[Year 12 IT Apps] The Big Question

[Mark]

Hi Damien.

By "the big question" are you referring to the 8-10 mark question that has
appeared in the past couple of ITA papers?

- Such big, high-mark questions are purely at the whim of the
exam-setters... there is nothing in the study design saying that such a
question is required, so there is no guarantee that such a question will
appear in future.

- Having said that, recent history suggests that the examiners *will *continue
to do it in spite of horrible results: last year's average result was 2
marks out of 8, from memory. ITA kids are just not built for long, complex
answers.  To be frank, that's why they do ITA rather than SD or physics.

- Even if such a question appears again this year, there is no guarantee
that it would have to be about databases, or a database/spreadsheet option.
It could just as easily be about data security or any other meaty key
knowledge.  (Dog help me, it had better *not* be about the physical layer
of the OSI model !)

- What students will need to provide in their answers
will completely depend on what the question asks them to provide, so it's
impossible to answer your question. If asked for a formula, they will need
to provide a formula; if asked for a design for an input form, they would
need to give that.

- SQL definitely won't be there, if that's any consolation, since it is not
mentioned or even alluded to in the study design.

- Neither can the examiners even ask for a precise formula or query, since
different databases/spreadsheets have different syntaxes. They would either
have to give students the rules for the syntax of a hypothetical dB/SS and
expect students to answer using the provided syntax, or they would have to
use universally-accepted IT/VCAA conventions (i.e. pseudocode with standard
IF , AND/OR, >= , etc.)

So, having not answered your question at all, I hope I have answered your
question.

Regards

Mark
Whose beach-walking has been *greatly* incommoded by rain and
hurricane-force wind. Grrr.

On 29 October 2013 14:10, ATKINSON-BUCK, Damien <
Damien.ATKINSON-BUCK at ivanhoe.com.au> wrote:

>  Hi folks,
>
>             With the big question, I’ve been going through some of the
> past exam papers and the examiners comments. Am I right to assume that if a
> student chooses the SpreadSheet option, they will need to provide the
> formula. Whereas if they choose the database option, they have to describe
> the query, not write SQL or draw a query design box (we used Access, not
> sure what Filemaker etc. display is like).
>
> I’m thinking it’s a safer bet to describe a query than to remember the
> exact formula for something in the pressure of an exam. Just wondering what
> others thought of this and how they are recommending students handle the
> big question.
>
> Cheers
>
> Damien
>
>
>
>
>
> *
> **Damien** **Atkinson-Buck*
> Head of Learning Area: Technology/Arts
>
> *p:* +61 3 9490 3848
>
> *e:* damien.atkinson-buck at ivanhoe.com.au
>
> *f:* +61 3 9490 3490
>
> *w:* www.ivanhoe.com.au
>
>
> Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.
>


--
Mark Kelly
mark AT vceit DOT com
http://vceit.com

Day 19, I have successfully conditioned my master to smile and write in his
book every time I drool.- Pavlov's Dog
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