Specialist ICT
The ICT centre at Hampton opened in 2005 and this modern facility provides an appropriately professional environment for all ICT students, in particular the students selected for the ICT specialist programs. Hampton's specialist ICT program provides the additional challenge to foster and further develop the skills of students with a high level of interest and skill in this area.
The Year 8 ICT specialist class develops more than their ICT skills. The course emphasises the need for collaborative learning skills, team work and independent learning. Students participate in the Australian Computer Skills competition (a national and international competition) and also have the opportunity of experiencing other learning styles through an excursion or guest teacher. The course delivers the opportunity of achieving several competencies of a Certificate I in Information Technology that is registered with the Curriculum Council and is recorded on their Statement of Results for graduation.
Students can apply for the course through a written application during Year 7. All students who apply are given the opportunity to attend an aptitude test during Term 3.
Students can also join the ICT specialist pathway in Year 9 by meeting the eligibility criteria in any Year 8 ICT course. This gives all students an equal opportunity to apply for the Year 9 specialist course.
The specialist pathway continues in Year 10 with the IT Essentials course. This course offers students the opportunity of combining a traditional learning environment with on-line learning through CISCO (network specialist business) and completing the IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software course (a CISCO course). The course provides an indepth level of knowledge and hands on experience which students can apply to their home computers. This course also prepares students with great foundations for the rigors of the higher stages of Applied Information Technology in Year 11 and Year 12 by which students can be eligible for University courses.
The facilities in the ICT centre are industry standard and offer students the opportunity to work with multi-platforms (Macs and PCs) and a range of related hardware and software.
