[Year 12 SofDev] sofdev Digest, Vol 68, Issue 42
Russell Quinn
QN at boxhillhs.vic.edu.au
Thu Nov 25 09:48:28 EST 2010
Thanks Mark for the thoughts, your an outstanding resource.
Unless contradicted, I will take your views as the official VCAA position.
As always I am shocked and distressed at the lack of specificity
(a Rudd word?) in the VCAA course descriptors. This is an outstanding
example, the use-case thing seems to be another.
I have never used database solutions in SD. The study design
did not appear to require it, so I have always used files as data sources.
Last year I got the students to download the post code file and reformat it
as a data source for the address. A bit of fun and exactly what happens in
the "real" world (teaching of course having no relationship to the real world).
I recall an email a few years ago, I cannot recall who, but their position seemed to be
that they could not imagine doing SD without databases. I took the opposite position
in that I thought there was more basic learning to be got from a file based system.
I am just a bit puzzled as to why there is so much emphasis on networks
in the theory, and it is totally forgotten in the practise. I assume it is a trendy thing.
I note that Adrian's previous book (an outstanding resource - thanks Adrian) devoted pages to
data structures including algorithms for queues, so it seems natural to
include these issues into the term 3 coding. Otherwise, why put them in? I would have
thought the fact that we are not radio linking to web sites but rather building on C: would
make it relevant and easy to at least consider at least lock files. "They" are always going on about
relevance in education, it seems to be an opportunity. The coding is not that difficult, its just
decisions and loops, a bit like a logon screen.
The above discussion is not a shot at Mark, we are very lucky to have him and I appreciate his
input. In practise, the coding I do depends upon the students sitting in the class in that year.
Being lucky enough to work in an accelerated school, I come across students who are already
expert in limited fields of IT. I am, as always, puzzled and confused by the course descriptors.
Regards,
Russell Quinn
________________________________________
From: sofdev-bounces at edulists.com.au [sofdev-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of sofdev-request at edulists.com.au [sofdev-request at edulists.com.au]
Sent: Wednesday, 24 November 2010 8:12 PM
To: sofdev at edulists.com.au
Subject: sofdev Digest, Vol 68, Issue 42
Send sofdev mailing list submissions to
sofdev at edulists.com.au
To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
http://www.edulists.com.au/mailman/listinfo/sofdev
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
sofdev-request at edulists.com.au
You can reach the person managing the list at
sofdev-owner at edulists.com.au
When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of sofdev digest..."
Today's Topics:
1. Re: Concurrency Issues (Mark KELLY)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2010 20:11:42 +1100
From: Mark KELLY <kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au>
Subject: Re: [Year 12 SofDev] Concurrency Issues
To: "Year 12 Software Development Teachers' Mailing List"
<sofdev at edulists.com.au>
Message-ID:
<AANLkTinFfJ=eNb+nM+060eTuV_bEfH85ZFj6dTYDYq2s at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
As a rule, you'd be surprised how *little* programming skill is required to
do well in SD outcomes.
It's really *not* rocket surgery.
The new study design, for example, bends over backwards to stress that
students are *not* to worry about database integration or configuring a
software module to interact with an OS API.
See the sample outcomes in the study design. They specifically exclude the
need to interact with "live" modules like those that send data from a
portable device to a website.
The theory is, as in all VCE subjects, the dominant factor.
Focus on programming *fundamentals*. Don't get distracted by current
implementations which could be out of date in 18 months as paradigms
continue to shift.
Loops, logic, variables, arrays, objects, events : they're not likely to go
away in a hurry. Concentrate on them.
2.3c worth (an extra 0.2 cents for GST, 0.1c for passion)
Mark
On 24 November 2010 13:57, Russell Quinn <QN at boxhillhs.vic.edu.au> wrote:
> Ta for your views..
>
> I was actually wondering if the course writers or
> examiners had a view on if concurrency was seen
> as examinable. There is allot of stress on the network
> environment but I cannot see any formal statement on
> concurrency, but I cannot see how to avoid it either.
>
> Regarding the queue, I think it could be managed as
> at the application level, provided the file was only
> accessible through the application. A bit like a portal
> to the file. Since the course talks about queues, I thought
> it might be fun to use one, even if a bit contrived.
>
> Regards,
>
> Russell Quinn
> ________________________________________
> From: sofdev-bounces at edulists.com.au [sofdev-bounces at edulists.com.au] On
> Behalf Of sofdev-request at edulists.com.au [sofdev-request at edulists.com.au]
> Sent: Wednesday, 24 November 2010 12:00 PM
> To: sofdev at edulists.com.au
> Subject: sofdev Digest, Vol 68, Issue 40
>
> Send sofdev mailing list submissions to
> sofdev at edulists.com.au
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> http://www.edulists.com.au/mailman/listinfo/sofdev
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> sofdev-request at edulists.com.au
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
> sofdev-owner at edulists.com.au
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of sofdev digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Re: PSM part 2 (Mark KELLY)
> 2. Re: Concurrency Issues (Mark KELLY)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2010 08:42:26 +1100
> From: Mark KELLY <kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au>
> Subject: Re: [Year 12 SofDev] PSM part 2
> To: "Year 12 Software Development Teachers' Mailing List"
> <sofdev at edulists.com.au>
> Message-ID:
> <AANLkTinQ19+1-Ujy7p_VxRkSkXdq-PrtBNZ097EQvUdG at mail.gmail.com<AANLkTinQ19%2B1-Ujy7p_VxRkSkXdq-PrtBNZ097EQvUdG at mail.gmail.com>
> >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
>
> Agree. The PSM discussion in the study design refers to use cases in both
> the analysis and design phases. I reckon it shouldn't be in the latter.
