[Year 12 IPM] IT structure in lower sceondary levels

[Lance Gibbens]

Dear Rob,

A vexed question.... with many components. Here is our situation:

As of 2005 we have IT taught in whats called out Specialist Subjects that students rotate though. This includes Music Tech and the like. However it is most unsatisfactory for all as they only see the classes 3 periods / fortnight cycle. As of 2006 2 subjects will be removed, one is IT so the rest het 4 periods a cycle. 

I will be introducing a skills matrix to keep the skill levels consistent.

The vexed question is where is keyboarding taught. This is currently under discussion. Though progress is slow 'because nobody wants to give time or take it on'.

IT is already well established across the curriculum with most subjects using IT at most levels. We have a voluntary laptop program at 9 and 10 with a laptop specific curriculum. All curriculum documents must have some form of ICT integrated into the program (of course what's on paper does not necessarily translate to the classroom). However, generaly this is the case, and in the annual teacher interview teachers must show how they integrate ICT into their curriculum.

We have 640 students with 4 full labs (1 is Mac) plus the library which has 14 stations.... the demand of equipment is intense. Plus we are working on micro labs now, especially for Science and LOTE.

Years 9 and 10 it's and elective... concentration on multimedia. 

The equipment is all leased on 3 year basis.

ICT training of all sorts every other Monday, and other training like Adobe Premier and Tricad done during day. We normally bring the providers here...

Hope that is useful.

Kind regards

Lance
Lance Gibbens
Head of Teaching and Learning
Flinders Christian Community College
P.O. Box 45
Tyabb, VIC, AUSTRALIA
Ph. (03) 59774144 Fax. (03) 59773375






-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Attrill [mailto:attrill.robert.j at edumail.vic.gov.au]
Sent: Tuesday, 7 June 2005 10:06 AM
To: ipm at edulists.com.au
Subject: [Year 12 IPM] IT structure in lower sceondary levels


Hi all,

I have been approached by our admin over the issue of how IT is 
delivered in Year 7 and its impact on student skills and attitudes in 
subsequent years (all the way up to our Year 12 classes). Our principal 
is keen on the idea of delivering IT skills from within the other 
subject areas (ie to be taught by the maths, SOSE, etc. Eng teacher). I 
guess this model is still called "Computers Across the Curriculum" - CAC 
for want of another term.

I know this has been raked over regularly, but if you have the time I 
would appreciate if you could let me know if you have any personal 
experience or strong opinions on the matter. I have some specific 
aspects to consider, one of which is the impact on and experience of the 
model on senior IT classes.

I am interested in a wide range of related aspects. What is the most 
likely physical resourcing model for CAC? (eg IT labs, pods, classroom 
based pc's etc) What funding and resourcing priority does that require 
wthin a school? What training and support structure is required? What 
impact does it have on computer skills and subject choice as students 
move up through other levels? How reliable a structure is it to nurture 
these IT skills (or will they tend to wither away)?

I know of the Northcote SC case, but am more interested in schools using 
(present or past tense) CAC that have not had the benefit of Navigator 
funding. I would love to hear from people who have experienced this 
model for themselves, especially if the model has been introduced and 
then reexamined, regardless of whether it has continued or not.

regards

Rob Attrill
Mill Park SC
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