[Yr7-10it] ICT in the Essential Learning Standards
Diane Peat
dpeat at firbank.vic.edu.au
Fri Jun 24 00:01:57 EST 2005
This is a carbon copy of the school I'm at, although I have just been
knocked back for reintroduction of Year 7 and/or 8 ICT - for all the excuses
that have been listed previously.
Consequently, we did not run an IPM class this year because of low numbers,
which is a 'flow on' from not running a class in either of Years 7 or 8.
Very frustrating!
Diane Peat
Firbnak Grammar School
BRIGHTON VIC 3186
-----Original Message-----
From: "Andrew Grimshaw" <grimshaw.andrew.j at edumail.vic.gov.au>
To: "Year 7 - 10 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List"
<yr7-10it at edulists.com.au>
Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2005 22:32:35 +1000
Subject: Re: [Yr7-10it] ICT in the Essential Learning Standards
hi all
im currently in the process of trying to get ICT re-introduced to yr 7 and 8
at 1 or 2 sessions a week. last few years there has been no ICT subject at
yr 7 and an elective at yr 8 for each semester
the attempt at intergration has been very unsatisfactory - some students get
heaps of time in the labs, some very little according to which teacher they
may happen to get. very few get expert tuition
im finding that the students in yr 9 this year have very poor skills
-andrew grimshaw
----- Original Message -----
From: Meadows, Roslyn M
To: Year 7 - 10 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 7:26 PM
Subject: RE: [Yr7-10it] ICT in the Essential Learning Standards
Thanks Paula,
Having poured over the documentation, publications, powerpoint
presentations, DVD and website since I first saw the VELS booklet last year
(and went "oh shock horror!"), I believe that I, like most others on this
list, fully understand the gist (and possible implications) of VELS.
But it is our collective fear that given the opportunity, and an already
crowded curriculum, many schools will take the opportunity to hit the delete
button on ICT as a separate subject and attempt to integrate it into other
subjects - thus freeing up a couple of periods per week in Year 7 and 8,
which will then be 'up for grabs' by other KLA's. Being a small learning
area (3 teachers at BSC) we will rarely have the 'numbers' in the vote that
may or may not take place (in our school it will be a decision made by the
principal). And sometimes these school based decisions are not made on
educational merits alone, but are more influenced by peoples' personal
agendas, which members of staff are on the committee that makes the
decision, the lobbying by some and the personalities of the lobbiers. It's
all a matter of politics really! I have seen this happen numerous times in
my years of teaching.
In the previous emails to these lists which describe the experiences of
other schools who have already tried to integrate ICT, the ICT teachers were
overwhelmingly disappointed in the outcome.
The standards that each student must attain are in the VELS documentation,
but who will be following this up to make sure that these standards are met?
Will the VELS watch dogs be at every school to make sure that ICT skills are
being learned? What will happen in a couple of years time once Maths or SOSE
have gained these extra periods each week - will the ICT component of their
course eventually be watered down to the bare minimum, or even less?
And how can an English, SOSE, Maths or Science teacher with little or no
interest in ICT (and perhaps little or no ICT knowledge or skills) replace
an enthusiastic ICT teacher who has the knowledge, interest and the
experience teaching these skills? I am sorry but I see ICT skills as being
much more relevant to today's students than, for example - what food
ancient egyptians ate or what they wore (the subject of a Year 7 history
assignment that consumed many hours of cutting out, colouring in, and
drawing pictures that my daughter had to complete)
As an aside - I did a brief 'hands up' survey earlier this week of two year
8 classes on "What is your favourite subject?" Only 3 subjects got a
guernsey - ICT, Sport and Art - with the overwhelming majority choosing ICT.
(They have studied databases, web design, flash and image manipulation this
semester - all of which has been put into the context of real world and
relevant situations - thanks Greg Bowden for your text and CD ROM). Perhaps
this is a reflection of my enthusiasm for the subject (one would like to
think so), perhaps it is because they are always so engaged that there is
never any misbehaviour (and one of these classes has a number of 'difficult'
students, which makes life rather tedious for the other 'good' kids),
perhaps it is because they just love sitting at a computer. How will the
kids feel if you take ICT away and give them an extra period of say, Maths
and SOSE each week?
So I continue to ask "Has VELS got it wrong?" (By even considering giving
schools a chance to integrate ICT across the curriculum) And I still
strongly believe that ICT should be up there with the big four (English,
SOSE, Maths, Science). And I don't believe that it can be successfully
integrated across the curriculum. It should not be considered just as a tool
to be used in other areas of learning - as in
"...students will apply ICT knowledge and skills to:
· develop understandings (ICT for visualising thinking)
· demonstrate understandings (ICT for creating)
· share understandings (ICT for communicating)
in other areas of learning." (my underlining)
Millions of people around the world are employed in the ICT and related
industries, compared to the number of people employed in, for example,
history or art related industries. Yet history is considered important
enough to warrant 3 periods per week for one semester for 4 years, (about
240 periods) whereas ICT gets 2 periods per week for 1.5 years, (about 100
periods) - and may lose this. ICT should be considered as a learning area
on its own; it should not just be considered a tool to be used in other
learning areas.
Sorry to bore you all - I feel quite strongly about this.
Keep smiling everyone - holidays are just about upon us!
Ros Meadows
Bentleigh SC
9579 1044
meadows.roslyn.m at edumail.vic.gov.au
From: yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au on behalf of Christophersen, Paula P
Sent: Thu 23/06/2005 4:31 PM
To: IPM List; Year 7 - 10 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: [Yr7-10it] ICT in the Essential Learning Standards
Dear colleagues
Lately there has been some discussion about the ‘interdisciplinary’ nature
of the ICT domain and its status in the Essential Learning Standards. Being
a member of the Interdisciplinary Learning strand does not preclude ICT from
being offered as a dedicated subject. Being interdisciplinary means that in
their learning, students will apply ICT knowledge and skills to:
· develop understandings (ICT for visualising thinking)
· demonstrate understandings (ICT for creating)
· share understandings (ICT for communicating)
in other areas of learning.
How they actually acquire these knowledge and skills is up to the school.
For example, the locus of learning may be in a dedicated ICT subject where
students would develop/acquire ICT knowledge and skills using authentic data
and information pertaining to other domains. OR, other schools may construct
a learning environment where the acquisition and application of ICT
knowledge and skills occurs in non-ICT classes. The choice is yours. The
Essential Learning Standards document does not mandate how students will
acquire the ICT knowledge and skills, but it does state the standards that
must be demonstrated at progressive levels of learning.
I’m very happy to respond to any queries you may have regarding this matter.
Regards
Paula Christophersen
ICT Curriculum Manager
VCAA
41 St Andrews Place
EAST MELBOURNE 3002
(03) 9651 4378
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