[Yr7-10it] PD comment for country members ...Kent B.

Thu Jul 29 16:49:34 EST 2010

Hi Kent, 

I think we all agree with your sentiments........ and your enthusiasm and passion.  That is the thing we all have in common. 

I can only reiterate my comments from my last email.  Kent, I've had numerous discussions and arguments with channel partners of the big computer companies to do more in terms of ICT PD.  As I've had it explained to me numerous times (to the point of almost feeling patronized), it's all about money.  The short sighted business approach of many companies is they have to sell boxes - both little and big - and that employing someone to do PD is not a realistic business model. 

Of course this is short sighted and ultimately self defeating.  BER is addressing the digital divide in terms of hardware but certainly not in the most valuable area - that of teachers' skills.  The skill base of teachers is where the story currently ends because invariably teachers won't (or can't) let students do stuff they are not comfortable in doing.  This also a major challenge for educational leadership.  As you have pointed out, regional teachers and students miss out because of the tyranny of distance.  It's not right but unfortunately just because it's not right doesn't mean it is any easier to solve. 

>From the VITTA office side, a number of PD events this year around Victoria have been run this year and we've been disappointed with the lack of numbers.  I hope you and the Shepp and Bright teachers came along to the Road Show we did on behalf of VCAA.  I guess if VITTA is going to run things around Victoria, we just need to have as many people at them as possible.  If there isn't , then it does simply become too difficult. We just need to have regional events well attended because if we do, we can build momentum and certainty and things can then start to move. 

The emerging technologies concept is one that VITTA believes has some momentum so we (all of us - country and city) need to think of a model that is attractive and sustainable in a country location. I'd like VITTA to run a conference next somewhere like Yarrawonga, Echuca or Bendigo in Semester 1 and perhaps we build it around emerging technologies - instead of 6 weeks of one night a week, we do it intensively over two days. 

I would be grateful to hear from people on this list who would be interested in helping with planning for a major ICT in education conference in the first half of 2011.   

For the moment, the VITTA Conference on November 29 and 30 is my major focus and it has to be because it's getting bigger by the day.    

A current snapshot: 

Larry Nelson, Managing Director of Worldwide school education for Microsoft - he is donating his services for the VITTA Conference. 
Rev Tim Costello - Tuesday keynote 
ICT Leadership - for  ICT Leaders and Prins in in DEECD, CEO and independent schools groups separately - coming together later for open panel hypothetical discussion 
400 mobile devices from Apple for delegate use. 
Separate one day conference for TSSP techs (pending) but also one for CEO and independent school techs. 
Trade Display bigger than last few years. 
Conference Dinner which will be a ripper. 

And the most important of all:  practising teachers giving presentations with 6 labs available for workshops. 

Maybe the 2010 VITTA Conference would be perfect time to run a session for anyone interested in talking about a regional conference event in 2011.   

Kent, this hasn't solved the problem but it won't be for lack of trying. 

Phil Callil 
Faculty Head ICT 
Xavier College 
Phone 9855-4163 
www.xavier.vic.edu.au 

Vice President VITTA and 2010 Conference Director 
VITTA Annual Conference 
Australia's biggest annual K-12 ICT in Education conference 
Caulfield Racecourse November 29-30  
www.vitta.org.au    

>>> Kent Beveridge <kbeveridge at stbc.vic.edu.au> 7/29/2010 9:33 AM >>>
Thanks for the reply Phil, but if I may...

Firstly, yes, VITTA puts on and supports conferences and yes it does 'punch' for state and national issues.

However, I refer to another member's comment currently on this discussion thread that many PD opportunities tend to be city based and post 4.30 timeslots - great for city members, but not so for us non-city members(yes, I am now paid up!).

Example..the recently offered 'emerging technologies course' on these lists. I for one looked at the content and thought it would be excellent if I could attend all or even some of the units but alas...the timeslots again destroy that option.

Solution? I have a local tafe campus of the Ballarat uni handy and so perhaps that may be my only option available to keep 'up to date' coursewise but that may be an expensive option methinks.

