[Year 12 IPM] Rationale behind the new study design

Tue Feb 21 15:12:21 EST 2006

Or is it top down or bottom up?

Mark Scott

-----Original Message-----
From: ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au]
On Behalf Of Mark Kelly
Sent: Tuesday, 21 February 2006 2:15
To: Year 12 Information Technology Processing and Management
Teachers'Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Year 12 IPM] Rationale behind the new study design

Just because something doesn't happen at the moment doesn't necessarily 
mean it can't *start*   :-)

And I wasn't trying to be mean to our Paula.  I genuinely want to know 
the 'impetus for change' (as our beloved study design would put it. 
Hmmm - is it social, economic or technological, and is it internal or 
external?)

Anyway, why would an august and accountable body such as the VCAA need 
to be coy about the reasons for its decisions?

Love,

Mark

Mark Scott wrote:
> Mark
> 
> Behave!
> 
> Paula obviously has her hands tied by VCAA.
> 
> Mark Scott
> Luther College
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au]
> On Behalf Of Mark Kelly
> Sent: Tuesday, 21 February 2006 1:15
> To: Year 12 Information Technology Processing and Management
> Teachers'Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Year 12 IPM] Rationale behind the new study design
> 
> A wonderfully concise answer, Paula!  (I've just been lecturing my 
> IPMers about concision and relevance when answering questions!)
> 
> The reasons for changing a course are, I think, as important as the 
> actual changes that are made.
> 
> Why, for example, is the new course much richer in multimedia?  Could
it
> 
> be that:  multimedia experience is demanded by tertiary institutions,
or
> 
> employers, or both; it makes the course more attractive to students
who 
> are deserting IT; it makes the course more attractive to girls; the
new 
> course is less geeky and choked with dry theory; etc.
> 
> Things should not be changed without reason, and I think it would be 
> illumination to have the reasoning explained along with the changes.
> 
> Mark
> 
> Christophersen, Paula P wrote:
> 
>>Mark, VCAA has not published its reasons for changing the course, and
> 
> it 
> 
>>does not for any study. Do you have a specific query?
>>
>> 
>>
>>Regards
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au]
> 
> 
>>On Behalf Of Mark Kelly
>>Sent: Tuesday, 21 February 2006 11:45 AM
>>To: Year 12 Information Technology Processing and Management 
>>Teachers'Mailing List
>>Subject: Re: [Year 12 IPM] Rationale behind the new study design
>>
>> 
>>
>>Thanks, Paula.  My only question is the original question :-)
>>
>> 
>>
>>Has the VCAA published its reasons for changing the course as it has
> 
> done?
> 
>> 
>>
>>Mark
>>
>> 
>>
>>Christophersen, Paula P wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Dear Mark and other interested colleagues
>>
>>> All VCE studies follow the same process when undergoing
> 
> reaccreditation.
> 
>>> Key steps in the process include:
>>
>>> *          Establishment of review committee (all teachers have the
>>
>>> opportunity to submit an expression of interest to be on this
> 
> committee)
> 
>>> *          Consideration of the terms of reference, prepared by the
>>
>>> Board of VCAA
>>
>>> *          Preparation of a benchmarking report that investigates
>>
>>> national and international practices and recommends areas for
>>
>>> consideration by the review committee
>>
>>> *          Ongoing reaccreditation meetings to respond to the terms
> 
> of
> 
>>> reference and to draft a study design, in accordance with the VCAA
>>
>>> Principles, Guidelines and Procedures for the Review of VCE studies
> 
> (see
> 
>>> VCE Bulletin, Supplement 1, March 2003, No 186)
>>
>>> *          Regular, formal reporting to internal VCAA committees
> 
> (and
> 
>>> responding to queries raised by these)
>>
>>> *          Consultation with teachers and other targeted
> 
> stakeholders on
> 
>>> the draft study design (methods include online surveys, paper-based
>>
>>> surveys, focus group meetings)
>>
>>> *          Review of draft study design by independent reviewers
>>
>>> *          Refinement of study design, in light of feedback from
>>
>>> consultation and direction from internal committees
>>
>>> *          Recommendation for accreditation from the VCAA board, and
>>
>>> accreditation granted from the Victorian Qualifications Authority.
>>
>>> Typically this process takes 9 - 10 months.
>>
>>> If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to ask.
>>
>>> Regards, Paula
>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>
>>> From: ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au
> 
> [mailto:ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au]
> 
>>> On Behalf Of Mark Kelly
>>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, 21 February 2006 10:26 AM
>>
>>> To: Year 12 Information Technology Processing and Management
>>
>>> Teachers'Mailing List
>>
>>> Subject: [Year 12 IPM] Rationale behind the new study design
>>
>>> Does anyone (even Paula, perhaps) know of any publication from the
> 
> VCAA
> 
>>> that gives a concise justification for the way the new VCE IT (oops
> 
> -
> 
>>> 'ICT') study design has been put together?
>>
>>> --
>>
>>> Mark Kelly
>>
>>
>>Mark Kelly
>>
> 
> 
> 

-- 
Mark Kelly
Manager - Information Systems
McKinnon Secondary College
McKinnon Rd McKinnon 3204, Victoria, Australia
Direct line / Voicemail: 8520 9085
School Phone +613 8520 9000 << new number!
School Fax   +613 9578 9253

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There are 10 kinds of people in the world: those who understand binary 
and those who don't.
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