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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>A well debated question last time this was
raised.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>I’m with you Michael, we can make
the experience more real by simulating an actual PM exercise rather that having
students doing PM on something as trivial as undertaking their SAC.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Mark Scott<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><font size=3
color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Luther</span></font></st1:PlaceName><font
color=black><span style='color:black'> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">College</st1:PlaceName></span></font></st1:place><font
color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>PS Hi Paula<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
itapps-bounces@edulists.com.au [mailto:itapps-bounces@edulists.com.au] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Michael Torsello (Mr)<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Friday, 23 February 2007
8:28 AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> Year 12 IT Applications
Teachers' Mailing List<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [Year 12 IT Apps] U3O1:
Database and proj man SAC</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I am writing to get feedback of something that has always
bothered me about this SAC (and the old U4O1).</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>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?</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>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.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>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.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>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.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>This approach uses less time, does proj management justice
and students are less stressed about monstrous SACs.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Perhaps Paula can tell me if there are any reason why I
can't use this approach this year?</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
font-weight:bold'><!-- Converted from text/rtf format -->----------------------------------</span></font></b>
<br>
<b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
font-weight:bold'>With thanks</span></font></b> <br>
<b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
font-weight:bold'>Michael Torsello</span></font></b> <br>
<b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
font-weight:bold'>Director of <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Computing<font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";
font-weight:normal'> <br>
</span></font>St</st1:address></st1:Street> Margaret's School, Berwick</span></font></b>
<br>
<b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
font-weight:bold'>Ph: (03) 9703 8111</span></font></b> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p><em><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>"Unless mankind redesigns itself by changing our DNA through
altering our genetic makeup, computer-generated robots will take over our
world." </span></font></i></em><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Stephen Hawking</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>_______________________________________________ <br>
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