Hey,
So I'm a year 10 thinking of taking up computing next year... only my school doesn't offer it.
I have talked to my careers counsellor and she recommended distance education through
http://www.distance.vic.edu.au/I've been reading the study design and the description on the website and it seems like something I would be interested in. But because computing is not offered at my school and barely anyone does distance ed here (3 people, I believe) I don't have any contact with anyone that could tell me about the 'real stuff' in the subject. So I was hoping some of you could advise me.
First up, how hard is it? I know this can be variable depending on your abilities, but just generally. For some background, I am pretty set on taking methods, general/further, business management 3/4, accounting and eng language next year, if that gives away anything about my strengths.
What do you need to know before starting? On the website it does say that you should be able to use html... but to what degree? Will I be able to teach myself to the required level? And is there anything else that I can do to get ahead, especially considering I won't have direct contact with a physical teacher, only my online companion.
For those who have taken distance ed before, what is it like in terms of contact with the teachers? I am taking Bus Man 1/2 this year and I find that I am very vocal with my teacher and am always emailing them and checking up stuff with them. Is the online teacher available for contact outside of my class hours, enabling me to shoot them an email if I get stuck?
I am lucky because my dad has been an expert on computing/programming/networks stuff for a long time. He has read through the study design and tells me that he knows all of the content well, meaning I will almost have a private tutor. But I also realise that his knowledge is a bit dated. Is the one lesson a week (one lesson a week is correct, right?) enough to learn everything needed, or is the lesson to revise your knowledge and not to teach you...? Or would you reccomend a tutor?
I think that's it! I'll update and post more questions if they pop up
Thanks in advance
Note: I'm kind of confused why this whole process is necessary for me to learn IT. I mean, there is this huge push for Science and Technology education, yet it's so difficult for me to obtain it. My school likes to think of itself as a STEAM school... yeah we offer maths, art and science, but technology and engineering - hardly. IT is such an important skill for the future, you'd think they would be marking it up and encouraging people to take it. I just hope some of my friends will have the sense to take a subject like this to prepare them for the future.