[Yr7-10it] Lunchtime Computer Club ideas

[Tony Forster]

"I feel much of the time is unproductive and purely for amusement and 
entertainment "

A possible solution to this that I have used is the rule that if playing a 
game, they must have editable source for it. They may play for a while but 
then the challenge to hack the source takes over. For example I had a year 
6, on his own initiative, take source code written by a Dutch programmer, 
put it through Babelfish, translate to English so he could increase the 
range of his laser turrets.

Feel free to re-post this on the other lists

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kevork Krozian" <Kroset at novell1.fhc.vic.edu.au>
To: <offtopic at edulists.com.au>; <vet-it at edulists.com.au>; 
<vet-mm at edulists.com.au>; <yr11it at edulists.com.au>; 
<yr7-10it at edulists.com.au>
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2007 12:38 PM
Subject: [Yr7-10it] Lunchtime Computer Club ideas


> Hi Folks,
>
> Sorry for cross posting.
>
> We already have a lunchtime computer club that attracts a large number of 
> students.
>
> However, I feel much of the time is unproductive and purely for amusement 
> and entertainment with little skill acquisition.
>
> Therefore I have proposed to my colleagues that we work towards creating 
> simple bite sized , lunchtime sized activities that we will use to get the 
> students to complete thereby achieving a number of goals :
>
>   1. Increasing awareness of the different aspects of ICT
>   2. Increasing engagement , enthusiasm for ICT in middle and senior 
> years.
>   3. Educating students about the many different aspects of ICT beyond 
> their fairly narrow interaction in many cases eg. specific game playing 
> only
>   4. Certifying students with a piece of paper as having achieved X, Y and 
> Z skills.
>
> Sounds like another class doesn't it ?  Maybe, but I feel if we can get 
> the Yr 8 - 9 group fired up they will want to select VCE/VET  IT subjects 
> more readily purely from the perspective of confidence, knowledge and 
> hopefully some fun along the way. It is also a way for students to 
> discover what they like.
>
> Here are a few ideas for worksheet lunchtime sized activities :
>
> 1. How to upgrade the RAM in a computer, verify it and evaluate before and 
> after performance
> 2. How to add a new hard drive to your computer , verify .....
> 3. How to backup files
> 4. How to install XP or Vista  and restore backed up files
> 5. How to install virus protection
> 6. How to setup a SOHO LAN  ( Small office, home office ) with router
> 7. How to setup wireless networking with graduated levels of security
> 8. How to create a simple web site .... all the way to a high powered 
> multimedia web site
> 9. How to interact between a web site and a back end database, or MySQL 
> server
> 10. How to program games in gamemaker
> 11. How to program with Python ,  PHP or VB.NET
> 12. how to program/use mobile devices.
>
> the list goes on and on.
>
> My request from all readers is that if we can share these types of 
> worksheets/resources we can build a formidable skill base for our 
> lunchtime students and continue to update it for currency.
>
> If you have any ideas or samples please send them in and I will build a 
> section for these resources on the edulists site for all to share.
>
> One statistic that hit me yesterday was in the 4 senior IT VCE/VET classes 
> running at Forest Hill College, of the 60 or more students in these 
> classes there are ONLY 2 girls..........
> Perhaps we can build fund things for girls to do at lunchtime so that 
> there is a niche for EVERYONE in ICT and not just one group ...
>
> Look forward to hearing from you.
>
> Kevork Krozian
> IT Manager , Forest Hill College
> k.krozian at fhc.vic.edu.au
> http://www.fhc.vic.edu.au
> Mobile: 0419 356 034
>
>
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