<HTML><BODY>
<DIV>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.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>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. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Very frustrating!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Diane Peat</DIV>
<DIV>Firbnak Grammar School</DIV>
<DIV>BRIGHTON VIC 3186</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px;
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">-----Original
Message-----<BR>From: "Andrew Grimshaw"
<grimshaw.andrew.j@edumail.vic.gov.au><BR>To: "Year 7 - 10 Information
Technology Teachers' Mailing List" <yr7-10it@edulists.com.au><BR>Date:
Thu, 23 Jun 2005 22:32:35 +1000<BR>Subject: Re: [Yr7-10it] ICT in the
Essential Learning Standards<BR><BR>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>hi all</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>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</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>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</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>im finding that the students in yr 9 this
year have very poor skills</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>-andrew grimshaw</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px;
MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>
From:</B> <A title=Meadows.Roslyn.M@edumail.vic.gov.au
href="javascript:openWin('/WorldClient.dll?Session=NTHPIUX&View=Compose&To=Meadows.Roslyn.M@edumail.vic.gov.au&New=Yes','Compose',800,600,'yes');">
Meadows, Roslyn M</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=yr7-10it@edulists.com.au
href="javascript:openWin('/WorldClient.dll?Session=NTHPIUX&View=Compose&To=yr7-10it@edulists.com.au&New=Yes','Compose',800,600,'yes');">
Year 7 - 10 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, June 23, 2005 7:26
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: [Yr7-10it] ICT in the
Essential Learning Standards</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV id=idOWAReplyText96643 dir=ltr>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>Thanks Paula,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>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. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>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.</FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>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. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>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? </FONT>
</DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>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)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>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?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>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</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>"...students will <B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">apply </SPAN></B>ICT knowledge and skills to:</DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal dir=ltr style="MARGIN-LEFT: 11.35pt; TEXT-INDENT:
-11.35pt"><FONT face=Symbol size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Symbol">·<FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1><SPAN style="FONT:
7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT>
<SPAN dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Arial">develop understandings (ICT for visualising
thinking)</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal dir=ltr style="MARGIN-LEFT: 11.35pt; TEXT-INDENT:
-11.35pt"><FONT face=Symbol size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Symbol">·<FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1><SPAN style="FONT:
7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT>
<SPAN dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Arial">demonstrate understandings (ICT for creating)</SPAN>
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal dir=ltr style="MARGIN-LEFT: 11.35pt; TEXT-INDENT:
-11.35pt"><FONT face=Symbol size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Symbol">·<FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1><SPAN style="FONT:
7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT>
<SPAN dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Arial">share understandings (ICT for communicating)</SPAN>
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE:
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><U>in other areas of learning</U>
." (my underlining)</SPAN></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sorry to bore you all - I feel quite
strongly about this. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>Keep smiling everyone - holidays are
just about upon us!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>Ros Meadows</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>Bentleigh SC</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>9579 1044</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><A
href="javascript:openWin('/WorldClient.dll?Session=NTHPIUX&View=Compose&To=meadows.roslyn.m@edumail.vic.gov.au&New=Yes','Compose',800,600,'yes');">
<FONT face=Arial size=2>meadows.roslyn.m@edumail.vic.gov.au</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
</DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B>
yr7-10it-bounces@edulists.com.au on behalf of Christophersen, Paula P<BR><B>
Sent:</B> Thu 23/06/2005 4:31 PM<BR><B>To:</B> IPM List; Year 7 - 10
Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List<BR><B>Subject:</B> [Yr7-10it]
ICT in the Essential Learning Standards<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Dear colleagues</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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 <B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">apply </SPAN></B>ICT knowledge and skills
to:</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 11.35pt; TEXT-INDENT: -11.35pt"><FONT
face=Symbol size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol">·<FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=1><SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT><SPAN dir=ltr><FONT
face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">develop
understandings (ICT for visualising thinking)</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 11.35pt; TEXT-INDENT: -11.35pt"><FONT
face=Symbol size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol">·<FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=1><SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT><SPAN dir=ltr><FONT
face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
demonstrate understandings (ICT for creating)</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 11.35pt; TEXT-INDENT: -11.35pt"><FONT
face=Symbol size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol">·<FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=1><SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT><SPAN dir=ltr><FONT
face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">share
understandings (ICT for communicating)</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Arial">in other areas of learning.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Arial">How they actually <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">
acquire </SPAN></B>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. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I’m very happy to respond to any queries you may have
regarding this matter.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Regards</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Paula Christophersen</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Arial">ICT Curriculum Manager</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Arial">VCAA</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Arial">41 St Andrews Place</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Arial">EAST MELBOURNE</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> 3002</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Arial">(03) 9651 4378</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
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