[Yr7-10it] Year 7-10 IT structures

[Jim Bunn]

Hello all,

 

As Rachelle has already indicated, there is no compulsory ICT at Hampton
Park Secondary College (new from this year) and the administration (having
wanted this for years) has used the move from the CSF to VELS as a virtual
mandate for the dissolution of ICT classes at years 7 and 8. Fully
integrating ICT at years 7 and 8 was done under the guise of it being a
requirement under VELS. I argued many of the very valid points made by those
replying to this thread, and it's made no difference whatsoever. 

 

At the end of last year I thought that the one good outcome of this
disastrous move was that at least most of the teachers previously unable to
get their non-ICT classes into a computer lab would now be possible. Alas,
no. One of our four computer labs (for 1300 students!) has been dismantled
and the computers dispersed elsewhere, like into a Pod, or the new Learning
Centre or just not re-leased. Another is scheduled to go as well. My cynical
nature says that it all comes down to saving $. 

 

And guess what. It's driving good ICT teachers away from here. One has just
resigned, another is leaving at the end of the year, another is trying to
leave, and yours truly is counting the days until I'm out of here as well.
What a sad state of affairs. Grumble, grumble.

 

 

 

 

Jim Bunn
CCNA CCAI ITE1
Technology Coordinator
Hampton Park Secondary College
Victoria  Australia

8795 9400

bunn.jim.c at edumail.vic.gov.au 

  _____  

From: yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au
[mailto:yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Colin SUTTON
Sent: Thursday, 11 October 2007 8:59 PM
To: yr7-10it at edulists.com.au
Subject: [Yr7-10it] Year 7-10 IT structures

 

Hi all

My school, Montmorency SC, has NO compulsory ICT!

A student can go through 6 years of schooling here and do NO formal IT.

No other school I have ever taught in (2 in Vic, 3 in QLD and 4 in the UK)
have ever had this! 

It seems unbelievable that in the Information Age students are not formally
taught ANY ICT.

They have to learn another language, do wood, metal, cooking and sewing -
useful and even essential - but the ONE thing none of them can avoid is ICT!


Sure, many can play games and surf to sites, but they are not formally
taught a wide range of other useful or essentail skills.

Schools I have taught in elsewhere had at least one semester of ICT at Year
7 (Yr 8 in QLD as secondary starts in Yr8). 

Most had an elective system that required them to do at least ONE or more
units at 8/9 or even again in Yr 10.

Comments anyone?

 
Regards

COLIN _______________________________________________ 
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