The Summer Course is based on Mechanical Engineering's delivery of :-
Course No: 9801: Access to Vocational Studies.
Subject No: 9801A and 9801C.
Location: Room 1/17 (Computer Laboritory),
Ground Floor J Block,
Meadowbank TAFE.
This course, as we presented it, was based on offering students an opportunity to use computer software applications normally used by students pursuing technical or creative courses, rather than the Microsoft Office based office orientated skills training which we had offered initially. We found a high proportion of today's High School students have been exposed to MS Office and wanted to pursue other computing directions.
The areas of application that proved of particular interest to the majority of students included:-
Computer Aided Drawing
Computer Graphics
Website Development
Computer Programming
Functional areas that proved of varying interest to individuals but certainly provided an interesting break in the routine for many included:-
Touch Typing Training
Microsoft Office/Win 2000 (Tricks and Tips)
Batch File Writing and DOS Commands
Assembling Computer Systems
Installing Software
Removal and Replacement of Major Components
The course was run it along computer club lines with a short formal presentations and informal period for activities. Information was presented and a demonstration given using our overhead computer screen projection facilities. The students would then experiment themselves, as individuals or in groups. Some would discover they now had a new interest while others, after a polite period, would go back to what they were working on.
There was no formal assessment but they were each provided with a folder with transparent sleeves to store their work in. This became their “portfolio”, and toward the end they were all using part of their lunch break or staying back after class to complete work that they were not originally interested in but had decided would look good in their portfolio.
The course was 18 wks at 3hrs a week. The large range of topics is about providing student choice, and relies on positive group dynamics, use of peer support and excellent Engineering Computer Lab facilities (which certainly exceed those available in IT). The material occurs in courses taught by Mechanical Engineering Staff for JSST, VET, Access, Engineering, IT and TAFE Plus classes at Meadowbank TAFE and it's implementation supported by staff experience teaching in High Schools, University lecturing and working with other training organisations.
It also helps that the staff enjoy doing it, and students of whatever age will find they will enjoy being part of the supportive learning enviroment Mechanical Engineering provides at Meadowbank TAFE and some will return to enrol in our other courses.
The first half hour in the morning and immediately after lunch are allocated to allow the students free time to surf the net and check their email. That’s one hour total net surfing and emailing a day that they would have contrived to do anyway but is formalised to act as an incentive to get to class on time. Those without internet or email experience are shown how to use them.
The Engineering Computing Lab is air conditioned, which is is a relief in summer. We keep additional computers at the rear that can be pulled apart and reassembled by those who would like to. We have tea and coffee making facilities in the room and we provide the tea, coffee, sugar and milk. There is a softdrink machine just outside in the corridor.
AutoCad 2000 and Mechanical Desktop are industry standard drawing and design packages and are taught in Schools, TAFE, and Universities. They are widely used in the workplace by those who need to be able to draw creatively yet with precision to permit the drawing to be a basis for building or manufacturing.
Students do two dimensional drawing initially then move to creating three dimensional models. Once students have sufficient confidence they can experiment, draw and model whatever appeals to them.
Of course, drawings done using AutoCad are an example of computer graphics but for many, the creation and use of images in documents, or to enhance websites, has a particular interest.
Students have the opportunity to modify existing images found on the internet, as well as create their own, using MS Paint, Paint Shop Pro, Microsoft Photo Editor and other packages for use in documents or on websites.
It is safe to say all students come along are interested in the World Wide Web.
The Internet is the fastest growing communication and information medium in existence and our computers are linked to the web all the time. Students can learn more about being part of the Web by learning how to create websites.
Students are shown how to establish a website and then create content using authoring packages and then how to be able to edit and better present the content using HTML, graphics and some JavaScript.
Computer programming is introduced using QBasic programming language and then moving to Visual Basic for Windows. Those who wish to proceed further can have an introduction to Pascal and C/C++. The internet languages HTML using CSS and JavaScript introduced in website develpment may be pusued in greater depth.
Of course it is possible to come along and do none of the things mentioned above. The course has grown by including those areas that students said they were interested in. There are many packages on the computers and we can always download 30 DayTrials of those we don't have. In addition to technical or office type packages there are a variety of computer related skills that can be pursued. If an individual student has an overwhelming interest then, on experience to-date, it will prove to be of interest to others and will become part of the “program”, at least for that course and may be added to the list for future courses.
Factors to consider would include:-
* The total time available is halved.
* Students don't have time to practice and develop their skills during the week between classes.
* The teacher does not have the week between classes to organise finding unique software or information that individuals express interest in.
Likely Consequences Might Be To Focus The Offer To One Of (say):-
* Introduction to Computer aided Drawing and Graphics.
* Introduction to Building Websites.
* Introduction to Basic Computer Programming.