ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => Victorian Education Discussion => Topic started by: hard on January 15, 2009, 07:06:13 pm

Title: distance education
Post by: hard on January 15, 2009, 07:06:13 pm
Okay so i have been thinking for a while now, (a while as in a day), and i have thought about doing Business managament as a distance ed subject. The reason being, the busniess management class at my school is at full capacity and i have previously asked my teachers if they could spare one more space, but they refused. So i've thought, and came to the conclusion that i want to do bus man on a dis ed.

However, this will mean that i will eventually have 7 subjects not 6 to which one will be left out.

Thus i've decided that chemistry is probably my worst subject and will most likely get put as a 5/6 subject therefore dropping it.

This will mean that my subjects for 2009 would look like this:


English
Methods
Specialist
Business Management - dis ed

What worries me however is that i don't understand how dis ed work. Can someone who has done a subject through dis ed (and i know AppleXY has, give me and insight to how difficult it is, the constraints and any other info. Who teaches you the subject? how do you complete SACs? Can my school reject the thought of me completing a subject through dis ed?

Also, can you guys also comment on my decision and whether it's better than my previous one of completing chemistry?

thankyou.

EDIT: also one more thing, is Bus Man a bit like legal?

Title: Re: distance education
Post by: danieltennis on January 15, 2009, 07:33:49 pm
Hey Hard, didn't you want to do Engineering? I think you either need physics or chem to get in Engineering.
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: hard on January 15, 2009, 07:46:24 pm
Hey Hard, didn't you want to do Engineering? I think you either need physics or chem to get in Engineering.
most engineering courses require methods, english and some spec. But i'm leaning towards a double degree in engineering/commerce or engineering/arts.
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: mystikal on January 15, 2009, 08:17:21 pm
Ummm i think daniel is right. . . Not 100% sure on this but from most the engineering courses i have looked at from the VTAC guide ive found that they require chemistry OR physics in other words its prereq.

Because of this i advise you to keep chemistry if you want to have engineering as a one of your options.

Another reason being is that you have to make sure with your school that they will allow you to do only 3 subjects at school and 1 at home. I know most schools say 4 is the minimum of subjects a student has to do in year 12, but every school is different and they might this ok. Just that you will have alot of free periods.

O wells good luck subject selections is one of the hardest thing just pick the subject that fufills your needs as well as your interests.
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: lacoste on January 15, 2009, 08:23:02 pm
yep, its a pre-req; chem most of all courses then physics, although it would be good to get a background in physics.

2 questions here for you to answer;

1). Do seven subjects as chem is a pre-req [ drop spesh = 6 subjects], and ask yourself if you can beat your vis communication SS. Then it wouldnt be such as waste?

2). Do you have a passion for BM?
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: danieltennis on January 15, 2009, 08:28:52 pm
Well if he still wants to pursue Engineering, he can probably undertake B.Science at Melb Uni and depending on what type of engineering he wants to do in his masters, he can choose from civil systems, electrical systems, software systems and mechanical systems as a breadth unit. I'm not too sure, but I think that is how it works.
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: Eriny on January 15, 2009, 09:20:55 pm
Also, if you really hate physics, you have to think, is engineering really for you? I'm not sure how much physics is actually involved, but probably quite a bit.
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: lacoste on January 15, 2009, 09:24:54 pm
i think that you would do great in BM because I guess that Legal is all about writing out answers in clear english just like BM; if you've got good communications, then you would ace BM

Title: Re: distance education
Post by: hard on January 15, 2009, 09:42:31 pm
ahh thanks guys but in regards to the engineering, i think the only one the has chemistry as a pre-req would would RMIT chemical engineering. AHHH THIS IS DOING MY HEAD IN!
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: costargh on January 15, 2009, 10:23:58 pm
lol sorry. i think iv unintentionally messed up hards passions.

Ive always thought that most engineering would have some sorta physics basis, predominately civil yeh?
and if ur not that good at chem, does that rule out chemical?
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: Flaming_Arrow on January 15, 2009, 10:30:37 pm
Don't do a subject because it's not a prerequisite. if you want to do chemical engineering i strongly suggest you do chem 3&4 to give you an understanding of what to expect in university level. if you're not good in chem i wouldn't recommend doing chemical engineering, but that's just what i think.
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: costargh on January 15, 2009, 10:39:03 pm
I think this thread is deviating from the question, but I think it's entirely necessary discussion.

