[Yr11 Information Technology] IT Outcomes feedback
Mark Kelly
kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
Mon Feb 16 12:29:33 EST 2009
OK. Some thoughts about IT outcomes (mainly ITA) ...
ITA U3O1 - whatever its topic is - should not be the most difficult
outcome of the entire sequence! Databases as the first outcome is cruel
and unusual punishment. It's the one tool that most kids have never had
any deep experience with and need most training for! Combine that with
project management (the other tool that most kids will have had little
or no exposure to) and it's a very demanding outcome.
If the prototype website remains as an outcome, it should become U3O1.
ITA U3O2 - Prototype website. Quite undemanding in terms of skills or
theory. While website skills are valuable for kids, creating a prototype
is perhaps a little esoteric. Why not a nice, normal website - the sort
of skill they would be more likely to use frequently in the real world?
ITA U4O1 - Excel. The last practical outcome of the year; uses a tool
most kids have had previous experience with. My kids consider it an
easy task, even with the 2 extra tasks.
- The onscreen documentation is a valuable experience for them, and
exercises several useful skills. They find it challenging but
rewarding. I'd keep it.
- Visual representation of thinking (VROT) usually frustrates them
Perhaps it will be easier in a few years if VROT persists in VELS, but
my kids had great trouble visualising what on earth it was for and what
it did. With so little guidance from the study design to ease their
minds, it is a difficult task for most kids to tackle.
ITA U4O2 - pure data security theory. Quick to knock over, and a good
way to segue into heavy theory preparation for the exam. I'd keep U4O2
as a pure theory task, and the subject matter is fine with me too.
- Things to keep -
It's good to see programming completely excised from the ITA stream and
fully in the SD course. Keep it up.
I also agree with keeping the complex aspects of networking in the SD
camp.
- Changes I'd consider -
- The course is heavy on pretty dull and stodgy software - web page
editing, spreadsheets, databases. Something a little more sexy to
lighten and excite the course might be fun: the previous course had
graphics editing as an interesting ITA U3O1. I wouldn't mind seeing
something like that, or multimedia animation, returning.
- While the overlap between ITA and SD has been cleared up, I don't like
the repetition of databases in U1O2 and ITA U3O1. (Just look at the
number of key knowledge dot points that are repeated between U1O1 and
U3O2 is a giveaway.)
- It's very boring for year 11 kids (and enrolments are bad enough to
start with). The kids who do unit 1 get a very similar task in ITA
(which is unexciting) but kids who do not do U1 before ITA have a lot to
learn about databases. This leads to a knowledge gulf between ITA kids
who have and have not done U1: coping with getting the latter kids up to
speed is difficult.
- Surely a new IT tool could replace databases in U1O2 - perhaps
animation or audio editing.
- One outcome on "what's in the box" hardware stuff might be good for U1
or U2. Currently it's covered in one dot point in one outcome - but the
field is very large and takes a long to to cover adequately. It might
also include computer maintenance (including software updates,
trouble-shooting etc).
- Why O WHY do we need the SDLC wearing different nametags in different
subjects? There is NO functional difference between SDLC and Problem
Solving Methodology, so why create an artifical one?
- multimedia file formats and codecs are a big issue nowadays. A unit
1/2 outcome on managing image/sound/video files would be interesting and
very hands-on. It could include differences in format conversion, pros
and cons of lossy/lossless compression, compression artefacts. I've
covered it in passing and kids love it - mainly to support their ripping
& torrenting. Perhaps the copyright key knowledge dot points could
accompany the theory :-)
--- Other random thoughts ---
- Fix the glossary; define all topics mandated in key knowledge.
- Any chance at all of any group work at all in a U3/4 outcome?
- Official VCAA help on issues such as VROT. Sure, VITTA may do PD but
only a small fraction of staff can get to it, or pay for it.
- Mandate a test for ITA U4O2. I've never met any teacher who has
chosen the written report.
- Having 2 outcomes in each of U3 and U4 makes U3O1 and U4O1 painfully
large and hard for kids to organise. Yes, there are fewer outcomes but
each is just BIGGER. Is that really beneficial to students? At least
strip VROT from ITA U4O1 and glue it onto a smaller outcome, like ITA U3O2.
That's all for now. I'm sure I'll think of something else soon.
--
Mark Kelly
Manager - Information Systems
McKinnon Secondary College
kel AT mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
McKinnon Rd, McKinnon 3204, Victoria, Australia
Direct line / Voicemail: 8520 9085 Fax +613 9578 9253
Webmaster - http://www.mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
IT Lecture notes: http://vceit.com
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