[Yr7-10it] Lunchtime Computer Club ideas

Sun Jul 29 19:31:13 EST 2007

I can vouch for Tony's suggestion. It is a good opportunity to try out new
software, in a sense .. learning by 'playing'. Another idea is to cleaning
out the junk to create a hardware museum. We have some fun last year getting
a TV tuner card to work on an old computer and installing a different
operating system.

Regards Roland

On 27/07/07, Tony Forster <forster at ozonline.com.au> wrote:
>
> "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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> >
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>
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>

-- 
Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College
http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead
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