Here are some questions to think about:

1. What makes you want to be an engineer?
2. What area/s of engineering do you want to pursue?
3. Are you good at these areas (in terms of the VCE subject related areas)?
4. What makes you want to study business/commerce (at University level)?
5. Are you good at these areas?
6. Why do you want to study Business Management?


To me it seems you're at a cross-road. You're questioning what you've always had your eyes on.
To me, if you're just pursuing engineering because of an idea that spawned years ago, that's not enough. If you actually enjoy it, want to do it, are enthusiastic about being in that area then by all means go for it.
What I'm trying to say is don't just do something for like... the sake of fulfilling past dreams. Evaluate whether those dreams are still warrented and in place at this present point in time.
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: jess3254 on January 15, 2009, 11:31:18 pm
What worries me however is that i don't understand how dis ed work. Can someone who has done a subject through dis ed (and i know AppleXY has, give me and insight to how difficult it is, the constraints and any other info. Who teaches you the subject? how do you complete SACs? Can my school reject the thought of me completing a subject through dis ed?

Here is an explanation I wrote for someone ages ago on how distance education works and the pros + cons, which may or may not be useful:
 
Quote
"I did Distance Education.
Every semester, you will receive a workbook for each subject (in conjunction with an external text book). Every week, you have to submit a week's worth of work (for each subject), in which you will complete varying amounts of reading, questions, essays etc.

You can view examples of how distance ed booklets are set out for each subject here:
http://www.distance.vic.edu.au/subschools/ss1112.htm#subjects (probably more useful than my explanation.)
EDIT: Sample of first week for Business Management - http://www.distance.vic.edu.au/subschools/vcesubjectinfo/pdf/bm03301.pdf

I did Distance Ed whilst I was sick, so obviously my experiences are going to be different to an individual who's able to attend full time school and is doing one subject through DECV.

Pros of DECV:
-Can work at your own pace. If you don’t understand a concept, you can sit there and read over it until you get it (which you can’t really do in classes.)
-DECV booklets have extensive information in them, and all your class notes are right in front of you (good for people who'd rather read than listen to someone.)
-Some of the teachers can be absolutely fantastic.
-The course is structured well
-Good if you are organised.
-I felt like I was achieving and learning a lot through DECV.

Cons of DECV:
-No class discussion.
-Not good for people who aren't very organised.
-The amount of work can be huge and stressful. 
-A detached way of learning.
-According to my friends, if you are doing DECV + normal school, your DECV subject can fall through the cracks. A lot of my friends have had to drop their DECV subject because they were busy with their school subjects.
-No class time to work.
-Some of the activities they ask you to complete can be a bit weird

Another explanation I wrote:
Quote
Like every school, some teachers at DECV are better than others. I haven't done any business studies through DECV, thus I will be unable to provide you with useful information regarding your potential teachers. Some of my teachers responded quickly to my e-mails and phone calls, and were brilliant at providing explanations and assisting me with revision, but some weren't. I personally found the course books were set out well and contained a wealth of good information.

It is entirely possible to obtain a 40+ study score through DECV if you put the effort in. However, you have to be highly motivated and organised to do well in DECV. YOU MUST STAY ON TOP OF THE WORK LOAD! I've heard it's easy to fall through the cracks when you are doing DECV in conjunction with regular school. Conversely, I wasn't very organised prior to undertaking DECV, however, I slowly acquired really good organisational skills and actually found undertaking DECV to be a highly positive experience.

Quote
how do you complete SACs?

Your home school will assign a teacher to be your supervisor. Generally speaking, your SACs will be sent directly to your supervisor, and you will complete them during your spares.

Quote
Can my school reject the thought of me completing a subject through dis ed?

Yes, unfortunately they can stop you from undertaking a VCE subject via distance ed. The category you will be applying under -  students in regular schools, requires a school endorsement for enrollment.

If you have any further questions, feel free to PM me :)
Good luck.

