On Thu, 2006-04-13 at 11:03 +0100, suse-schools@kingsteve.co.uk wrote:
On Thu, 13 Apr 2006, Ian Lynch wrote:
Hi Ian,
Sounds like the worst possible combination of technologies. Maybe we need to start teaching technology in schools not all this ICT capability crap that means no-one actually understands anything.
My year 7's typing is, on the whole, so bad that I'm about to teach them how to touch type for a month! (even using tuxtype as a game for them to play with their new found typing skills). Yes, we need to teach skills and ideas not just how to use the cruddy KS3 tests. I did a sample test last week and it was so utterlly crap that I feel sorry for my year9 who are taking it next term! And I don't know if I passsed or not as the client crashed while uploading my stuff to the server! It was so full of bugs and little nasties that I have no idea how I'm going to stand up with a straight face and ask them to take it! I think it was worse than the QTS ICT test, which is a joke.
(Vested interest warning :-) ) Do a Silver INGOT then. Its about L5 difficulty and once I get through the QCA bureaucracy - hopefully for September it will become a L1 VRQ. Get them a real vocational qualification rather than worrying about KS3 tests no employer is going to give a second glance. BTW, if it is so buggy I hope that QCA are going to get their money back via Trading Standards on the grounds of fitness for purpose ;-) -- Ian Lynch www.theINGOTs.org www.opendocumentfellowship.org www.schoolforge.org.uk