Information and Communications Technology (ICT)

ICT encompasses a range of core subjects and electives, including ICT, Multimedia, Computer Programming, IT in Action, IT Pathways, IT Applications, Software Development and Networking and Security.

All senior IT students follow the Problem-Solving Methodology (PSM), which covers four stages: analysis, design, development and evaluation. This usually involves a design brief with an information problem that requires students to create a product that meets the user’s needs.

When students start Middle School they study ICT in Years 5 and 6. This involves a basic overview of commonly used applications, such as word processors, spreadsheets and presentation software.

At Year 9, students study Multimedia throughout the year, learning about image manipulation, animation and website design. They use their skills to create an interactive website that highlights their Personal Best task and memories of Year 9.

Computer Programming is offered to all Year 10 students for one semester and introducing programming concepts such as iteration, recursion and branching. Students start using Game Maker to create maze, scrolling and platform games then move on to using Visual Basic to create Windows applications.

Beaconhills also offers Year 10 electives on Networking and Security and Multimedia. Networking and Security is a semester long course which covers IP addressing, routing and network security. Multimedia prepares students to work with design from the World Wide Web and computer interactive media. The course allows them to explore different social issues, consider the different views that people have, through a visual medium, and develop skills in creating web pages and writing for the web.

At VCE level, IT in Action is Unit 1 Information Technology, where students explore a range of subjects, from basic concepts of data and information to piracy, hacking and video game addiction. Unit 2 (IT Pathways) examines career opportunities in the broad field of IT and computer programming.

IT Applications, a Year 12 subject, allows students to combine theory with creating a prototype website, spreadsheets and a database. In Software Development, students analyse and create a Software Requirements Specification for an information system.