Oh and, links to other threads on DECV and people's opinions:
http://vcenotes.com/forum/index.php/topic,4828.0.html
http://vcenotes.com/forum/index.php/topic,195.0.html
http://vcenotes.com/forum/index.php/topic,7586.0.html
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: hard on January 15, 2009, 11:39:55 pm
omggggg i just had a wake up call! thanks to some help from psychlaw(haz) from msn and costa i have come to the conclusion that engineering isn't for me.

MY DREEAMMM COUSE = COMMERCE/LAW - ANU OR COMMERCE MELBOURNE YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY THANKS GUYS
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: hard on January 15, 2009, 11:45:48 pm
What worries me however is that i don't understand how dis ed work. Can someone who has done a subject through dis ed (and i know AppleXY has, give me and insight to how difficult it is, the constraints and any other info. Who teaches you the subject? how do you complete SACs? Can my school reject the thought of me completing a subject through dis ed?

Here is an explanation I wrote for someone ages ago on how distance education works and the pros + cons, which may or may not be useful:
 
Quote
"I did Distance Education.
Every semester, you will receive a workbook for each subject (in conjunction with an external text book). Every week, you have to submit a week's worth of work (for each subject), in which you will complete varying amounts of reading, questions, essays etc.

You can view examples of how distance ed booklets are set out for each subject here:
http://www.distance.vic.edu.au/subschools/ss1112.htm#subjects (probably more useful than my explanation.)
EDIT: Sample of first week for Business Management - http://www.distance.vic.edu.au/subschools/vcesubjectinfo/pdf/bm03301.pdf

I did Distance Ed whilst I was sick, so obviously my experiences are going to be different to an individual who's able to attend full time school and is doing one subject through DECV.

Pros of DECV:
-Can work at your own pace. If you don’t understand a concept, you can sit there and read over it until you get it (which you can’t really do in classes.)
-DECV booklets have extensive information in them, and all your class notes are right in front of you (good for people who'd rather read than listen to someone.)
-Some of the teachers can be absolutely fantastic.
-The course is structured well
-Good if you are organised.
-I felt like I was achieving and learning a lot through DECV.

Cons of DECV:
-No class discussion.
-Not good for people who aren't very organised.
-The amount of work can be huge and stressful. 
-A detached way of learning.
-According to my friends, if you are doing DECV + normal school, your DECV subject can fall through the cracks. A lot of my friends have had to drop their DECV subject because they were busy with their school subjects.
-No class time to work.
-Some of the activities they ask you to complete can be a bit weird

Another explanation I wrote:
Quote
Like every school, some teachers at DECV are better than others. I haven't done any business studies through DECV, thus I will be unable to provide you with useful information regarding your potential teachers. Some of my teachers responded quickly to my e-mails and phone calls, and were brilliant at providing explanations and assisting me with revision, but some weren't. I personally found the course books were set out well and contained a wealth of good information.

It is entirely possible to obtain a 40+ study score through DECV if you put the effort in. However, you have to be highly motivated and organised to do well in DECV. YOU MUST STAY ON TOP OF THE WORK LOAD! I've heard it's easy to fall through the cracks when you are doing DECV in conjunction with regular school. Conversely, I wasn't very organised prior to undertaking DECV, however, I slowly acquired really good organisational skills and actually found undertaking DECV to be a highly positive experience.

Quote
how do you complete SACs?

Your home school will assign a teacher to be your supervisor. Generally speaking, your SACs will be sent directly to your supervisor, and you will complete them during your spares.

Quote
Can my school reject the thought of me completing a subject through dis ed?

Yes, unfortunately they can stop you from undertaking a VCE subject via distance ed. The category you will be applying under -  students in regular schools, requires a school endorsement for enrollment.

If you have any further questions, feel free to PM me :)
Good luck.

Oh and, links to other threads on DECV and people's opinions:
http://vcenotes.com/forum/index.php/topic,4828.0.html
http://vcenotes.com/forum/index.php/topic,195.0.html
http://vcenotes.com/forum/index.php/topic,7586.0.html
oh that's sik thanks for the help!
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: hard on January 15, 2009, 11:57:46 pm
wait i don't get something. With distance education, do you use the same text book as everyone else or do you get something different? if so why's that?
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: jess3254 on January 16, 2009, 12:53:29 pm
wait i don't get something. With distance education, do you use the same text book as everyone else or do you get something different? if so why's that?

