RATIONALE

Aspirations for Australia to be ‘The Clever Country’ are unlikely to eventuate if we, as a country, do not educate our people with the new literacies, utilize and support our Information Technology industries, enhance problem-solving skills and encourage innovation and creativity. Incorporating telecommunication activities and industry links in Computer Studies subjects are essential for authenticity of subject matter and approach. Because the nature of the Internet emphasizes self-learning, this can tend to result in people working individually instead of within a social structure. It is important that people work, as a group, and implement changes for the good of the community and society as a whole. Co-operative learning is an important educational objective, and this unit of work includes working individually, working in pairs, and working in a team.

The Internet and Microsoft NetMeeting (via our Intranet) will be used. The Internet is revolutionizing the way that people work, interact with each other, spend their recreation, protect their finances etc. Therefore, we will be actively integrating the online learning experience of our students. On page 11 of the Computer Studies program, reference is made to the "social framework in which (students) work". One of the major changes in the social framework is coming from easier access to online communities, resources and other experts which is changing the way that information is being received by students. The program also states on page 11 that the "emphasis should be placed on the use of information gathered from manuals, on-line help and experienced users in order to overcome operational problems … on-line help". The NetMeeting included in this unit allows students to seek information outside the classroom; provides them with the realistic opportunity to interact online; and provides them with a supervised occasion to pracitse formal online skills and protocol.

On 4 April 2000, "Queensland State Education—2010" was released by Education Queensland which outlines its strategic policy for the next decade. On page 6 of "Queensland State Education –2010", it is stated that teachers are no longer the "gatekeepers of knowledge in a teacher-centred classroom." Life is a perpetual learning experience, and we have the responsibility to help to empower our students with the life long abilities to be self-educators, to find solutions to problems and to find strategies using a variety of problem-solving means. Therefore, the unit of work addresses these objectives. On page 19 of the document, one of the "appropriate models" for schools is that they "develop as centres for lifelong learning and centres for networked learning communities." On page 21 of the same document, reference is made to the Professional standards Framework that includes teachers’ involvement in:

At our school, we have used the Intranet in an online event and this encouraged connectivity.  "Using the Internet to connect with people working in IT industries is essential to provide a balanced view." (Williams, 1999, p. 23).  Business communities do use the Intranet as an information system within their organisations; therefore, using the Intranet during an online event is an authentic learning experience for our students.

In our society, jobs are changing from the traditionally based ones of manufacturing to information, communication and service industries and the structure of the industries are becoming decentralized. More people are working from home, and/or are part-time workers, or are self-employed. Simultaneously, the emphasis of the work has changed to Problem-solving, innovation, as well as the necessity of having Networking, online skills. Schools have a responsibility to aid in the empowerment of students with these attitudes and aptitudes that are becoming lifelong learning skills. On page 15, of "Queensland State Education–2010", it is stated that lifelong learning is to take pace in both "formal and informal settings, Problem-solving and critical thinking are the critical characteristics of the knowledge economy." This unit allows for both formal and informal settings for learning and because these are grade 11 students, the settings are more informal with teacher helping groups individually. Also, we have included Polya’s problem-solving cycle and strategies in this unit as a basis of their web page assignment and the students will also have to be reflective thinkers to make appropriate decisions and thereby achieve well in their assignment.