[Year 12 IT Apps] Unit 3, Outcome 1 database and project management

Fri Feb 23 12:59:28 EST 2007

In the official VCAA CD data/unitap/unit3/sdasess.html, I can't find any men=
tion of  a "task description saying that this is achieved through annotation=
s".
There does not seem to be any further task description that I can find on th=
e CD other than the extract below.
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=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Stephen Digby, Learning Technology Manager
mailto:admin at cheltsec.vic.edu.au 
Cheltenham Secondary College www.cheltsec.vic.edu.au Ph: 613 955 55 955  Fx:=
 9555 8617

  _____  

VCAA CD data/unitap/unit3/sdasess.html (extract)

Assessment requirements 

In Unit 3, students demonstrate achievement of Outcomes 1 and 2 by undertaki=
ng the assessment tasks listed in the  <http://infonet.cheltsec.vic.edu.au/f=
ile.php/75/Student_Resources/VCAA_Official/Implementing-VCE-IT-2007-2010/dat=
a/public.html> study design. 

In the Advice  <http://infonet.cheltsec.vic.edu.au/file.php/75/Student_Resou=
rces/VCAA_Official/Implementing-VCE-IT-2007-2010/data/unitap/unit3/advice.ht=
ml> for teachers section of the study design, there is a range of suggested=
 learning activities and a detailed example for each outcome in Unit 3. Typi=
cally, the detailed examples form the basis of suitable assessment tasks. 

The assessment requirements for Unit 3, as listed in the study design, are s=
tated in Table: School-assessed coursework, Unit 3. See an  <http://infonet.=
cheltsec.vic.edu.au/file.php/75/Student_Resources/VCAA_Official/Implementing=
-VCE-IT-2007-2010/data/unitap/sac.html> example of a teacher's assessment pr=
ogram using a selection of the tasks from the Unit 3 School-assessed coursew=
ork table. 

Table: School-assessed coursework, Unit 3

Outcomes

Marks allocated*

Assessment tasks

Outcome 1

Propose and apply project management and problem-solving strategies to produ=
ce a solution and an information product, using database management software=
, which meets the decision-making needs of a specific audience.

40 

A solution and information product in response to a design brief. Students a=
nnotate the solution and information product to indicate how the identified=
 decision-making needs are met.

10 

And

A project management report that includes the management plan and a record o=
f progress, created using software tools.

Outcome 2

Design, create and evaluate a prototype website that meets an organisation=
=E2=80=99s needs of sharing knowledge and collaborative problem-solving with=
in a virtual team environment, and explain the requirements of the networked=
 information system that supports the use of this website.

30 

A prototype website.

20

And

One of the following that focuses on the evaluation of the prototype and the=
 recommended network requirements for the organisation and one team member:

*	a test 

*	a written report. 

Total marks 

100

*School-assessed coursework for Unit 3 contributes 25 per cent to the study=
 score 

  _____  

From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au]=
 On Behalf Of Christophersen, Paula P
Sent: Friday, 23 February 2007 12:15 PM
To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: [Year 12 IT Apps] Unit 3, Outcome 1 database and project management

Dear colleagues

I have a couple of comments to make about the queries raised in Michael Tors=
ellos=E2=80=99s email regarding the tasks for this outcome.

*          The outcome requires students to apply project management strateg=
ies when producing a solution and information product. This means that givin=
g students a separate project management (PM) task that does not require the=
 application of PM skills to the development of a solution is not appropriat=
e. So sorry folks, but Task 2 is intertwined with Task 1, even though they a=
re reported separately. 

Also note on page 25, second para of Area of Study 1 =E2=88=92 =E2=80=98The=
 project plans must be developed in the designing stage of the problem-solvi=
ng methodology.=E2=80=99  The amount of project management required in this=
 outcome is not extensive, and the reaccreditation committee responsible for=
 the development of the study design believed that it is a more meaningful t=
ask if applied to the development of a solution and product. 

Also, this para states that the PM plan should include information about: ta=
sks, time and resources =E2=88=92 budget is not a consideration. For resourc=
es, students just have to list the technology they are using, so the bulk of=
 the plan focuses on tasks and time, and the monitoring of their progress. I=
f all goes according to plan, then no adjustments need to be made.

*          I would consider 500 minutes for the SAC to be at the upper end o=
f the time scale. I wonder if your task expectations are a little too much?=
 Also note that students do not have to prepare a written report for Task 1=
 =E2=88=92 while the key skill states that students must =E2=80=98evaluate h=
ow the efficiency of the solutions and the effectiveness of the products mee=
t identified decision-making needs=E2=80=99, the task description says that=
 this is achieved through annotations. This is a lot less formal and time co=
nsuming (see page 30 =E2=80=98Students annotate the solution and information=
 product to indicate how the identified decision-making needs are met=E2=80=
=99) than a written report. 

Regards

Paula

Paula Christophersen

ICT Curriculum Manager

Victorian Curriculum and Assessment

Authority

41 St Andrews Place

EAST MELBOURNE 3002

Phone: 03 9651 4378

Fax: 03 9651 4324

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n

Important - This email and any attachments may be confidential. If received=
 in error, please contact us and delete all copies. Before opening or using=
 attachments check them for viruses and defects. Regardless of any loss, dam=
age or consequence, whether caused by the negligence of the sender or not, r=
esulting directly or indirectly from the use of any attached files our liabi=
lity is limited to resupplying any affected attachments. Any representations=
 or opinions expressed are those of the individual sender, and not necessari=
ly those of the Department of Education.
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