much more important skill for students to walk
> >> away with.
> >>
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> > http://www.edulists.com.au - FAQ, resources, subscribe, unsubscribe
> > VET Multimedia Mailing List kindly supported by
> > http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment
> > Authority and
> > http://www.vitta.org.au - VITTA Victorian Information Technology
> > Teachers Association Inc
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>
> _______________________________________________
> http://www.edulists.com.au - FAQ, resources, subscribe, unsubscribe
> VET Multimedia Mailing List kindly supported by
> http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment
> Authority and
> http://www.vitta.org.au - VITTA Victorian Information Technology
> Teachers Association Inc
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