[Informatics] Layout diagrams - an exciting new can of worms

[Vear, Gary D]

Hi Mark,

I agree with you that the lack of clarity around certain concepts makes it sometimes difficult to identify just what to teach.

When using a google image search to figure out how we should interpret "layout diagrams" from VCAA's perspective, I think it's probably better to use "webpage layout diagram" rather than just "layout diagram" since, depending on the context, they refer to quite different things.

Since we use layout diagrams to design how webpages should look in VCE Computing, adding the keyword "webpage" to image searches makes sense and yields more relevant results.

Hope that helps.
________________________________
From: informatics-bounces at edulists.com.au [informatics-bounces at edulists.com.au] on behalf of Mark [mark at vceit.com]
Sent: Tuesday, 9 August 2016 12:51 PM
To: Year 12 VCE Informatics Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: [Informatics] Layout diagrams - an exciting new can of worms

Hi, thrill seekers

A bemused teacher wrote to ask me what VCAA considers a "layout diagram" to be.

The study design says (p.15 - with my emphasis) that

"Planning the solution also involves determining its appearance, including, where appropriate, the user interface.
This typically involves identifying the position and size of text, images and graphics, font types, colours and text enhancements. Design tools used for this purpose include layout diagrams, annotated diagrams/mock ups."

So, according to VCAA layout diagrams are used to design the appearance of solutions, like mock-ups. Sadly, VCAA has not actually described or defined "layout diagram" or explained the difference between them and mock-ups.

The VCAA ITI sample exam's<http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/exams/technology/it-informatics-specs-samp.pdf> section A had this question (the 'correct' answer is A)

Question 15
The design tools that best show how web pages are linked in a website would include a
*A. site map and storyboard.
B. layout diagram and site map.
C. context diagram and storyboard.
D. structure chart and layout diagram.

The answer reinforces that VCAA does not consider a layout diagram to be a structural design tool, like a sitemap. VCAA sees it as an appearance design tool.

But if you do a Google image search for "layout diagram", all you will see is tree-like, hierarchical diagrams showing the structural relationships between solutions and their components - like site maps or hierarchy diagrams.

My theory is that VCAA has confused "a layout diagram" with the standard publishing term "a layout" - a pictorial depiction of how a publication positions and sizes the header, sidebar, content, navbar et cetera on a page or screen.

Would VCAA be kind enough to give an example of what it considers to be an official 'layout diagram'? And perhaps an authoritative source that substantiates their interpretation of the term?

Until then, the Rest Of The World seems to disagree with VCAA. And if kids are going to lose marks on their exam based on a unique interpretation by VCAA of 'layout diagram', students really ought to know. I'd suggest that unless VCAA can validate their interpretation of the term "layout diagram", they should not directly examine it in November.

Mark
--

Mark Kelly

mark at vceit.com<mailto:mark at vceit.com>
http://vceit.com

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