[Yr7-10it] Lunchtime Computer Club ideas

Sun Jul 29 21:09:17 EST 2007

The time is also right to set the wheels in motion to celebrate Softare
Freedom Day. I would imagine that you could plan a whole Term's Computer
Club events around September 14th (which is when St. Micks will be
celebrating it).

Looking at other operating systems
Reviewing/playing with new software
Devising a campaign to inform the school community that there are
alternatives to Microsoft or other commercial products.

Last year we took the copyright angle with the kids - don't run the risk
of downloading an illegal copy of photoshop when there is an opensource
version available from a reliable source - this seemed to get through to
many kids.

:)

Margaret

On Sun, July 29, 2007 7:31 pm, Roland Gesthuizen wrote:
> 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
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> http://www.edulists.com.au - FAQ, resources, subscribe, unsubscribe
>>> Year 7 - 10 IT Mailing List kindly supported by
>>> http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment
>>>
>> Authority
>>
>>> and http://www.vitta.org.au  - VITTA Victorian Information Technology
>>>
>> Teachers
>>
>>> Association Inc
>>>
>>>
>>> _____________________________________________________
>>> This mail has been virus scanned by Australia On Line
>>> see http://www.australiaonline.net.au/mailscanning
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>>> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>>> Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.10.22/922 - Release Date:
>>> 27/07/2007 6:08 AM
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> http://www.edulists.com.au - FAQ, resources, subscribe, unsubscribe
>> Year 7 - 10 IT Mailing List kindly supported by
>> http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment
>> Authority
>> and http://www.vitta.org.au  - VITTA Victorian Information Technology
>> Teachers
>> Association Inc
>>
>>
>
>
>
> --
> 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
>
>