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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Hi Bill and all,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>This debate over the quality of the
keynote and the VITTA conference theme is an interesting one – and one
which I welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Russell,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>>heheh, if I get shouted
down like that on a *discussion* list, why would I want to join a committee for
more of the same? If dissenting opinions are not >only unvalued but
vehemently attacked, what is the point?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Please do not get the impression that you
were shouted down – far from it (and this is one of the key difficulties
with email). As representatives of VITTA, we have the right to a reply to
your comments – just as you have the right to make them. I would
like to reiterate that your input is indeed not only welcomed but encouraged –
and you are just the sort of person that would be great to have on the VITTA
committee as you have strong views and a passion for education. The fact
that you felt that the keynote was not relevant to you and was too reliant on ‘buzz-words’
is a concern to me. Personally I feel that this is just the sort of
keynote that I want to see. One that has vision and is positive and
thought-provoking.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><br>
>I refrained from pursuing this further on the list because I do respect the
hard work done by VITTA - and overall I do think the conference was great,
meaning for me, the workshops. <br>
>However, I do see a problem with keynotes both in general and with Stephen
Heppell's keynote in particular. I did blog about it instead here:<br>
><a
href="http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/11/some-thoughts-about-prof-stephen.html">http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/11/some-thoughts-about-prof-stephen.html</a><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Bill – a point of order. Not
posting to the IT list – but instead posting to your blog and posting the
link to the IT list are exactly the same.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Bill – I respect your opinion a
great deal. As an inter-state guest of our conference and a regular
contributor to these lists and the IT community, your input into matters like
this is very welcome – in fact, you would be very welcome to have input
into the organisation of our conference next year.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>The setting of a conference theme is
something that is not trivial (nor have you suggested this). The VITTA
committee spent a great deal of time on the conference theme – one which
I was extremely happy with. The Michael Wesch Web2.0 video provided
particular inspiration to us (and I know that you do not necessarily feel the
same way about it). Is it important to have a conference theme?
Absolutely yes! Is it important to have a keynote – and indeed
keynote/s in the style presented at our conference? Yes it is. It
is my belief that the function of a keynote is to provide inspiration, big
ideas, promote discussion (and debate – and in this regard – it has
certainly been successful).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>The overwhelming feedback that we have
received has been very positive. I am personally sorry that the keynote
or the VITTA conference (excluding the workshops) did not meet your needs Bill.
However, we sought to meet the needs of the many and to that end we have
been very successful. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I would be very happy to continue this
discussion off-list (as I am sure that others are getting sick of – and apologies
for this).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Cheers,</span></font><font color=navy><span
style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Adrian</span></font></st1:place></st1:City><font color=navy><span
style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><strong><b><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>Adrian Janson, </span></font></b></strong><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><strong><b><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>VITTA President</span></font></b></strong><b><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy;font-weight:bold'><br>
<strong><b><font face="Times New Roman">Director of ICT, </font></b></strong><br>
</span></font></b><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'>Melbourne</span></font></st1:PlaceName><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">High School</st1:PlaceType></span></font></st1:place><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'>, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>Forrest Hill, South Yarra 3141 <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<br>
Phone: 03 9826 0711 International: +61 3 9826 0711<br>
Fax: 03 9826 8767 International: +61 3 9826 8767<br>
E-mail: </span></font><font color=blue><span style='color:blue'><a
href="mailto:janson.adrian.a@edumail.vic.gov.au">janson.adrian.a@edumail.vic.gov.au</a><br>
</span></font><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'>Website: <a
href="http://www.mhs.vic.edu.ausrsing"
title="http://www.deakin.edu.au/hmnbs/nursing" eudora=autourl>http://www.mhs.vic.edu.au</a><a
href="BLOCKED::http://www.deakin.edu.au/hmnbs/nursing"
title="http://www.deakin.edu.au/hmnbs/nursing" eudora=autourl></a></span></font><u><font
color=blue><span style='color:blue'><br
title="http://www.deakin.edu.au/hmnbs/nursing">
</span></font><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'><br
title="http://www.deakin.edu.au/hmnbs/nursing">
</span></font></u><em><i><font color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
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<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
yr7-10it-bounces@edulists.com.au [mailto:yr7-10it-bounces@edulists.com.au] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Bill Kerr<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Friday, 30 November 2007
8:13 AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> Year 7 - 10 Information
Technology Teachers' Mailing List<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: [Yr7-10it] Re buzz
words from 22/11....</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>hi phil,<br>
<br>
I refrained from pursuing this further on the list because I do respect the
hard work done by VITTA - and overall I do think the conference was great,
