[Year 12 IT Apps] Question about practice exam from Potts text

Wed Sep 17 12:58:07 EST 2008

IMO it's not the fault of the areas of IT.  The VCE is full of areas 
that are vague and ill-defined, just like the real world.

The problem comes from the way the question was worded.  A well-crafted 
question can clearly and unambiguously interrogate a student's 
understanding of any issue.

The question could have been better cast as:

9.  A doctor used a computer system that asked several questions about a 
patient's symptoms. The system then suggested what the patient's illness 
  was.  Such a computer system was

a. A Transaction Processing System
b. A Management Information System
c. A Decision Support System
d. An Expert System

Stephen Digby wrote:
> What hope do the students have !!!
> 
> To me these debates indicate the inherent vagueness in IT terminology and
> concepts due to the continuously transforming nature of IT development.
> 
> We need to ask examiners to stick to asking questions ONLY in those areas of
> the study design where the answer is clear unambiguous and indisputable.
> 
>  
> 
> ====================================================
> Stephen Digby, Learning Technology Manager
> mailto:  <mailto:digby.stephen.p at edumail.vic.gov.au>
> digby.stephen.p at edumail.vic.gov.au  
> Cheltenham Secondary College  <http://www.cheltsec.vic.edu.au>
> www.cheltsec.vic.edu.au
> Ph: 613 955 55 955  Fx: 9555 8617 Mb: 0431-701-028
> ====================================================
> Sorry no quote today. Visit QLiner.com.
> 
> From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au]
> On Behalf Of Laurie Savage
> Sent: Wednesday, 17 September 2008 9:02 AM
> To: 'Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List'
> Subject: RE: [Year 12 IT Apps] Question about practice exam from Potts text
> 
>  
> 
> I can't agree with you there Ros. I would say that the question provides a
> very brief definition of an expert system.
> 
>  
> 
> Laurie
> 
>  
> 
>   _____  
> 
> From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au]
> On Behalf Of Ros Meadows
> Sent: Tuesday, 16 September 2008 5:42 PM
> To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] Question about practice exam from Potts text
> 
> I'd opt for C
> 
> Cheers
> Ros
> 
> Bane, Janet A wrote: 
> 
> Hi everyone
> 
>  
> 
> My kids are doing the practice exam from the Potts textbook (its on the
> website, in student resources).  One of the multiple questions reads as
> follows:
> 
>  
> 
> 9.  A computer system designed to analyse data and produce a recommendation
> or a decision is
> 
> a/an
> 
> a. Transaction Processing System
> 
> b. Management Information System
> 
> c. Decision Support System
> 
> d. Expert System
> 
> The answer given is D.  I think this is wrong, it should be C.  What do
> others think?
> 
>  
> 
> Janet Bane
> Patterson River SC
> 
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-- 
Mark Kelly
Manager - Information Systems
McKinnon Secondary College
kel AT mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
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