Jo Maclaey and myself are going to attempt to trial an elluminate session next week and I mentioned it to my techie here so we'll see if we can make it happen to possibly open up some options on that front.

Now..to an obvious point...
I am presently Horsham based, and two respondents currently about this issue are in both Shepp and Bright..also non-Melbourne based. How to cater for 'us' on a basis EQUALLY as regularly as the city members for PD sessions on 'whatever' the topic. Also, what about the Mildura and Ouyen, or Bairnsdale members..how to cater for THEM too??

Seems since my time - now in my 4th year - up here, I have observed a strong lack of offerings in the PD front for non-city members. As you also may well know, I DO comment about this when I notice it and feel disappointed with offerings and have raised this issue on these lists previously on these lists.

Possible solution??
For me.. offer PD in say Ballarat or Ararat that I can attend and start at 5.30pm or 6.00pm gives me a chance to at least get there(2hrs to Ballarat for me, 1 and a bit to Ararat). North? Some venue about 1-2hrs north of Melbourne and East?...Maybe Warragul sessions. Surely presenters would be prepared to do a 1-2 hr trip if they were aware that some of the participants at their sessions were travelling an equal distance just to get there from their country or rural based schools to keep up to date with their skill base.

We, in the country schools, want to provide currency and fun too in our content for our students but feel often 'left out in the cold' when some 'cool' PD sessions are on offer....in the city! 
Perhaps some serious money - or training offerings, or PD sessions etc can be sourced from sponsors and businesses who wish to support this plight can assist.
Eg...
Come on Adobe, and Microsoft, and Apple, or IBM et al,  contact us and help us (or ME!!) and help us out here with some tailored sessions at an affordable rate.
Some software scripting, and animation or multi-media content would be most welcomed by us country members but we NEED YOUR SUPPORT!  You want sales?  Well help us out then! We use your products in our classes so jump on board and help this problem, BUT STOP DELAYING..we need help NOW..not 12months or longer...frankly, we're tired of waiting and talk and want ACTIONS.
Personally, I'm tired of lip service to our plight.(you know the one..'its on the agenda for discussion...blah, blah," ).
My students DAILY look to me for inspiration and enthusiasm..and when it wains, they spot it a mile off. I love my job, but crikey its tough when I must constantly 'self teach' via online tutes and similar to keep current all the time with the demands of an I.T (and multi-curriculum) classroom where the hardware and software become out of date in no time flat!

Like an earlier member said, I am self taught with most of my software skill due to distance and cost factors. It would be nice to be professionally taught for a change..its not easy being an I.T. teacher and knowing the industry wants/needs our students but the education system seems to be squeezing us out!

reckon that about covers it..

ok..I'm done..my fingers are tiring now...

Kent Beveridge
PASSIONATE I.T. teacher of many years, PASSIONATE Maths teacher too!
Multi talented, multi skilled,
MULTI STRESSED(nature of the job!) (often subtle in speech and comment)
yada yada yada..

St. Brigids Cath.Sec. College, HORSHAM, Vic  (3hrs from Melbourne on the Western Hwy!)

cheers kiddies...

________________________________________
From: yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au [yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au] on behalf of Phil Callil [P.Callil at xavier.vic.edu.au]
Sent: Wednesday, 28 July 2010 12:46 PM
To: Year 7 - 10 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Yr7-10it] More great value PD - Introduction to Scripting         inGame  Maker

Guys, VITTA has been active in setting up PLNs throughout Victoria.  This is not a solution but certainly part of the solution.  VITTA provides seeding money to help you organize PD events in your region.  We know it's not enough but the realities is that VITTA does everything it can as a not for profit organization to provide support and encouragement for IT in education in regional areas.

Adrian as President, myself as Vice President, the rest of the Executive and the Committee all put into countless hours to keep the association going. The staff in the VITTA Office are A1.  I can vouch for that personally.  VITTA punches above its weight in national and state issues in matters relating to ICT in education.  We are all passionate in trying to support regional members. Adrian travelled to Horsham to outline the changes to the study design.  VITTA gave as much support as we could for the Slide2Learn conference in Shep precisely because of its innovation and location and learning opportunities for regional members.

