[vet-mm] 2006 exam

Wed Nov 15 21:38:01 EST 2006

What a fabulous discussion.  I can't help myself to be drawn in.  I think th=
e exam was great when it came to the scripting questions. They weren't too b=
ad and you know they have to throw a few curly ones in to sort the wheat fro=
m the chaff, bell curves and all.  I like the scripting in the course and th=
e VCD unit.  My bug bear is the Content and Copy unit because it brings back=
 horrible memories of dull English classes for me.  

If kids are going to go on and do Multimedia Post-VCE then they will have to=
 do some scripting, or be limited as Daylan was pointing out.  I think its g=
reat to give the kids a taste of it, and I think the level the questions wer=
e at were really only a taste of scripting.  My students really love game ma=
king and if scripting was taught properly in schools from Primary up we woul=
dn't have a problem. It wouldn't be so foreign to them when they get to VCE.

There did seem to be a lot of scripting questions but I think they have to d=
o this because they aren't going to assess scripting in the prac questions s=
o they have to do it in the theory part.

Here's a chance to plug our conference coming up on December 7th.  I'm takin=
g a session on 'scripting for the exam' that will start with the very basics=
 such as 'what is a variable?' through to desk checking, writing your own al=
gorithms and the answers to the scripting questions on the exam.  The regist=
ration form for the conference is on the web at www.pixeled.org.au Come alon=
g and bring all your curly theoy scripting questions.

Cheers,

Rachelle

________________________________

From: vet-mm-bounces at edulists.com.au on behalf of Susan Bell
Sent: Wed 15/11/2006 8:39 PM
To: vet-mm at edulists.com.au
Subject: Re: [vet-mm] 2006 exam

Daylan, in order for most of us to teach the five modules in the year we
can only devote around half a term to scripting concepts. If students
need such high end programming skills in year 12 then it would be best
the course is rewritten so that only the modules of scripting and
creating web pages (hand coded of course!)be included and then we could
all devote ourselves to developing students who are ready to go into
industry as scripting gurus. But lets get serious for a minute - there
is no way I can cover scripting in the time alloted and I'm not afraid
to admit that under exam conditions I couldn't answer those scripting
questions - but given a bit of time and a shot of whisky I would have
been just fine.

I can't see scripting in high schools ever being covered to the degree
demonstrated by the 2004 and 2006 exam - we just don't have the time.
Doesn't this imply that there is a problem here -  either in the hours
we get to teach scripting  or an unrealistic expectation of year 12
students who are juggling four other subjects not to mention MM modules.

>>> daylan at impactcreativity.com.au 11/15/06 7:19 PM >>>
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
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VET Multimedia Mailing List kindly supported by
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http://www.vitta.org.au  - VITTA Victorian Information Technology
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____________________________________________________________________________

Sapere Aude - Dare To Be Wise

Wesley College Melbourne is a world class coeducational independent school
developing the whole person through timeless principles of learning:
- to know
- to do
- to live with
- to be
with innovation and wisdom

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