meaning for me, the workshops. <br>
<br>
I accept there was no conscious linking b/w the "revolution" theme
emanating from VITTA and the ALP. I never thought there was. <br>
<br>
However, I do see a problem with keynotes both in general and with Stephen
Heppell's keynote in particular. I did blog about it instead here:<br>
<a
href="http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/11/some-thoughts-about-prof-stephen.html">http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/11/some-thoughts-about-prof-stephen.html</a><br>
<br>
I don't mind a theme of revolution - but its hard to deliver on it. IMV web2.0
has become a new received wisdom. Before the conference it was said that VELS
was a revolution and <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Adrian</st1:place></st1:City>
in his response linked the theme to Michael Wesch's videos (which can also be
critically analysed - see the above blog) <br>
<br>
What to do instead? I was asked this by Graham Wegner on my blog and I replied
as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div style='margin-left:30.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I would have preferred a debate between a web2.0 position and a conflicting
position. Any real discussion - something challenging - would have been
preferable to Stephen's nice guy avuncular message. Surprise me! Some talks
have an underlying tension, a coming together of disparate views or an
unresolved tension at the end. Stephen's talk was far too smooth, no untidy
loose ends, no internal struggle. If web2.0 was radical (it's no longer new)
then wouldn't you expect this? So much of the web2.0 material is just bland
goodness. It has become the new received wisdom. This sort of approach would
have also been more congruent with the theme of the conference
("revolution).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><br>
Part of the issue with the way Stephen's keynote worked out in practice was
this:<br>
<br>
1) an important international expert arrives from overseas to tell us that
local knowledge is the most important thing <br>
2) We sit in lecture mode hearing that the lecture is no longer important<br>
3) the limitations of web2.0 apps are not mentioned. There was no context
either historical (computer science) or historical, about all the knowledge
discovered before computers were invented<br>
<br>
<br>
With the ALP about to embark on an "education revolution" I think
that we need to keep our skeptical antennae tuned. See also<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a
href="http://bluyonder.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/revolution-of-the-mind/">Revolution
of the Mind </a><br>
<br>
Greg Whitby is also skeptical about Labour's education revolution, pointing out
that it's teachers not computer hardware that will be the decisive factor in
change<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a
href="http://bluyonder.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/revolution-of-the-mind/">http://bluyonder.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/revolution-of-the-mind/</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><br>
cheers,<br>
- Bill<br>
-- <br>
Bill Kerr<br>
<a href="http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/">http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>On Nov 29, 2007 5:00 PM, Phil Callil <<a
href="mailto:P.Callil@xavier.vic.edu.au">P.Callil@xavier.vic.edu.au </a>>
wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>"I agree; the keynote on the day I attended was 99% "bum
fluff" as I like to call it." <br>
<br>
My, if that isn't an unnecessarily provocative and uninformed comment, I'm not
sure what is.....<br>
<br>
First, reading Bill's analytical and thoughtful comments about buzz words in
political policies and the like certainly caused me to think about how such
words and cliches are thrown about by both sides of the political spectrum.
Regardless, the investment made by the federal government in education has
caused us to fall behind when compared with many OECD countries. I think that's
clear. Similarly, the government's policies on broadband have done the
same, especially when compared with <st1:country-region w:st="on">South Korea</st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Japan</st1:place></st1:country-region>
and many European and Scandinavian countries. <br>
<br>
They are buzz words when used by politicians who are perhaps looking for their
10 second grab to the masses.<br>
<br>
But to suggest that the keynotes (or even one of them) on Monday and Tuesday
were of a similar ilk is an unnecessary and fairly insulting swipe at two
people who have established international and national reputations
(respectively) for their experience and knowledge. Heppell's delivery I
thought was appealing, accessible, eye opening and informative. It
represented a lot of ideas we need to consider when it comes to what we want
our schools to look like over the next 50 years - ideas we need to consider if
we are to fashion our own Australian response to the educational needs of our
children <br>
<br>
Moyle's comments I felt were not necessarily eye opening stuff but were based
on solid analysis of field research of schools, industry and teachers. For IT
practitioners at the coalface in schools, maybe they were not necessarily eye
opening but it was good to hear such views being expressed by an academic who
can influence national policy in IT in education. Her ideas on
programming and where it sits in the curriculum and the importance of cross
platform open source apps were very appealing - at least to me anyway. <br>
<br>
To suggest that the keynote on (whatever) the day "99% 'bum fluff'
" is unfair, unnecessary and offensive. VITTA work hard to cater
for both the IT specialists who form the bulk of the membership and teachers
who are cross curriculum. From a subjective and objective point of view,
I think this was done successfully. <br>
<br>
So, whatever you do, rather than making comments like this, be a little bit
more proactive and join in the decision making process at VITTA. Come and
join the committee and have a say in the keynote speaker selection. <br>
<br>
Best wishes<br>
<br>
<br>
Phil Callil<br>
Faculty Head IT<br>
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Xavier</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">College</st1:PlaceName></st1:place><br>
<br>
Vice President VITTA<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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