Interactive Digital Media Scored Assessment Workshop

VIT Code 156N19193

Attended the VCAA Interactive Digital Media Scored Assessment Workshop to brush up on producing effective and proper assessment tools for Unit 3 / 4.

The VCE VET Task Types - Glance at guides document was quite useful at breaking down of how a task can be produced. It clearly states what can put into each task, ie length of project, word count for written parts etc. I'll take this information and reassess where I can change the current task. This in turn should make it easy for students to understand what is expected of them.

2010 - Back into it the swing of it.

The mystery tour was held The Boulevard. The morning consisted of PD. This is a PDF outline of the instructional Model called E5 which it seems the Department is introducing. It reminds me of how we teach VET subjects, such as Multimedia and the photography classes at PIC. The model has 5 Domains: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate. Each Domain then has a set of capabilities then, for progressive level of skill. I found the discussion some what useful as it does seem to be a good way to discuss and describe particular parts of practice.

After lunch, and I must say the food was very good, a few brave souls headed out, onto the golf greens to embarrass themselves for the greater good. Led by our courageous PE teacher Rick, we all preceded to bash the golf balls in every direction. It was good fun, expect for the small amount of sunburn I realized I had later on that evening.

HSC's Digital Take Off

VITTA Slide To Open

I was recently asked to attend the VITTA's (Victorian Information Technology Teachers Association) to sit in a product council for one of the peices of technology that we use at the HSC. Unfortunately, I signed a Non Disclosure Agreement so I can't talk about the product too much but I can talk about the conference! Most of the booths at the conference I was familiar with. Studywiz and Smarthboard, both had stands. I didn't really see anything of interest for HSC. Now, this doesn't disappoint me, just makes me realize more that the technologies in place are excellent, and the skills of all the stand using the technology needs to be updated and maintained regularly. In saying this I think Hawthorn has made significant leaps and bounds to implement PD strategies, ie The Introduction of more Interactive Whiteboards and the focused introductions to Studywiz.

A primary school in a growing suburb on the outskirts of a major Australian capital city decided to install interactive whiteboards in all teaching rooms. Within several months all teachers were using the technology. In fact, so rapid was the surge in teachers acceptance that the term 'digital take-off' was coined. - "Leading a digital school." Mal Lee and Michael Gaffney

I think HSC is in a bit of a 'digital take-off.' Most staff members I have approached have been trying to or using the technologies we have implemented into the school. To reiterate the point, with the Ultranet coming to Victorian schools in 2010, directed eCurriculum PD in the new year is a must.

Afternoon meeting with Dean

Had a great afternoon meeting with Dean to organise our PD's this week.Kathy dropped in as well, and we explored this gem of a website.

Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes. The images you create with Wordle are yours to use however you like. You can print them out, or save them to the Wordle gallery to share with your friends.

I create this image using the data from this blog.

Week 3, Blogging Blues.

I've just realised how hard it is to blog. I did plan to make brief entries to the where-abouts and happenings of my days, but as you can see I haven't kept up with that. So, taking the pressure of myself, these post will probably be shorter and more intermittent.

Last Friday I attended a small conference discussing issues relating to the VET Multimedia subject I teach. I think it was pitched a little below where I am, but I did take away a list of web resources that I want to explore.

I had my first VET Multimedia classes last week at HSC and ABSH. All went well.

This week I must prepare for a PD that I'm am delivering about Studywiz. I am also preparing documents for staff about how to use the intranet.

Things at PIC are going ok, students start this week.

The next few weeks will be trying as I will need to manage my time between the two schools.

Certificate IV In Training And Assessment Enrollment.

I have enrolled into a Certificate IV In Training And Assessment - TAA40104-OC course @ Homesglen TAFE in December. I am going to be claiming Recognition of Prior Learning for most of the course. I am doing this as it is a standard of the AQTF that all trainers have this qualification.The modules are as such are :

• Plan And Organise Assessment
• Assess Competence
• Develop Assessment Tools
• Participate In Assessment Validation
• Provide Training Through Instruction And Demonstration Of Work Skills
• Plan And Organise Group-based Delivery
• Facilitate Group-based Learning
• Facilitate Individual Learning
• Facilitate Work-based Learning
• Use Training Packages To Meet Client Needs
• Design And Develop Learning Programs
• Work Effectively In Vocational Education And Training
• Foster And Promote An Inclusive Learning Culture
• Ensure A Healthy And Safe Learning Environment

What's been happening?

I was offered a full time job, but unfortunately declined as I feel I need to further explore the job I have currently.

My year 12's had their VET Multimedia exam, and claimed that is was "pretty easy."

Year 11 and 12 Multimedia were marked and sent out.

We prepared for the audit. We were audited.

The first years had their assessment.

We had the Graduate Exhibition @ Glen Eira, Town Hall. The show is on until the 16th November.

I enrolled into a Certificate IV In Training And Assessment - TAA40104-OC course. I will undertake it in December.

I enjoyed the first round of work Xmas parties on the weekend, and celebrated in style with The Art Centre crew.

