Strathcona. Bring out her best.

Cross-curricular computing and information/communications technology skills are a major priority for Strathcona.

Technology at Strathcona

Computing technology has dramatically changed the ways in which people learn, interact with each other and access information. To help prepare students to fully participate in the digital world, Strathcona has introduced a number of ground breaking innovations and programs.

The “Blackboard” learning management system allows, students, parents, alumni and teachers to access a wide range of both curriculum resources and information to enhance their participation within the Strathcona community. Strathcona is a recognised world leader in the provision of online learning resources for students. All courses and subjects have supporting information on “Blackboard”, accessible from anywhere via the internet. In addition an extensive range of communications facilities and multimedia resources enriches the learning experience for students. Online collaboration tools allows communication between students and teachers and students and students, enabling them to take classroom discussion home with them.

Strathcona is not a “laptop school”, although students with laptop computers can bring them to school and connect to the wireless network. The School has 6 computer laboratories for Middle and Senior School students, each having between 24 and 30 computers, and in-classroom computers in the Junior School. In addition there are a number of computer nodes situated around the School for students to access. Strathcona uses the 3 main computer systems, these being Linux, Apple OS X and Microsoft Windows. This ensures that students have a wide range of computing experience and become adaptable and innovative users of technology.

Strathcona is a Registered Training Organization (RTO) for the delivery of Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses. These allow Strathcona to deliver and certify nationally recognised courses in Multimedia (Certificate II & III), Broadcasting Television (Certificate II & III) and Information Technology (Certificate II & III). Strathcona is one of a very small number of organisations that deliver these courses to high school students.

Having a fully equipped television studio, with multi-camera capability and a state-of-the-art multimedia production facility, Strathcona students are exposed to industry standard applications in an industry standard environment. Students produce a number of television programs that are delivered to the Strathcona Community through the Blackboard portal. Students take responsibility for the entire production process from, camera operators to vision switching and post-production.

If you would like more information about Strathcona’s information technology framework and programs please feel free to contact the Information Services Manager, Mr Kim Perkins on (03) 8779 7564 or by emailing him.

Year 10 Electives

In Year 10 a student can take VCE/VET Certificate Multimedia with up to 2 other one half year Information and Communication Technology electives. These electives include Digital Music Technology, Digital Video Production and Multimedia.

Digital Music Technology

This unit aims at demonstrating examples of how information technology is used in the music recording industry. It will introduce students to a wide range of music composition, sound effect production and recording techniques. An emphasis will be placed on the development of computer based production techniques culminating in the production of a class CD recording.

Digital Video Production

This unit introduces students to the uses of information technology in the television and film industry. It emphasises and enhances students understanding of:

• scripting
• storyboarding
• filming techniques
• editing techniques

This course involves the production of two TV shows to be aired on S.TV and produced on a DVD. It also involves the production of short films in the National 3-in-6 Video Competition as well as a research assignment on the TV and film industries.

Multimedia

This unit concentrates on producing an interactive multimedia project in an appropriate package such as Macromedia Director. Students will produce an interactive multimedia project on a negotiated topic. It focuses on the following:

• Elements of design and layout
• Short video segments
• Sound
• Animation
• Images and digital photography
• Interactivity