>
> On 23 November 2010 16:28, Kevork Krozian <K.Krozian at fhc.vic.edu.au>
> wrote:
>
> > Hi Mark and friends,
> >
> >
> >
> > Quoting from one of my favourite series ? UML 2 for Dummies? p 151;
> >
> > ? Most developers use use cases as artifacts of analysis. Use cases
> should
> > be used to specify the required behaviours of your system not capture
> design
> > of your system. Design decisions change often; implementations change
> even
> > oftener (sic)?
> >
> > ..............
> >
> > ? Separating analysis from design also frees your test team to start
> > developing their test plans directly from the use cases ? knowing that
> the
> > use case will be (relatively) stable, knowing that they will be able to
> test
> > the functionality of the system directly from the use case.
> >
> >
> >
> > Logical design is in the analysis phase and Physical design in the design
> > phase. Use cases describe *what* , not *how* . *How* is worked out later
> > in the design phase.
> >
> >
> >
> > So, the statement Use cases as being a useful tool to use during physical
> > design can only make sense if it is used to inform *how* your design
> > should proceed based on the *what* you want to get done from the
> completed
> > analysis .
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > My 2c worth.
> >
> >
> >
> > Kind Regards
> >
> >
> >
> > Kevork Krozian
> >
> > Digital Learning Manager
> >
> > Forest Hill College
> >
> > www.fhc.vic.edu.au
> >
> > tel: 0419 356 034
> >
> >
> >
> > *From:* sofdev-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:
> > sofdev-bounces at edulists.com.au] *On Behalf Of *Mark KELLY
> > *Sent:* Monday, 22 November 2010 11:18 AM
> > *To:* Year 12 Software Development Teachers' Mailing List
> > *Subject:* [Year 12 SofDev] PSM part 2
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi all. The study design's PSM discussion lists Use Cases as being a
> > useful tool to use during *physical design*.
> >
> > I would have thought they would be a *logical* design tool since they are
> > so abstract and emphasise functionality requirements rather than
> > implementation methods.
> >
> > --
> > Mark Kelly
> > Manager Information Systems
> > Reporting Manager
> > IT Learning Area Manager
> >
> > McKinnon Secondary College
> > McKinnon Rd McKinnon 3204
> > Victoria, Australia
> > Direct line / Voicemail: +613 8520 9085
> > Fax +613 9578 9253
> > kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
> >
> > VCE IT Lecture Notes: http://vceit.com
> > Moderator: IT Applications Edulist
> >
> > My cow died on this day two years ago. I know because I noted it in my
> > dairy.
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > http://www.edulists.com.au - FAQ, Subscribe, Unsubscribe
> > IT Software Development Mailing List kindly supported by
> > http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment
> Authority
> > and
> > http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/infotech/softwaredevel3-4.html
> > http://www.vitta.org.au - VITTA Victorian Information Technology
> Teachers
> > Association Inc
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Mark Kelly
> Manager Information Systems
> Reporting Manager
> IT Learning Area Manager
>
> McKinnon Secondary College
> McKinnon Rd McKinnon 3204
> Victoria, Australia
> Direct line / Voicemail: +613 8520 9085
> Fax +613 9578 9253
> kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
>
> VCE IT Lecture Notes: http://vceit.com
> Moderator: IT Applications Edulist
>
> My cow died on this day two years ago. I know because I noted it in my
> dairy.
> -------------- next part --------------
> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
> URL:
> http://www.edulists.com.au/pipermail/sofdev/attachments/20101124/e7fcff3c/attachment-0001.html
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:02:09 +1100
> From: Mark KELLY <kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au>
> Subject: Re: [Year 12 SofDev] Concurrency Issues
> To: "Year 12 Software Development Teachers' Mailing List"
> <sofdev at edulists.com.au>
> Message-ID:
> <AANLkTi=L7XpeRgk8jYCuAQvDOExpgnw0JbbAsaxJMtgk at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Locking a file or record was as far as I went with coping with networked
> programming. Kids can be responsible for that within their little bit of
> code.
>
> Managing a queue for access to files would, I believe, be beyond the scope
> of what is expected of students. Such control would have to be outside of
> their code, and be OS-dependent, wouldn't it?
>
>
> On 23 November 2010 14:13, Russell Quinn <QN at boxhillhs.vic.edu.au> wrote:
>
> > Hi all,
> > has anyone given thought to concurrency - since
> > we are in a networked environment. Do we have
> > to cater for locks and deadlocks, perhaps queues
> > for access to files - esp during the coding SAC.
