Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] article on GNU/Linux in schools and universities
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. Steve
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
On Thu, 13 Apr 2006, Ian Lynch wrote:
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.
Ok, I don't know a lot about being accredited... But, once you get it accredited won't that mean that it is no longer a "Scout badge" type of thing, so you can no longer award it for "ah, you tried, bless, here's your certificate"? I suppose I could always do the higher staged Scout badges, which can be way harder than anything they kids do at GCSE! Quite a bit of the stuff I've come up with this year would fit into the silver ingots (from memory) - but why bother? These kids are all going to come out of school with oodles of bits of paper, so what difference is an ingot going to make? Who really cares about KS3 levels anyway? (ok, apart from for school stats, VA tables and all that silly gubbins...)
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 ;-)
Yeah, right after the pigs fly past the moon! Steve
Steve King wrote:
On Thu, 13 Apr 2006, Ian Lynch wrote:
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.
Ok, I don't know a lot about being accredited... But, once you get it accredited won't that mean that it is no longer a "Scout badge" type of thing, so you can no longer award it for "ah, you tried, bless, here's your certificate"? I suppose I could always do the higher staged Scout badges, which can be way harder than anything they kids do at GCSE!
Quite a bit of the stuff I've come up with this year would fit into the silver ingots (from memory) - but why bother? These kids are all going to come out of school with oodles of bits of paper, so what difference is an ingot going to make?
Who really cares about KS3 levels anyway? (ok, apart from for school stats, VA tables and all that silly gubbins...)
Government do. This is to be mandatory in schools by 2008. It effectively mean that *all* schools must be running windows by this date.
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 ;-)
Yeah, right after the pigs fly past the moon!
Steve
On Thu, 2006-04-13 at 11:53 +0100, Darren Jones wrote:
Who really cares about KS3 levels anyway? (ok, apart from for school stats, VA tables and all that silly gubbins...)
Government do.
Yes, OFSTED and those that decide whether your specialist school grants get renewed for a start. KS3 tests are for controlling teachers not kids.
This is to be mandatory in schools by 2008. It effectively mean that *all* schools must be running windows by this date.
Not necessarily, my last meeting with BECTA indicated that current situation was temporary for the pilots and that RM and QCA would have to get their cross-platform act together before it went compulsory. Its up to those that care to make sure the pressure is maintained. -- Ian Lynch www.theINGOTs.org www.opendocumentfellowship.org www.schoolforge.org.uk
On Thursday 13 April 2006 11:19, Ian Lynch wrote:
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 ;-)
When did any government organisation ever write an IT contract that ensured a system that worked, on-time with a money back guarantee? -- Regards Phil Thane Bryn Villa Penycoed Road (off Brook Street) Llangollen Denbighshire LL20 8LR www.brynvilla.llangollen.co.uk 01978 861677 07971 087623
On Thu, 2006-04-13 at 12:24 +0100, Phil Thane wrote:
On Thursday 13 April 2006 11:19, Ian Lynch wrote:
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 ;-)
When did any government organisation ever write an IT contract that ensured a system that worked, on-time with a money back guarantee?
Really they don't have to. They need the will to go to trading standards. Such things are already covered by law and it doesn't really matter what is written on the license if a judge decides its unreasonable. -- Ian Lynch www.theINGOTs.org www.opendocumentfellowship.org www.schoolforge.org.uk
participants (5)
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Darren Jones -
Ian Lynch -
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Steve King -
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