[Year 12 IT Apps] Q12 redux

[Mark Kelly]

12E was a curious question.  How does one alter a spreadsheet "to 
enhance the meaning of the information shown"?

I guessed it was to make the information more valuable, more useful, 
more informative.

I thought of colour changes, bolding etc but figured simple formatting 
did not add much to the value of the information.

Creating a meaningful label seemed the most logical way; even a simple 
static label would make the information more valuable (because you'd at 
least know what the number in cell C15 was supposed to mean!)

The formula to create a dynamic label giving the item's name as well as 
the maximum was just icing on the cake.

Well, it's all over now.  I hope the examiners and markers consider 
stuff like this when they meet before the marking begins.

Bane, Janet A wrote:
> Hi mark,  I have now finished the entire masterpiece that is the ITA post mortem.  Made me laugh a lot, and even look up the definition of cognoscenti, which I have now found out means " persons who have superiour knowledge and understanding of a particular field, esp. in the fine arts, literature and world of fashion."   so thanks for expanding my vocabulary as well.
> 
> Two points occurred to me as I read through.  I think my dogs breakfast award  goes to Q 9 a (what type of network are the Geography students using), followed closely by 9b - "Identify a potential problem for the school when these teams transmit data to the website".  I took this to mean that the high spec cameras the kiddies had been given produced lots of lovely (huge) files, which could then cause probs with transmission via email, or storage problems for the students (in their limited space home directories)  or even the school.
> 
> The spreadsheet question - simple formula you produced was magnificent.  May I suggest a more complex way of suggesting "how the spreadsheet could be altered to enhance the meaning of the information" would be to do something way out of the ordinary like bolding the maximum or maybe add some other type of  formatting to highlight/enhance it?    Or am I being too simple here?
> 
> give my regards to Gil Bates,
> 
> Janet Bane
> Patterson River SC
> 
> ________________________________
> 
> From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au on behalf of Mark Kelly
> Sent: Fri 14-Nov-08 8:11 AM
> To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] Q12 redux
> 
> 
> 
> Hi Robert.  When you say you come to an agreement on the short answer
> section, does this mean they _don't_ discuss the answers for Section A?
> 
> Robert wrote:
>> Thanks  Mark for all your effort.
>>
>> Well in the morning I'm off to the training session for the exam
>> markers. Always an interesting experience!
>>
>> The examiners together with the markers come an agreement on the marking
>> scheme for each of the questions in the short answer section. This
>> process deals with any problems with the interpretation of questions.
>>
>> And believe me that these sessions are sometimes quite heated!
>>
>> But is does mean that we do our best to give credit to students for
>> appropriate answers and ensure that the "best" students get the best marks.
>>
>> Robert Hind (Semi-retired)
>> Ashwood and Traralgon
>> robert at yinnar.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Kelly" <kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au>
>> To: "Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List"
>> <itapps at edulists.com.au>
>> Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2008 2:45 PM
>> Subject: [Year 12 IT Apps] Q12 redux
>>
>>
>>> I've been pondering Q12 and I've worked out where we've differed.
>>> I've been thinking of the dropdown list more as a tool for selecting
>>> an existing ID, rather than entering a NEW record.
>>>
>>> The exam question does not explain the principal purpose of the form -
>>> is it for data entry or editing?  If it's for entry of new records, I
>>> agree that it would be pretty useless to use a dropdown list.  However
>>> for editing existing data, a dropdown list with matching "Find" button
>>> would be useful.
>>>
>>> So in that sense, I'm changing my mind.
>>>
>>> But I still don't accept that a dropdown list is suitable as the sole
>>> means of entering a title.
>>>
>>> Sure, provide a list stacked with common titles to save time for data
>>> entry, but there should be some other way of entering titles that are
>>> not in the list. (e.g. a simple "Other..." plus a textbox.)
>>>
>>> But, examiners being examiners, B is the best of a bad bunch of options.
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> 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 9578 9253
>>> kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
>>>
>>> Webmaster - http://www.mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au <http://www.mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au/>
>>> IT Lecture notes: http://vceit.com <http://vceit.com/>
>>> Moderator: IT Applications Mailing List
>>>
>>> Most people don't realise that small kitchen sponges, when nailed to
>>> the forehead, can really REALLY hurt.
>>>
> --
> 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 9578 9253
> kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
> 
> Webmaster - http://www.mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au <http://www.mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au/>
> IT Lecture notes: http://vceit.com <http://vceit.com/>
> Moderator: IT Applications Mailing List
> 
> Most people don't realise that small kitchen sponges, when nailed to the
> forehead, can really REALLY hurt.

-- 
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 9578 9253
kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au

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

Most people don't realise that small kitchen sponges, when nailed to the 
forehead, can really REALLY hurt.