> > I do not see any mention of these issues in the course
> > statements, but I cannot see how you could do a good job
> > in a network environment without looking at them.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Russell Quinn
> > ________________________________________
> > From: sofdev-bounces at edulists.com.au [sofdev-bounces at edulists.com.au] On
> > Behalf Of sofdev-request at edulists.com.au [sofdev-request at edulists.com.au
> ]
> > Sent: Tuesday, 23 November 2010 1:04 PM
> > To: sofdev at edulists.com.au
> > Subject: sofdev Digest, Vol 68, Issue 36
> >
> > Send sofdev mailing list submissions to
> > sofdev at edulists.com.au
> >
> > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> > http://www.edulists.com.au/mailman/listinfo/sofdev
> > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> > sofdev-request at edulists.com.au
> >
> > You can reach the person managing the list at
> > sofdev-owner at edulists.com.au
> >
> > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> > than "Re: Contents of sofdev digest..."
> >
> >
> > Today's Topics:
> >
> > 1. Royce Williams (Margaret Iaquinto)
> >
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 1
> > Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2010 13:04:02 +1000
> > From: Margaret Iaquinto <Margaret.Iaquinto at stleonards.vic.edu.au>
> > Subject: [Year 12 SofDev] Royce Williams
> > To: "List', 'Year 12 Software Development Teachers' Mailing"
> > <sofdev at edulists.com.au>
> > Message-ID: <4CEBBBC2.E9D0.00E9.1 at stleonards.vic.edu.au>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-15"
> >
> >
> > Hi
> >
> > I need to contact Royce Williams who used to work at Billanook. Would
> > someone kindly contact me offlist with some details, please?
> >
> > Maggie
> >
> >
> > Margaret Iaquinto
> > Information Technology Coordinator
> >
> > St Leonard's College
> > Brighton Campus
> > t (+61 3) 9909 9300
> >
> > x 529
> >
> > www.stleonards.vic.edu.au
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Alternate email: maggie at iaquinto.net
> > -------------- next part --------------
> > An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
> > URL:
> >
> http://www.edulists.com.au/pipermail/sofdev/attachments/20101123/76db5e4e/attachment.html
> > -------------- next part --------------
> > A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
> > Name: ATT00001
> > Type: image/bmp
> > Size: 30774 bytes
> > Desc: ATT00001
> > Url :
> >
> http://www.edulists.com.au/pipermail/sofdev/attachments/20101123/76db5e4e/attachment.bmp
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > sofdev mailing list
> > sofdev at edulists.com.au
> > http://www.edulists.com.au/mailman/listinfo/sofdev
> >
> >
> > End of sofdev Digest, Vol 68, Issue 36
> > **************************************
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > http://www.edulists.com.au - FAQ, Subscribe, Unsubscribe
> > IT Software Development Mailing List kindly supported by
> > http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment
> Authority
> > and
> > http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/infotech/softwaredevel3-4.html
> > http://www.vitta.org.au - VITTA Victorian Information Technology
> Teachers
> > Association Inc
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Mark Kelly
> Manager Information Systems
> Reporting Manager
> IT Learning Area Manager
>
> McKinnon Secondary College
> McKinnon Rd McKinnon 3204
> Victoria, Australia
> Direct line / Voicemail: +613 8520 9085
> Fax +613 9578 9253
> kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
>
> VCE IT Lecture Notes: http://vceit.com
> Moderator: IT Applications Edulist
>
> My cow died on this day two years ago. I know because I noted it in my
> dairy.
> -------------- next part --------------
> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
> URL:
> http://www.edulists.com.au/pipermail/sofdev/attachments/20101124/e8628614/attachment-0001.html
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> sofdev mailing list
> sofdev at edulists.com.au
> http://www.edulists.com.au/mailman/listinfo/sofdev
>
>
> End of sofdev Digest, Vol 68, Issue 40
> **************************************
>
> _______________________________________________
> http://www.edulists.com.au - FAQ, Subscribe, Unsubscribe
> IT Software Development Mailing List kindly supported by
> http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
> and
> http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/infotech/softwaredevel3-4.html
> http://www.vitta.org.au - VITTA Victorian Information Technology Teachers
> Association Inc
>
--
Mark Kelly
Manager Information Systems
Reporting Manager
IT Learning Area Manager
McKinnon Secondary College
McKinnon Rd McKinnon 3204
Victoria, Australia
Direct line / Voicemail: +613 8520 9085
Fax +613 9578 9253
kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
VCE IT Lecture Notes: http://vceit.com
Moderator: IT Applications Edulist
My cow died on this day two years ago. I know because I noted it in my
dairy.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.edulists.com.au/pipermail/sofdev/attachments/20101124/597a6700/attachment.html
------------------------------
_______________________________________________
sofdev mailing list
sofdev at edulists.com.au
http://www.edulists.com.au/mailman/listinfo/sofdev
End of sofdev Digest, Vol 68, Issue 42
**************************************
More information about the sofdev
mailing list