[Informatics] Some general observations on the 2020 design

[Mark]

Hi all.
These are some general thoughts about the introduction of the 2020 study
design.

Comments about individual units will only go to each relevant list.

Applied Computing Study Design 2020-2023

*Key Concepts, p.7*

- At last VCAA is using a colon to introduce a list, and semicolons between
list items. This allows commas to be freely and unambiguously within list
items. It has taken VCAA forever to proper, unambiguous punctuation. My
next quest is to get them to use the Oxford comma.

*Terms Used, p.8 *

- This is the equivalent of the old 'Glossary'. The list of terms is
extended in this new design. I vaguely remember hearing that VCAA was not
happy with designs using a glossary. Maybe calling it "Terms Used" is a way
to get around this policy.
- Old-timers will recognise 'mandatory conventions' making a return.
'Recommended conventions' is new.
- Data structures: linked lists are new. I like linked lists!
- Efficiency - it's good to see that 'ease of use' is still not included as
an efficiency metric. It never belonged there.
- Project management - finally, critical path is identified as key
knowledge. The last exam invalidly included a question on CP. Shame.
- Verification - is a new concept. It's good because it means tasks like
proofreading are no longer improperly identified as 'validation'.

*PSM *
- Development > Manipulation now lacks the "(coding)" from the previous
design.
- Evaluation has changed. "Strategy" and "Report" are now "Solution
Evaluation" and "Evaluation Strategy".
- A new chart maps which units use each of the PSM activities. So that's
nice.

-- 

Mark Kelly

mark at vceit.com
http://vceit.com
Twitter @vceitcom
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