[Yr11 Information Technology] about SCRATCH for Unit2?
Roland Gesthuizen
rgesthuizen at gmail.com
Thu Jun 19 00:28:29 EST 2008
G'day Mark, our VCE SD programming subject gradually died a slow death
as we folded it all into a composite year 11/ITA course. If we had let
the VCE SD list of programming languages drive our year 11 VCE
curriculum then I would probably be back to teaching maths or science.
The changes we made at year 11 mean we now have again three VCE IT
classes, with girls a significant majority in year 12 ITA. Coolies
although as I pointed out, this might only have worked at our school :-)
We used Scratch to help springboard into Python (previously we used
GameMaker). The emphasis was keep the course interesting, fun and
relevant. This approach might favour the largely ESL background of our
kids that select IT or some other social interest factor that I wove
into the course. Who knows .. at least it worked.
I am probably overusing the analogy this week but it is rather like
teaching checkers. It doesn't matter if we use bottle tops instead of a
professionally crafted set of ivory pieces or graduate to teaching
chess, the basic ideas covered can be transposed between the different
languages. I have long forgotten Fortran, but me thinks that those days
and assignments were never really wasted.
I have some good memories of Year 11 Chemistry flame testing different
salts. It was a good thing that I wasn't scared off with Schroedinger
wave equations or watered-down quantum energy calculations. We just had
fun pretending to be scientists with our white labcoats, lighting our
own bunsen burner and practicing report writing.
Regards Roland
Mark Kelly wrote:
> The VCAA list of approved languages
> (http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/correspondence/bulletins/2006/june/06JUNBUL.pdf)
> applies to VCE Software Development, not year 11.
>
> But it would be wise to use a language that has the necessary features
> for SD: loops, logical constructs, subprograms, arrays etc.
>
> After a quick look at Scratch in Wikipedia
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scratch_(programming_language)), I'm not
> sure if it is rigorous enough.
>
> Kent Beveridge wrote:
>> Hey there Jenna,
>> Before you launch into scratch, you better check if its one of the
>> 'accepted' programs for VCE studies. From memory, there was quite a
>> bit of discussion as to the suitability of that program for the year
>> 11 studies. Many of us are using VBASIC or similar because of that
>> concern...
>>
>> ...just a tip...
>>
>> Kent.
>>
>> Kent Beveridge,
>> I.T. co-ordinator
>> St. Brigids Catholic Sec. College
>> Horsham
>> email.. kbeveridge at stbc.vic.edu.au
>>
>> |<3|\|7 b3\/3r1D93 ? ;-)
>>
>> PARTY..PARTEE,..PARTIE,...PARTAY!!
>> "This email and any attachments may be confidential. You must not
>> disclose or use the information in this email if you are not the
>> intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
>> notify us immediately and delete the email and all copies. The
>> School does not guarantee that this email is virus or error free.
>> The attached files are provided and my only be used on the basis that
>> the user assumes all responsibility for any loss, damage or
>> consequence resulting directly or indirectly from the use of the
>> attached files, whether caused by the negligence of the sender or
>> not. The content and opinions in this email are not necessarily
>> those of the School."
>>
>> ________________________________
>>
>> From: yr11it-bounces at edulists.com.au on behalf of Hubbard, Jenna J
>> Sent: Tue 6/17/2008 8:07 PM
>> To: Year 11 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List
>> Subject: RE: [Yr11 Information Technology] Unit 2 Outcome 1
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi everyone,
>> I'm using scratch for the Unit 2 Outcome 1.
>>
>> Does anyone have any useful worksheets, tutorials that can help my
>> students learn about Scratch.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Jenna
>>
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>>
>> From: yr11it-bounces at edulists.com.au
>> [mailto:yr11it-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Fatima Nazar
>> Sent: Tuesday, 17 June 2008 7:56 PM
>> To: Year 11 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List
>> Subject: RE: [Yr11 Information Technology] Unit 2 Outcome 1
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi Kent,
>>
>> this link is pretty good online tutor for my yr 11 ICT class, I am a
>> newbie too. The website, teaches Vb.Net step by step and also has
>> small tasks- like practice ones before the actual ones?
>>
>>
>>
>> www.homeandlearn.co.uk/NET/VbNet.html
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Fatima
>>
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>>
>> From: yr11it-bounces at edulists.com.au on behalf of Kent Beveridge
>> Sent: Tue 17/06/2008 3:37 PM
>> To: Year 11 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List
>> Subject: RE: [Yr11 Information Technology] Unit 2 Outcome 1
>>
>> Thanks Mark..
>>
>> Nice series of tasks!
>>
>> Might be a bit more than I know, but will give 'em a go anyway! (luv
>> a challenge!)
>>
>> I do ok up until about task 5 then I'm pushin it!
>>
>> Twill give me something to do over the hols on top of the excel prep
>> stuff....
>>
>> (oh, and chasing wild women and gettin drunk!)
>>
>>
>>
>> Kent.
>>
>>
>>
>> Kent Beveridge,
>>
>> I.T. co-ordinator
>>
>> St. Brigids Catholic Sec. College
>>
>> Horsham
>>
>> email.. kbeveridge at stbc.vic.edu.au
>>
>>
>>
>> |<3|\|7 b3\/3r1D93 ? ;-)
>>
>> PARTY..PARTEE,..PARTIE,...PARTAY!!
>>
>> "This email and any attachments may be confidential. You must not
>> disclose or use the information in this email if you are not the
>> intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
>> notify us immediately and delete the email and all copies. The
>> School does not guarantee that this email is virus or error free.
>> The attached files are provided and my only be used on the basis that
>> the user assumes all responsibility for any loss, damage or
>> consequence resulting directly or indirectly from the use of the
>> attached files, whether caused by the negligence of the sender or
>> not. The content and opinions in this email are not necessarily
>> those of the School."
>>
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>>
>> From: yr11it-bounces at edulists.com.au on behalf of Mark Kelly
>> Sent: Tue 6/17/2008 12:57 PM
>> To: Year 11 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [Yr11 Information Technology] Unit 2 Outcome 1
>>
>> I'm using VB6 - 'cos we've got it and I know it.
>>
>> I made a graduated series of tasks from very basic to quite
>> sophisticated so kids could show their level of accomplishment.
>>
>> Tasks are attached.
>>
>>
>> Paul Golub wrote:
>>> Dear All,
>>>
>>> first time teaching Unit 1 and 2.
>>>
>>> Need some advice on Unit 2 Outcome 1.
>>>
>>> What software are people using for this outcome and to what depth
>>> are they teaching it?
>>>
>>> Any feedback will be appreciated, thank you.
>>>
>>> Paul Golub
>>> Santa Maria College
>>> 50 Separation Street
>>> Northcote 3070
>>> Ph: 9488 1674
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Mark Kelly
>> Manager - Information Systems
>> McKinnon Secondary College
>> McKinnon Rd McKinnon 3204, Victoria, Australia
>> Direct line / Voicemail: 8520 9085
>> School Phone +613 8520 9000
>> School Fax +613 95789253
>> kel AT mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
>>
>> Webmaster - http://www.mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
>> <http://www.mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au/> IT Lecture notes:
>> http://vceit.com <http://vceit.com/> Moderator: IT Applications
>> Mailing List
>>
>> A conclusion is the place where you got sick of thinking.
>> If you Declare War - is it integer or boolean?
>
>
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