Information and Communication Technology
Facilities, Aims and Policy
Year 7
Middle School
VCE
Brentwood Secondary College recognises that the field of Information and Communications Technology is an every increasing presence in our lives, and that the vast potential of these tools is contingent upon the ability to both navigate and utilise the expansive digital world, as well as to evaluate appropriate usage strategies and the efficacy of these resources.
The Information and Communications Technology faculty therefore delivers high quality-learning opportunities as an essential component of each student's educational program.
The ICT Faculty aims to enhance and extend its capacity to create empowered imaginative and independent learners, to build global learning communities and to open learning opportunities for all members of the College community. We aim to develop student's ICT skills to enable them to confidently and competently use computers to assist their learning and personal growth
Brentwood Secondary College has extensive desktop computer facilities on both Windows and Mac platforms. A Local Area Network and the Internet allow students' access to information and service resources to aid in the enhancement of their learning and widen their world exploration and research capabilities, while in a safe supervised environment.
Considered to be an extension of the library, the school provides access to a number of information sources through the Internet and on-line resources.
Our aim, in keeping with the College's Research and Resources Policy, is to develop independent learners who are able to:
- define the purpose for which information is required
- locate appropriate sources of information
- understand and appreciate information from several sources
- present information in an appropriate way
- acknowledge the work of others through quotations and citations, while being honest about what has been personally contributed
- evaluate their own processes of learning at the conclusion of an assignment or project.
Courses In ICT
Year 7 students will develop their ICT skills as part of the integrated TLC project. Year 7 students will have exclusive access to Macintosh Notebook computers. They will be expected to develop skills in a wide range of software types and, in particular, they will be expected to publish their work electronically.
Students will be expected to develop skills in using the school network and develop effective and efficient skills in the use of global communications technology.
Semester length units of 4 periods per week.
The following units are offered in the MIDDLE SCHOOL at the indicated year levels:
| Unit | Year Level | Unit name |
| 8 | ||
| IT202 | 8 | |
| IT203 | 8 | DIGITAL DIVAS |
| IT301 | 9 | |
| IT302 | 9 | PROGRAMMING AND GAMEMAKER |
| IT303 | 9 | |
| IT401 | 10 | ADVANCED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY |
| IT402 | 10 | ADVANCED COMPUTER PROGRAMMING |
| IT403 | 10 | ADVANCED WEB DEVELOPMENT |
IT201S GENERAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Aims: To introduce students to a range of different software applications used to solve information problems.
Content: Students will develop skills using the software applications Word, Excel, Publisher, Paint Shop Pro and PowerPoint. Projects will be completed in conjunction with other areas of study. Students will also undergo the processes of Web design and creation using HTML, and time permitting, develop programs using Visual Basic.
Students will explore the effects of information technology developments on the lives of individuals, and justify, develop and modify solutions to meet specific audience needs, using a range of information technology skills, processes and equipment.
Aims: To give talented students the opportunity to participate in computer related projects of significance to the school community. To encourage the use of initiative, creativity and problem solving in the use of Learning Technologies.
Content: Students are guided in the development of advanced skills in Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, FrontPage, Paint Shop Pro and Inspiration. Students then go through a process of planning and decision-making, leading to the individual - or group-based project of their choice. The project must be challenging, achievable and properly concluded. It must be of value to the College or community group (such as a Sports Club, Primary School class).
Students will explore the effects of information technology developments on the lives of individuals, and justify, develop and modify solutions to meet specific audience needs, using a range of information technology skills, processes and equipment.
Aim: To develop skills using information technology in order to design and implement solutions to information problems.
Content: Students will analyse problems and develop solutions to information problems, both individually and as a team member, using a range of information technology skills, processes and equipment. This unit focuses on developing skills in using Office 2007 products. Students will also develop skills in the use of Adobe CS3 products to manipulate images and to create animations and web pages.
Students will examine a range of emerging technologies and develop efficient techniques for the acquisition, analysis and display of information obtained from the Internet.
IT301 - INTERMEDIATE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Aims: To introduce students to a range of different software applications used to solve information problems.
Content: Students will develop skills using the software applications Word, Excel, Publisher and PowerPoint Students will also create Web pages which will involve skill development at using web authoring, image editing and animation software.
Students will explore the effects of information technology developments on the lives of individuals, and justify, develop and modify solutions to meet specific audience needs, using a range of information technology skills, processes and equipment.
IT302 - PROGRAMMING SKILLS & GAME MAKING
Aim: To develop students' abilities in designing and developing computer programs.
Content: Students learn how to design and create solutions to problems using the Visual Basic Programming Language. Different programming constructs are investigated, as students are introduced to a range of techniques and methods for coding events in the VB programming environment. Students are required to design solutions using Pseudocode, and write programs which carry out specific tasks. Students will also develop basic computer games using Gamemaker and Scratch.
Aim: To develop students' abilities in in creating multimedia products in print and electronic format.
Content: Students learn how to design and create multimedia products in both printed and electronic format using a wide range of software types including desktop publishing, animation, video and sound editing software.
IT401S ADVANCED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Aims: To develop skills using information technology to design and implement solutions to information problems.
Content: Students will analyse and develop solutions to information problems, both individually and as a team member, using a range of information technology skills, processes and equipment. If time permits students will develop basic programs using Visual Basic.
Students will predict the likely uses and effects of a range of emerging technologies, and justify their selection for their introduction into particular settings.
Aims: To develop students' abilities in designing and developing computer programs and games.
Content: Students will learn to create distinct, self-existing, complex, short programs, which will incorporate the basic use of programming techniques using Visual Basic. Students will develop interactive games using Gamemaker.
IT403 - ADVANCED WEB DEVELOPMENT
Aim: Students will develop interactive web pages using a variety of web applications, including programming languages, in response to information problems.
Content: Students will analyse problems and develop solutions to information problems, both individually and in collaborative teams. They will learn how to create web pages that incorporate CSS, PHP and Flash animations.
Students will use HTML, Actionscript and PHP programming to create dynamic content on their website.
The software used will include Expression Web, Dreamweaver, Flash, After Effects, Image Editing and SQL.
The following are offered to Year 11 and 12 students and Advanced placement students, and are semester length units of 5 periods per week:
- Information Technology (units 1 and 2)
- Software Development (units 3 and 4)
- IT Applications (units 3 and 4)