They prescribe a standard VCE text book (for example, Nelson or whatever), and you use it in conjunction with the course book/activity book they create (think of the course book as your teacher). Your course book contains information and activities (they will ask you to do questions, activities, essays etc), and it will instruct you when to refer to your external VCE text book. For example: "Please read pages 45-49 of your text book before completing the following tasks".

Definitely check these out, it will help you understand the way distance ed is structured. It is hard to get your head around at first.
DECV: Business Management course book - first week of work
Introduction to unit 3 business management
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: hard on January 16, 2009, 12:57:44 pm
wait i don't get something. With distance education, do you use the same text book as everyone else or do you get something different? if so why's that?

They prescribe a standard VCE text book (for example, Nelson or whatever), and you use it in conjunction with the course book/activity book they create (think of the course book as your teacher). Your course book contains information and activities (they will ask you to do questions, activities, essays etc), and it will instruct you when to refer to your external VCE text book. For example: "Please read pages 45-49 of your text book before completing the following tasks".

Definitely check these out, it will help you understand the way distance ed is structured. It is hard to get your head around at first.
DECV: Business Management course book - first week of work
Introduction to unit 3 business management
thanks for that.
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: AppleXY on January 16, 2009, 01:08:45 pm
In Distance Ed, you get a course booklet which you read over and complete work from. The course booklet will tell you what parts of the book you need to read :)

Each week you complete work and give to your teacher or whoever, who then sends off to distance ed. :)  Maybe a week or 2 later, you'll get your work back.

That's how it's done. Oh, you may also have to attend seminars (because I did lol) at the Distance Ed centre midyear/end of year :)
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: hard on January 16, 2009, 01:15:16 pm
In Distance Ed, you get a course booklet which you read over and complete work from. The course booklet will tell you what parts of the book you need to read :)

Each week you complete work and give to your teacher or whoever, who then sends off to distance ed. :)  Maybe a week or 2 later, you'll get your work back.

That's how it's done. Oh, you may also have to attend seminars (because I did lol) at the Distance Ed centre midyear/end of year :)
oh didn't know there were lectures lol thanks.
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: AppleThief on January 16, 2009, 01:45:33 pm
oh didn't know there were lectures lol thanks.
Yeah, there are. How many depends on the subject (mine last year had four, but I only went to one). It's in Thornbury, however, so it depends on how close you live. I found the seminar notes they sent me more useful than the actual seminars...
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: hard on January 16, 2009, 01:49:29 pm
oh didn't know there were lectures lol thanks.
Yeah, there are. How many depends on the subject (mine last year had four, but I only went to one). It's in Thornbury, however, so it depends on how close you live. I found the seminar notes they sent me more useful than the actual seminars...
ahah.

This may sound silly but couldn't i learn the whole course using only the text book following the study design? Like i practically did that with legal, i took no notes in class, all done at home?
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: AppleThief on January 16, 2009, 02:54:44 pm
oh didn't know there were lectures lol thanks.
Yeah, there are. How many depends on the subject (mine last year had four, but I only went to one). It's in Thornbury, however, so it depends on how close you live. I found the seminar notes they sent me more useful than the actual seminars...
ahah.

This may sound silly but couldn't i learn the whole course using only the text book following the study design? Like i practically did that with legal, i took no notes in class, all done at home?
I guess you could, gut it's always handy to have another source (i.e. the course reader). I don't really know what is contained in course readers for subjects with a textbook (both philosophy and music styles had no textbook, it was all in the DECV's books)
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: hard on January 16, 2009, 04:21:18 pm
UPDATE. Okay so i called my VCE coordinaor and he advised me that i cannot do bus man as dis ed or as apart of the class. So i have decided to do biology and i have dropped chemistry.
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: Flaming_Arrow on January 16, 2009, 04:33:09 pm
UPDATE. Okay so i called my VCE coordinaor and he advised me that i cannot do bus man as dis ed or as apart of the class. So i have decided to do biology and i have dropped chemistry.

