We used the same approach as yours the last 2 years. Hoping to do the same again this year.<br><br>Joseph Papaleo<br><br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 2/23/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">Michael Torsello (Mr)</b> <
<a href="mailto:michael@stmargarets.vic.edu.au">michael@stmargarets.vic.edu.au</a>> wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div>
<div><span><font face="Arial" size="2">I am writing to get
feedback of something that has always bothered me about this SAC (and the old
U4O1).</font></span></div>
<div><span><font face="Arial" size="2"></font></span> </div>
<div><span><font face="Arial" size="2">Do I have to base
the project management part of this SAC on the same database problem that the
students solve? The marks for this SAC are distinctly separate (40 + 10), can we
separate the SACs too?</font></span></div>
<div><span><font face="Arial" size="2"></font></span> </div>
<div><span><font face="Arial" size="2">Let me explain: Most
of us are happy to dedicate an incredible 500 minutes (10 period x 50
minutes) to this SAC and students have to apply project management to their own
project. I find this incredibly unrealistic (not that we can be totally
realistic in a classroom). However, they allocate resources to one person,
themselves, they plan their time over the allotted 10 periods and the concept of
a budget is usually irrelevant. They first do an analysis and then plan their
project and then the analysis is meant to be part of the project. It seems
totally out of whack to me.</font></span></div>
<div><span></span> </div>
<div><span><font face="Arial" size="2">In the past, I have
allotted 5 periods x 50 minutes to a database problem (analysis, design,
production, testing, evaluation) and then later (not necessarily the next
class) a written test for about two periods for the project management
part. I provide a case study that is a bit more realistic, involves more people,
(albeit fictitious) and even throw a spanner in the works, just like real
projects.</font></span></div>
<div><span><font face="Arial" size="2"></font></span> </div>
<div><span><font face="Arial" size="2">I have attached a
Proj Man test on spreadsheets that I used last year. I draw your attention to
the last two pages. At one point near the end of the paper, students have to ask
the teacher for another page, (the last page of file). I circled one choice
from each option and they have to answer questions about having to deal with
these unexpected events.</font></span></div>
<div><span><font face="Arial" size="2"></font></span> </div>
<div><span><font face="Arial" size="2">This approach uses
less time, does proj management justice and students are less stressed about
monstrous SACs.</font></span></div>
<div><span><font face="Arial" size="2"></font></span> </div>
<div><span><font face="Arial" size="2">Perhaps Paula can
tell me if there are any reason why I can't use this approach this
year?</font></span></div>
<div> </div>
<p align="left"><b><span lang="en-us"><font face="Arial" size="2">----------------------------------</font></span></b> <br><b><span lang="en-us"><font face="Arial" size="2">With thanks</font></span></b> <br><b><span lang="en-us">
<font face="Arial" size="2">Michael Torsello</font></span></b>
<br><b><span lang="en-us"><font face="Arial" size="2">Director of
Computing</font></span></b> <br><b><span lang="en-us"><font face="Arial" size="2">St
Margaret's School, Berwick</font></span></b> <br><b><span lang="en-us"><font face="Arial" size="2">Ph: (03) 9703 8111</font></span></b><span lang="en-us"><i></i><i></i></span> </p>
<p align="left"><font face="Arial" size="2"><em>"Unless mankind redesigns itself by
changing our DNA through altering our genetic makeup, computer-generated robots
will take over our world." </em>Stephen Hawking</font></p>
<div> </div>_______________________________________________
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<br clear="all"></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Joseph Papaleo<br><br>Computers & 21C Eduk8n<br><a href="http://papajo.edublogs.org">http://papajo.edublogs.org</a> <br><br>21C Eduk8n<br><a href="http://papajo.podomatic.com/">
http://papajo.podomatic.com/</a>