Dr Therese Keane
Establishing a Rigorous IT Curriculum in VCE
Current Offerings in Victoria VCE IT Applications Software Development
Enrolments 2010 IT Apps Unit 3 – 3649, Unit 4 – 3489 (273 Providers) Software Development Unit 3, 1257, Unit 4 - 1,217 (99 Providers)
ITA-Basic Course Content IT Apps – Software Type Web authoring Relational databases Optional spreadsheets, multimedia authoring IT Apps – Areas of Study Networks Online communities Data management & information needs Information management Security and ethical considerations Problem solving methodology
SD-Basic Course Content Software Development– Software Type VB Net Python Ruby C# PHP Object Oriented Capabilities – validation abilities Software Development– Areas of Study Software requirement specification document User documentation Data structures Data flow diagrams Problem solving methodology Network security OSI
Enrolments IPM/ITA IPM/ITA
2007 – Change of subject name
Students
Providers
2001
13,356
463
2003
9,748
431
2005
6,583
382
2007
4,749
322
2008
4,147
292
2009
4,286
293
2010
3,649
274
Enrolments Information Systems/SD IS/SD
2007 – Change of subject name
Students
Providers
2001
3,491
188
2003
2,956
192
2005
2,037
149
2007
1,564
126
2008
1,432
120
2009
1,353
105
2010
1,257
99
We Have a Problem!
We Are Not Alone…. • Numbers declining between 2001-2007 • Females are under represented • Computer science in the 21st century must build beyond programming – centric orientation that was prevalent during the discipline's infancy • New pilot course in the US, with partnership from universities. • Grant received to prototype the development of a new course – “AP Computer Science” • 19 Higher Ed Representatives – Advisory Group • Computational thinking and fluency • www.csprinciples.org
Computer Science Principles • Central ideas of computing and computer science • Computational thinking • Engage in activities that show how computing and computer science change the world. • Rigorous & rich in computational content • Computational and critical thinking and skills • Engages students in the creative aspects • Through content and pedagogy, course aims to appeal to a broad audience.
Lets Start Over • • • • • •
1 VCE IT Subject Start from scratch – no expectations Move ITA content into other subjects? Interdisciplinary? Life skills? Software Development? Not a true representation of IT Courses at Uni
Example of 1st year ICT at Uni? • • • • • •
Business Information Systems Computer Science Games Development ICT Network Design and Security Telecommunications & Network Engineering
Problems… • We need a clear vision, image of what ICT is about – clarity of the message • Internal structures to promote IT in schools • Core IT subjects at 7-10 that mirror real world experiences • Life Skills IT to be integrated in other subjects and not to be confused with “The subject” • Better trained teachers who can deliver a course with confidence, and instill enthusiasm and a passion to learn to their students • More partnerships with universities in ICT Outreach • More breadth and variety – in terms of modules in the VCE subject.
Problems… • Relevant, authentic problems to solve? • A subject that has rigor – and is recognized by universities • Assessments….. • A subject that is not scaled down • We need to reinvent ourselves our subject, our course and widely consult with universities to have content with common agreement.
Questions? Comments? Dr Therese Keane Lecturer Educational Technologies Faculty of Information and Communication Technology Swinburne University of Technology
[email protected] 9214 8579