why not?
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: hard on January 16, 2009, 04:43:20 pm
UPDATE. Okay so i called my VCE coordinaor and he advised me that i cannot do bus man as dis ed or as apart of the class. So i have decided to do biology and i have dropped chemistry.

why not?
CAUSE THEY'RE GAY!
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: Flaming_Arrow on January 16, 2009, 04:46:04 pm
UPDATE. Okay so i called my VCE coordinaor and he advised me that i cannot do bus man as dis ed or as apart of the class. So i have decided to do biology and i have dropped chemistry.

why not?
CAUSE THEY'RE GAY!

but should ask them to let you do since they won't allow you to do it at school. that's bs.
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: hard on January 16, 2009, 04:48:36 pm
UPDATE. Okay so i called my VCE coordinaor and he advised me that i cannot do bus man as dis ed or as apart of the class. So i have decided to do biology and i have dropped chemistry.

why not?
CAUSE THEY'RE GAY!

but should ask them to let you do since they won't allow you to do it at school. that's bs.
i know i told him i'm like "and why can't i do it through dis ed?"
his like "i don't think the school can accommodate for such a need blah blah and his like it'll take a while before the principle can agree cause the new principle has a dick up his ass" (he didn't say that part past cause). And so im like well then im still changing chemistry. Btw this was and is my chemistry teacher.
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: jess3254 on January 16, 2009, 05:18:05 pm
Quote
i don't think the school can accommodate for such a need blah blah

What? He's clearly ignorant as to what distance education entails. In reality, the home school does very little. All they are responsible for is providing you with a supervisor for your SACs. And it's not hard to find a teacher to sit and observe you doing a SAC. My friend had a library technician as her supervisor. DECV does everything else.

Quote
it'll take a while before the principle can agree cause the new principle has a dick up his ass


A VCE coordinator can also approve an application.
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: costargh on January 16, 2009, 05:39:24 pm
Yeh. That's bullshit. The school have obviously just done what's convinient for them with no regard for your needs.
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: hard on January 16, 2009, 05:55:26 pm


A VCE coordinator can also approve an application.
obviously he knows nothing about dis ed. He didn't even know what he was saying half the time. I'm like but if you can't accommodate any more people in the bus man class, shouldn't i be able to do it through dis ed, and he kept on making excuses on how late, how disadvantaged how hard it'll be for me and all. seriosly, he didn't even have time to actually consider what i had to say FUCK. plus halff the people in bus man this year are like soon to go vcal!!!!!!

Yeh. That's bullshit. The school have obviously just done what's convinient for them with no regard for your needs.
two words, government school. My dad was like wtf i'm gona go give them some of it, i'm like nah dw about it cbfed starting trouble with the teachers.
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: AppleThief on January 16, 2009, 11:56:49 pm
D:

The school should help you. There's someone on this forum who did EL via the DECV because she couldn't get into the class at her school (if I remember correctly), so there's no problem there...

Also, there is NO disadvantage of doing distance ed, unless the need to be self motivating is a disadvantage. I wish your teacher knew this.
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: costargh on January 18, 2009, 04:47:50 pm
dont give up hard. get ur dad to go down and smash them. it IS worth it
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: hard on January 18, 2009, 04:51:25 pm
dont give up hard. get ur dad to go down and smash them. it IS worth it
lmao hope to see me on the news.
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: costargh on January 18, 2009, 05:14:37 pm
srsly though. its YOUR education.
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: hard on January 18, 2009, 05:24:34 pm
srsly though. its YOUR education.

yer i know that's why i'm gonna keep bugging the teachers to see if they can spare a room in bus man. If nothing works than i'm keeping bio.
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: costargh on January 18, 2009, 05:28:04 pm
get ur dad down i say.

us be suprised how easily a school can 'find' a place when an angry parents storms the grounds.
Title: Re: distance education
Post by: Mikey123 on January 18, 2009, 11:51:13 pm
I did further Maths via distance ed got 37 for it but it's hard work keeping up with everything when you have 5 other classes but business is simple and straight forward you will be fine.

I got 45 in business and I missed most classes due to further extra lessons so you will be fine after all you are smart...