Specific computer learning begins for students here at John McGlashan College with a compulsory one term module at year nine. This hands on skill based module is designed to ensure that all students at this level have the base competency to be able to access and effectively utilise the comprehensive ICT resources available here at school. Of course the pre-existing skill levels among our year nine students varies greatly as determined by the geographically wide spread area of catchment and the varied nature of schools from which our students are sourced, therefore challenging extension work is provided to those with already advanced skills.

Senior students then have the option of studying computing from year twelve onwards with a particular focus on providing pathways towards obtaining workplace skills or introductory pathways into tertiary studies. There are two curricula on offer at this level. Firstly, students can work towards obtaining NCEA credits via a mix of both unit standards selected from the “Generic Computing” domain and technology achievement standards. Secondly, computer science and ITGS (information technology in a global society) can be studied under the auspices of the International Baccalaureate Organisation either as part of the Diploma Programme or as a stand alone certificate.

Career Pathways

With more options than ever for students to select from, numbers selecting Computing and Information Technology as a potential career pathway have steadily declined in New Zealand (see table 4 below). There are three broad pathways in tertiary information technology:

Information management
Computer Science
Multimedia and Design

This trend is surprising to many as they realise the crucial role such technologies play in our everyday lives.

Table 4: Enrolments and Achievements of Degrees and Postgraduate Diplomas with an IT major

Year

Enrolments

Achievements

2000

4,739

1,099

2001

5,874

1,208

2002

5,088

1,296

2003

5,125

1,643

2004

4,464

1,468

2005

3,376

1,272*

In fact demand for IT professionals has grown rapidly in the last five years (see Figure 1).

Suffice it to say that there are endless job prospects and other possibilities open to those who opt to train and work in this industry. Worth considering for those pragmatists among us!

Senior NCEA Computing

There are a variety of standards on offer that reflect various foci from those described (as potential tertiary pathways) above. It is expected that senior students will attempt certain core standards at both level two and level three (for example, unit standard 2780: “Demonstrate and apply knowledge of a personal computer system”) after which there is opportunity for students to have their course customised to some extent to fit their particular interests and capabilities.

Topics range widely from the creation and use of databases and websites through to animation and robotics.

This is a screenshot of the start scene produced by year thirteen student, William Hughes, for the assessment of their Flash Animation skills. This movie won William a prize from Natcoll for his efforts.

I.B. Computer Science

This is the second year of the running of the first offering of this two year course at John McGlashan College. It is part of the suite of subjects available to those who take up the challenge of the International Baccalaureate Diploma. The small group have adapted well to the demands of the theoretical side of things computer, and also ‘wet their feet’ by writing their own Java based software programs. Also on the syllabus is the study of information systems and software development with a particular emphasis on problem solving.

Robotics

The departments’ Lego Robotics kits continue to prove popular both as a tool to learn programming for senior students, and as an extra-curricular activity for some of the junior students who used them to compete in the local ‘Robocup’ competition.

Lego “Roverbot”.

Sources

Tables sourced from the department of labour survey available at the following site:

http://www.worklife.govt.nz/publications/jvm/professionals/2005/ict.asp