[Year 12 IT Apps] IT applications 2007 exam: assessor's report

Fri Apr 18 14:09:02 EST 2008

My 2.4c worth is that technically you are both right.

Data integrity is partially dependent on the operator checking the
information to make sure that it is correct and valid. Hence if the operator
checks the data by conducting a desk check then that is data validation.

While most software can be set up with data validation tools, so that for
example a date will only be accepted into an input box, the software cannot
detect whether a date that has been entered is correct or not. In this case
the date 12/09/2003 is as valid as 12/09/1993, yet if we are entering the
date of birth of a particular person, only one of the dates will be correct.
Data validation techniques will not pick up the error if it is within the
boundaries of an acceptable result other than to validate that the date is
in the correct format. Human error can therefore only be overcome in certain
cases by a greater degree of vigilance, and checking information as it is
entered.    

Hence both are cases of validation, but one is designed to pick up if the
data entered is wrong i.e. the wrong date of birth, whereas the second is
picking up if it is entered in the correct format or not.

It might have avoided this confusion if the question had said whether the
program was doing the validation or the operator was doing the validation
.... or not ... shoot me down in flames if you want.

Kind regards

Allan Barnes, CEO
Australian Institute of Education and Training
P.O. Box 171
Brunswick West 3055
Ph: (03) 9387 2051
FAX: (03) 9387 3470
Mobile: 0409 428 221

-----Original Message-----
From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au]
On Behalf Of Mark Scott
Sent: Friday, 18 April 2008 1:53 PM
To: 'Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List'
Subject: RE: [Year 12 IT Apps] IT applications 2007 exam: assessor's report

Not sure I agree with you on this one.

Checking data entry for spelling mistakes is validation (I think).

And where does the part d mention calculations?

And it is certainly the most correct response. (the first three are testing)

Mark Scott
"Education is an admirable thing, but remember that nothing that is worth
knowing can be taught." Oscar Wilde

-----Original Message-----
From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au]
On Behalf Of Mark Kelly
Sent: Friday, 18 April 2008 1:23 PM
To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] IT applications 2007 exam: assessor's report

I see Section A Q9 had no comment by the examiners...

"Validation is used to
A. check the accuracy of calculations.
B. detect software errors and alert the manager.
C. test functions and alert programmers to errors.
D. prevent inaccurate data from entering the system.

The official 'right' answer was still steadfastly 'D', which is rubbish.

It cannot be D because validation does NOT check the ACCURACY of data, only
its reasonableness.

Even the sacred IT glossary says validation checks data input to a system is
of an "appropriate type for processing, and within acceptable
boundaries")

So are we to accept that validation is used to check the accuracy of
calculations? No - that's called testing.

Hmphh.
Not happy, Jan.

Christophersen, Paula P wrote:
> Dear colleagues
>
>
>
> The assessor's report on the 2007 IT apps examination is now available at:
>
> http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/infotech/it-applications/exams.
> html#H2N10037
>
>
>
> It is also attached. I will let you know when the Software development
> report is available.
>
>
>
> Regards
>
> Paula
>
>
>
> Paula Christophersen
>
> ICT Curriculum Manager
>
> VCAA
>
> 41 St Andrews Place
>
> EAST MELBOURNE 3002
>
> (03) 9651 4378
>

--
Mark Kelly
Manager - Information Systems
McKinnon Secondary College
McKinnon Rd McKinnon 3204, Victoria, Australia Direct line / Voicemail: 8520
9085 School Phone +613 8520 9000 School Fax +613 95789253 kel AT
mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au

Webmaster - http://www.mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au IT Lecture notes:
http://vceit.com
Moderator: IT Applications Mailing List

A conclusion is the place where you got sick of thinking.
If you Declare War - is it integer or boolean?

_______________________________________________
http://www.edulists.com.au - FAQ, resources, subscribe, unsubscribe IT
Applications Mailing List kindly supported by
http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/infotech/itapplications3-4.html -
Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and http://www.vitta.org.au  -
VITTA Victorian Information Technology Teachers Association Inc

_______________________________________________
http://www.edulists.com.au - FAQ, resources, subscribe, unsubscribe
IT Applications Mailing List kindly supported by
http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/infotech/itapplications3-4.html -
Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and
http://www.vitta.org.au  - VITTA Victorian Information Technology Teachers
Association Inc
-- 
Message  protected by MailGuard: e-mail anti-virus, anti-spam and content
filtering.
http://www.mailguard.com.au/mg

Click here to report this message as spam:
https://login.mailguard.com.au/report/1uRkGT4PXq/6k5hvm4TF3F2Vzv4sheMjF/1.98
1

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG. 
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.1/1384 - Release Date: 17/04/2008
3:47 PM

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG. 
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.1/1384 - Release Date: 17/04/2008
3:47 PM