[Year 12 IT Apps] U3O1: Database and proj man SAC

[Litsa Tzelepis]

Hello everyone,

so would it be safe then to conduct the outcomes separately, ie. outcome 1 - task 1, then outcome 2 - task 2, outcome 2 - task 1, then outcome 2 - task 2, etc.

sorry if this is an obvious question.

thank-you,

Litsa

  ---- Original Message ----- 
  From: Joseph Papaleo 
  To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List 
  Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 10:34 AM
  Subject: Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] U3O1: Database and proj man SAC


  We used the same approach as yours the last 2 years.  Hoping to do the same again this year.

  Joseph Papaleo


  On 2/23/07, Michael Torsello (Mr) < michael at stmargarets.vic.edu.au> wrote:
    I am writing to get feedback of something that has always bothered me about this SAC (and the old U4O1).

    Do I have to base the project management part of this SAC on the same database problem that the students solve? The marks for this SAC are distinctly separate (40 + 10), can we separate the SACs too?

    Let me explain: Most of us are happy to dedicate an incredible 500 minutes (10 period x 50 minutes) to this SAC and students have to apply project management to their own project. I find this incredibly unrealistic (not that we can be totally realistic in a classroom). However, they allocate resources to one person, themselves, they plan their time over the allotted 10 periods and the concept of a budget is usually irrelevant. They first do an analysis and then plan their project and then the analysis is meant to be part of the project. It seems totally out of whack to me.

    In the past, I have allotted 5 periods x 50 minutes to a database problem (analysis, design, production, testing, evaluation) and then later (not necessarily the next class) a written test for about two periods for the project management part. I provide a case study that is a bit more realistic, involves more people, (albeit fictitious) and even throw a spanner in the works, just like real projects.

    I have attached a Proj Man test on spreadsheets that I used last year. I draw your attention to the last two pages. At one point near the end of the paper, students have to ask the teacher for another page, (the last page of file). I circled one choice from each option and they have to answer questions about having to deal with these unexpected events.

    This approach uses less time, does proj management justice and students are less stressed about monstrous SACs.

    Perhaps Paula can tell me if there are any reason why I can't use this approach this year?

    ---------------------------------- 
    With thanks 
    Michael Torsello 
    Director of Computing 
    St Margaret's School, Berwick 
    Ph: (03) 9703 8111 

    "Unless mankind redesigns itself by changing our DNA through altering our genetic makeup, computer-generated robots will take over our world." Stephen Hawking


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  Joseph Papaleo

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  http://papajo.edublogs.org 

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