It would appear that VCAA has advertised for a “Mathematics Curriculum Unit Manager”:
The Mathematics Curriculum Unit is a new unit located in the new Curriculum Policy and Strategy Branch of the Curriculum Division and supports the monitoring, development, maintenance and delivery of high-quality curriculum and related services. Continue reading “VCAA is Looking for a Maths Boss”
Believe it or not, I have been trying to get along with Boss Smith. I really have. I am still open-minded to, albeit skeptical of, the possibility that Boss Smith may instigate some proper and desperately needed reform. The CAS programming thing was a positive step; even if it was obvious and way late and way too little, it was a positive step, and a step that was inconceivable just a few years ago. But it is really hard to get along with the Boss, it is really difficult to remain open-minded, when the cretins involved within and/or involved with VCAA, the cretins for whom Smith is ultimately responsible, keep doing the same cretinous things. Continue reading “VCAA Are Still Being Idiot Dicks”
The Age‘s Schools Summit is today, and VCAA’s Andrew Smith has one of the keynotes. Smith’s title:
And, um, which “well-designed curriculum” might that be, Andrew? ACARA’s K-10 masterpiece? Or, are you referring to your own VCE gem? Continue reading “Boss Smith’s Sermon on the Mount”
It’s NHT, and I don’t care.
It’s NHT, and I don’t care.
It’s NHT, and I don’t caaaaare,
But, others might, so here you go. Continue reading “The 2026 NHT Exam Discussion Post”
VCAA has just announced that,
[VCAA] require custom functionality – including User Defined Functions (UDFs) – on Computer Algebra System (CAS) calculators to be restricted during VCE Mathematics examinations from 2027.
The full statement is here, and is transcribed below.
This is, needless to say, very good news. Yes, there are churlish responses that come to mind, but let’s leave it as the good news it is. Continue reading “VCAA Does Something Very Right”
This post is a mulligan stew. I’m still crazy-busy, making it very difficult to find any peace or writing rhythm to tackle the posts that I’m keener to do. There have also been a few “maybe” news stories to write about, and some follow-up slaps to hand to VCAA, but nothing sufficiently compelling to make the time. So, I’ve decided to just throw a few leftovers together in a pot and call it a post. Then, I’ll look to get to the larger posts, quietly stewing on back burners. (As it is, the AMSI-MAV clown show and Geoff Masters being a nitwit, again, will just have to be left on the shelf.) Continue reading “Lying, Thinking of England, Command Terms, Sketchy Logic and VCAA’s Accountability”
We are way, way behind on things, on everything. There are a ton of posts to get out “soon”, and real life keeps hammering on the door. We’ll try to get back to posting, and there’s a few short ones that we may be able to throw up (so to speak). Continue reading “VCAA’s Confidence Trick”
Alex Blanksby, the Vic Maths Notes guy, has posted a thorough and well-written and (too) even-handed summary of the CAS debacle.
As noted by Simon, the list of survey questions is different, depending upon whether you indicate you are a teacher, student or whatever: non-(teachers and students) get to respond to almost nothing, and are launched straight to Q21. Additionally, the survey is submitted without warning for teachers (clicking “Next” after Q15) and students (clicking “Next” after Q20).
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Well, more or less. VCAA is kind of sort of asking for teachers’ opinions on the insane UDF CAS arms race. Continue reading “VCAA Wants to Know What You Think About CAS”
This one is probably proof of VCAA’s mendacity rather than their stupidity. Either way, it’s in the ballpark, so I’m throwing it in with the PoSWW.
Below, is an MCQ from last year’s SM Exam 2, together with the exam report‘s explanation (W,I).* For readers who may be puzzled, the question was discussed here.
Note that this MCQ is not an issue of grading nonsense (unless one argues that the question should have been invalidated). So, it does not take part in the previous, grading madnesses, post. (And you guys still have homework to do. Come on.)
It’s time for you guys to do some work.
I have decided that I am going to make my very best effort to kill VCAA’s error bar idiocy, as part of a general campaign to lessen VCAA’s grading idiocies. To this end, my first step is to present VCAA with a list of “You Are Out of Your Minds” 2025 grading idiocies, with the SM2 error bars idiocy top of the list. What I want from you guys is help in compiling this list. Continue reading “Identifying VCAA’s Marking Madnesses”