[Yr11 Information Technology] [Informatics] informatics Digest, Vol 12, Issue 68

[Ciotti, George W]

From: Mark <mark at vceit.com<mailto:mark at vceit.com>>
Reply-To: Year 11 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List <yr11it at edulists.com.au<mailto:yr11it at edulists.com.au>>
Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2016 12:41:52 +1100
To: Year 11 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List <yr11it at edulists.com.au<mailto:yr11it at edulists.com.au>>
Subject: Re: [Yr11 Information Technology] [Informatics] informatics Digest, Vol 12, Issue 68

Year 11 IT is a bit of a showbag with aspects of both Informatics and SD, so breadth is more desirable than depth and students get a taste of both paths.

Sure. But it’s still a lot to cover. The majority of students do not cope is my experience.
I would suggest that schools should be able to choose what 2 SACs per semester they wish to initiate students into. This would take into account a few factors that are necessarily unique to each school.
For example, if there is no SD being offered at Yr12 then opt out of that unit. It’s a tough gig coming into programming with little or no experience for such a short burst of time. It’s the kind of approach that you would necessarily find in a tertiary computing degree where the uni is appropriately equipped to deliver.
Is covering the nuts and bolts of Networks really that important in this day and age and at this level? This could easily be a part of a Year 10 IT course given that students at this level would be much more enthusiastic in breaking apart the hardware side of Networking with more time to really get to understand what, again, is a complex area. Ask Telstra if you don’t believe me.
In my experience students are put off by the amount of work required. It’s one thing to offer breadth but the Year 11 course still pretends to offer depth. Look at the Textbook. Look at the SACs that have been written by third parties. I feel it’s a course in search of credibility such that it overloads everyone, students and teachers,  and in the end no one gains. Hence the continual low numbers in Year 12 IT, Informatics. It could be a much more stimulating course for all concerned if it were less about breadth, showcase as you say and more about learning fundamental concepts. As an example the Information Technology in a Global Society (ITGS) course seems well balanced. It takes a much broader approach and takes account of school needs within a two year period.

I’m not sure about the figures but I would hazard a guess that Year 12 IT figures still rank low.
Given that IT, Computing, Informatics or whatever else you want to call it, is such an integral part of existence, and will be, we may be looking at a lost opportunity. Especially when other subject areas, and they’re beginning to, start to integrate aspects of IT into their subjects. And contextually so.  There won’t be a need to do Computing.

George

UHS Website Manager
Computing/Art/Design/Tech Domain
University High School
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Parkville 3052
mobile: 0412 934 782
phone: 9347 2022






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