Pretty much all in a week. Too many holidays for teachers? With a workload like this? Not enough I say.

Activities List.

The following is a list of other school activities that I have been involved in or attended during the first half of 2008:

PIC Photographic Imaging College Staff Meetings
Hawthorn Secondary College - VET Multimedia Staff Meetings
Hawthorn Secondary College - 2008 VET Curriculum Planning Meetings
Removal Of Staff Room, before renovations
Staff Corridor Show
2nd Year Show @ Brightspace gallery
S.R.C. End Of Term BBQ
Annual Photographic Camp to the Otways
Student counseling
VET Report writing
Excursion to NGV
PIC Sound and Image Night
HSC Art Show

The following is a list of activities I have had co-ordinated:

Conducted formalized interviews of applicants to the college
Liaison with S.R.C and planning and production of events.
Assisted in planning and production of off campus workshops.
Helped, plan, prepare and run the annual camp.
Updates and contributions to the college Blog
Updates and contributions to the college Myspace
Updates and contributions to the college website.
Updates and contributions to the college facebook website.
Plan, prepare and ran folio excursion to National Gallery Of Victoria.
Planned, ran, and kept minutes for the Photographic Imaging College Staff meetings.
Kept minutes for the Hawthorn Secondary VET Multimedia Staff Meetings.
Facilitated the pre-production of The photographic Imaging Podcast
Production of college promotion, publicity, exhibition, of the Sound and Image Night
Updated and maintained information and records on College Database

Teaching Other Teachers.

On numerous occasions, I've been called upon to help update the skills of colleagues. Usually it is reciprocal process, and everyone comes out learning a new skill. This year, we gained a new colleague only to loose her and to gain another. Both staff were employed to fill the role of VET Year 11 classroom teacher and neither have taught the subject before. This is not uncommon as you will find most teachers move outside of their subject areas to fill voids in the schools timetable. In effect, I have helped two colleagues learn the VET multimedia subject curriculum twice over.

As much as it is time consuming, it does reinforce and give time for reflection over the current curriculum and the way we deliver it.

On Thursday, I delivered a Keynote presentation to an audience of seven, using images mainly made up of student examples of back up and finished works. The reception was great, teachers commenting on the ideas in the keynote and note the keynote itself .(It did look pretty slick)

My presentation was an overall guide to how we deliver the content. We then asked our guest to show one unit of work, and the back up material. It was great seeing other teaching ideas within the curriculum. Next year, the VET Multimedia diploma changes, so once again we will have to re-evaluate and re-write how we deliver the content.

VIT has this to say about delivering PD to other teachers.

"While preparing to deliver professional development to colleagues a teacher is usually reflecting on, exploring and expanding their professional knowledge and sometimes their practice. In this circumstance, the preparation would be counted because it contributes to the teacher's own knowledge and practice."

Web Design From Scratch.

In doing some research for resources I've come across this website dedicated to web design. "Web Design From Scratch," has got some great stuff about Web 2.0 design, which I'm really interested in. It's a common question coming from students now;

"How do I make my website look like [Insert Web 2.0 businness name]?"

This page in particular looks at all the ideas, that make up the web 2.0 design style. I've even bookmarked this page on my iPhone so I can access it quickly.

PD Preparation.

Shift-Command-3 - Screen grab on OSX.

Shortcut Of The Week!

I'm not prepared enough for my VET Multimedia presentation on Thursday yet. I was hoping to get more written in preparation today, but I was quite busy with students assessment and working in our digital lab as the students prepare for their end of year folio. Monday is also our weekly staff meeting, which ran quite quickly and to the point today.

So.. the kicker of my PD will be... DIGITAL NOTES!... on CD!

High school teachers get confused when they don't have paper in their hands, so I wonder how this will go.

The PD for the RTO for VET @ HSC.

So.. let's get into this slowly...

Next Thursday I will be running my own and first Professional Development (PD). Due to the school where I work being a Registered Training Organization (RTO), we auspice a certain amount of schools delivering the same program as us. A part of the service we provide as an auspice school is support and training to these other schools. So it means, my shining pedagogy (damn it, that's a totally of 2 times used) will be on display to others.

The curriculum is a part of the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector of the Victorian state school education system. The subject is Multimedia, so I'll be putting together an exciting, vibrant, dazzling powerpoint KEYNOTE presentation. In fact, to blow them away.. I think I'm even going to use, two projectors!!! TWO PROJECTORS! One will run the keynote, the other will have the live interactive student work.

Below is the light table view of keynote slides. I don't do "powerpoints." Being a visual artist before I was a teacher, I'd rather use the keynote visually and image filled, rather than pointless words that you repeat as you speak. The images are mainly made up of student examples of back up and finished works.

PD Online.

No.. It's not the Victorian Institute of Teaching's online professional development initiative, PDi, it is my own effort to document this crazy processes, we call teaching and how we endeavor to be life long learners.

This will be a place for my own evidence and musings.

P.s. I am never going to use the word Pedagogy.