Next year, we plan to run a regional conference and we hope that you will support it in a pro active and constructive way.  More about that later.  As you know, there are considerable expenses in running any PD in rural settings but we do as much as is feasible and we continue to be mindful of providing professional learning opportunities for our regional colleagues.

The bottom line is we need to have a critical mass to be able to run more regional events.  VITTA would simply cease to exist in any form if we run events for groups that are small.

If you have constructive and creative ways in which VITTA can help you that are logistically  possible and meet your professional learning needs, we are listening and always ready to hear.

Best wishes

Phil

Phil Callil
Faculty Head ICT
Xavier College
9855-4163
www.xavier.vic.edu.au

Vice President VITTA
www.vitta.org.au/

>>> "Hutchison, Geoffrey G" <hutchison.geoffrey.g at edumail.vic.gov.au> 7/28/2010 12:14 PM >>>
Join the conversation. Been going on these boards for 3+ years. Going
nowhere.

Geoff Hutchison
McGuire College (Shepp)

-----Original Message-----
From: yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au
[mailto:yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Hall, Rod M
Sent: Wednesday, 28 July 2010 12:00 PM
To: Year 7 - 10 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Yr7-10it] More great value PD - Introduction to Scripting
inGame Maker

Do know that those teachers in "rural" settings are striving also to
deliver an inclusive and engaging curriculum. Often learning many
software applications by themselves as the faculty may not be large
enough to share learning and spending considerable time to do so.
Enthusiasm is a driving force and the opportunity to share PD and
learning helps to refire the enthusiasm when it can wane because the
skill set  may not be as up to date as desired. PD opportunities are
highly welcomed - YET once again all PD for terrific (say)  Gamemaker
applications remains city based and (currently) from 4.30pm to meet the
needs of the city folk. Here us loud and clearly in the country - PLEASE
consider opportunities for Regional PD - we will drive an hour to get to
a location but a 7 hour return trip is just not an option for 2 hours of
sharing.
Get on line country teachers and put your thinking  to VITTA - maybe the
power of the numbers may well stir those talented people to offer their
travel time with VITTA support to come nearer to you .
One can only hope so.
Yours in frustration

Rod Hall
Bright P-12 College

-----Original Message-----
From: yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au
[mailto:yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Kent Beveridge
Sent: Wednesday, 28 July 2010 8:53 AM
To: Year 7 - 10 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Yr7-10it] More great value PD - Introduction to Scripting
in Game Maker

Anything on for us up here in the country that we dont need to travel
etc...etc...???
Scripting PD's etc.

Or do we miss out yet again....

Kent.

________________________________________
From: yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au
[yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au] on behalf of VITTA Professional
Development [pd at vitta.org.au]
Sent: Tuesday, 27 July 2010 4:08 PM
To: Yr7-10it
Subject: [Yr7-10it] More great value PD - Introduction to Scripting in
Game     Maker

Hi folks and sorry for the cross-posts,

Fabulous value Professional Learning: You pay less for this quality
event due to a subsidy provided by Multimedia Victoria.

"Excuse me... How do we use these scripting functions?"

Introduction to Scripting in Game Maker
This PD session will introduce participants to scripting in Game Maker
by creating drag-and-drop games. VITTA and experienced teacher Nat
Bradshaw present a practical session of learning where you will explore
Game Maker in order to inspire and engage. Game Maker allows you to
quickly create exciting computer games. Gain confidence in programming
skills and develop an exciting game to showcase to your students.

Game Maker's simple drag and drop interface is friendly enough to use
with as young as Year 3, but through its powerful scripting language, it
is suitable for students at all levels. With Game Maker you can easily
create games such as top view, platform games, first person shooters, 3D
and networked multiplayer games. It is a fully fledged programming
language capable of non game applications such as physics simulations
and databases.

This Professional Learning session will be on:
Date: Wednesday 18th August 2010

Time: 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm

Venue: Melbourne High School, Forrest Hill, South Yarra, Victoria 3141
Melways Map Reference: 2L J3

For more info and registration go to:
http://www.vitta.org.au/events/event/introduction-to-scripting-in-game-m
aker
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