[Yr7-10it] ICT and VELS

[Bill Kerr]

Paula referred to:
> Information and Communications Technology, as an interdisciplinary domain

This is an opinion from SA where we have our own recently reactivated
curriculum framework to grapple with (SACSA)

I've read comments in threads here from Charmaine about the need to be
proactive and from Keith about the need to be machiavellian

Why does computing (I prefer that term to ICT) have to *struggle* for its
place in the curriculum sun when it such an important defining part of the
present and future - comparable to the printing press in an earlier
revolution?

Is the problem in the categorisation as "interdisciplinary"

translation: to be integrated into more important domains (maths, science,
english etc.) unless there are very active agents (such as Charmaine, Keith)
in schools who will present compelling cases in those *individual* schools
for computing to have its own special curriculum time slot.

Doesn't the fact that articulate and passionate teachers of computing having
to plead a special case underscore a reality that computing is being
sidelined through integration.

ie. the system is against us, not for us.

Moores Law is unfolding its own agenda, an emergent agenda - others here
have argued convincingly that computing is a subject in its own right - Rod
Kendall put a compelling case

But we are latecomers to the curriculum feast and curriculum ctees are
battlegrounds where turf war is the ultimate guiding principle - what self
respecting curriculum leader would give up time for their subject to let
computing in?

In this respect the system has let us down. Rather than leading the battle
they leave it to the classroom teacher to do all the heavy lifting.

That is my understanding (from across the border) of the categorisation,
"interdisciplinary domain" == conceptual downgrade.

That is what is happening in SA anyway where I have studied the documents
more closely

more  here:
http://gamelearning.wikispaces.com/Curriculum-Statements+

-- 
Bill Kerr
http://billkerr.blogspot.com/
http://beam.to/billkerr
skype: billkerr2006


On 6/6/06, Christophersen, Paula P <
christophersen.paula.p at edumail.vic.gov.au> wrote:
>
>  Dear colleagues
>
>
>
> As stated in the introduction to the ICT domain of VELS, the main
> educational focus of the domain is to equip students with the knowledge and
> skills to 'transform their learning and to enrich their learning
> environment'. It is the intent that students will use ICT to help make sense
> of content, ideas, issues, processes etc in all areas of learning.
>
>
>
> To maximise the benefits afforded by ICT, students need to gain fluency
> with these tools so that they can focus on the tasks at hand, rather than
> the technology itself. Schools are free to establish programs that suit
> their needs, while still providing students with the opportunities to
> demonstrate the ICT standards. However, as students move into the middle
> years (years 9 and 10), it is acceptable that they can specialise in areas
> of interest to them, so schools could include in their programs, more
> targeted ICT offerings such as robotics, gaming/programming. This, of
> course, does not preclude the embedding of the knowledge and skills from the
> ICT domain into other areas of learning – this should still occur.
>
>
>
> Where appropriate, I urge you to revisit<http://vels.vcaa.vic.edu.au/essential/interdisciplinary/ict/index.html#intro>the introductory part of the ICT domain.
>
>
>
> Regards
>
> Paula
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Paula Christophersen
>
> ICT Curriculum Manager
>
> VCAA
>
> 41 St Andrews Place
>
> EAST MELBOURNE 3002
>
> (03) 9651 4378
>
>
>
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