Applied Information Technology

Sample unit package for Unit 1C

Unit learning context:

  • Independent living

This sample unit package contains:

  • a teaching program
  • an assessment outline
  • assessment tasks and marking keys (where available)

This sample package is provided as support for teachers. It has been updated to reflect WACE policy expectations for 2009 and beyond.

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Applied Information Technology: Sample Unit Package Unit 1C

© Curriculum Council, 2008

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The resources or references such as texts and websites in this document are provided as examples of resources that teachers can use to support their teaching. Their inclusion does not imply that they are mandatory, preferred or that they are the only resources relevant to the course.

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Applied Information Technology: Sample unit package Unit 1C

Sample teaching and learning program for Unit 1CAIT

Week / Content overview / Software focus / Portfolio Exercises and Tasks / VET Competency
1 /
  • Course introduction / expectations / assessment schema
  • Typing practice / introduction to touch typing
  • Online typing test to establish benchmark
Work environments and legislation
  • implications of legislation for users of ICT at school and home e.g. cyber bullying
  • principles, ergonomic practices and critical factors that affect ICT users and their environment
  • Worksafe certificates
  • OSH in the office (classroom)
  • storage areas for school work
  • standard report layouts
/
  • MS Word
  • IE
/
  • Room safety review plus report. Students to review room/area, identify any safety issues, write report on them and produce safe working procedures.
  • Worksafe Certificates for Office/Workplaces.
  • Report shell for subject.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6. / BSBCMN106A Follow workplace safety procedures
2 /
  • 10 minute typing practice per session
The impact of ICT on individuals, communities, and environments
  • changes in ICT and how the rate of change affects personal values, productivity, communication patterns and lifestyles
  • influence of ICT use on behaviour, personal opinions or decisions, attitudes and relationships
Values, ethics and inclusivity
  • individual rights for privacy
  • responsibility and safeguards required for the access, availability and security of information and potential for misuse within a personal context
Past and emerging trends in ICT
  • introduction to major trends in ICT for personal use
  • impact and influence of new trends on decision-making and choices Impact of IT on Business
  • use of Mobile technology in business to make money
  • how Big Brother makes money
  • Virtual worlds. Good and bad
  • Online addictions (gaming and MySpace)
/ Look at changes to technology in future and restrictions on size.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4762375.stm (external link)
Discuss issues over online sites such as MySpace. / ICAU1128a Operate a personal computer
3 /
  • 10 minute typing practice per session
  • Online profits
  • Designing websites
  • What makes a good information product
  • How information is gathered and used
Technology processes in the workplace
  • application of ICT methodologies used for problem-solving
  • simple techniques for representing the design of solutions e.g. design briefs, annotated diagrams and storyboards
  • use of ICT to increase personal efficiency and quality of output
Work environments and legislation
  • implications of legislation for users of ICT at school and home e.g. cyber bullying
  • copyright
/ IPO process exercise
Spreadsheet exercise
What makes a good Information product exercise



/ ICAW2001A Work effectively in an IT environment
4 /
  • 10 minute typing practice per session
  • Word skills
  • Spreadsheet Skills
  • Investigate leaving home. Costs, relevant organisations needed, housing
/
  • MS Word
  • MS Excel
  • IE/Fire fox
  • MS FrontPage
  • PSP 8
  • MS Publisher
/ Task 1: Leaving Home Information Product (Investigation)
DUE: Week 6 / ICAU2006A Operate computing packages
5 /
  • 10 minute typing practice per session
  • Task 1
/
  • MS Word
  • MS Excel
  • IE/Firefox
  • MS FrontPage
  • PSP 8
  • MS Publisher
/ Task 1: Leaving Home Information Product (continued)
6 /
  • 10 minute typing practice per session
  • Task 1
/
  • MS Word
  • MS Excel
  • IE/Fire fox
  • MS FrontPage
  • PSP 8
  • MS Publisher
/ Task 1: Leaving Home Information Product (continued)
7 /
  • 10 minute typing practice per session
The nature, forms and transfer of digital data
  • skills, techniques and processes used to collect, evaluate and store data from a range of sources e.g. traditional and digital
  • data file formats and their impact on the access, transfer or distribution of data
  • accuracy, reliability and validity of sources of data
Processing and managing data
  • procedures to manage personal digital resources
  • search strategies for sourcing data
  • development of specific skills to manipulate and transform data
  • Database Skills
  • Real Estate database
/
  • MS Word
  • MS Access
  • IE/Firefox
/ Exercises to create tables, reports, queries and forms.
8 /
  • 10 minute typing practice per session
  • Task 2
/
  • MS Word
  • MS Access
  • IE/Firefox
/ Task 2: Real Estate agent database (Production/Performance)
DUE: Week 9
9 /
  • 10 minute typing practice per session
  • Task 2
/
  • MS Word
  • MS Access
  • IE/Firefox
/ Task 2: Real Estate agent database (continued)
10 /
  • 10 minute typing practice per session
  • Budgeting
  • Excel skills
  • Formatting
/
  • MS Word
  • MS Excel
  • IE/Firefox
/ Task 3: Can I afford to leave home? (Performance/Response)
DUE: Week 11 / ICAU2013A Integrate commercial computing packages
ICAD2012A Design organisational documents using computer packages
11 /
  • Task 3
/
  • MS Word
  • MS Excel
  • IE/Firefox
/ Task 3: Can I afford to leave home? (continued)
12 / Hardware components and functions
  • hardware requirements for personal computer systems including peripheral devices
  • input, output, memory/storage, communication and processing components
  • interaction of components and their function.
Applications and systems software
  • systems software and the operating system used in a personal computer
  • commonly used applications software, such as word processing, presentation and desktop publishing, graphics, spreadsheet, graphing, email and internet applications.
Design and acquisition of hardware and software
  • selection, configuration and maintenance of hardware and software components to form a suitable personal computer system e.g. preventative maintenance: firewall, Trojan removal, antivirus installation
  • comparison of the costs and elements of personal systems available in the marketplace
  • identification of factors to consider when acquiring hardware and software
  • Buying your own computer
  • Creating documentation on how to set up a computer
  • Freeware vs. shareware
  • Virus protection
/
  • XP/Linux
  • MS Word
  • IE/Firefox
  • MS Excel
/ Demonstration of computer components and terms used
Task 4: Acomputer for home (Response)
DUE: Week 14

/ ICAU2005A Operate Computer Hardware
ICAU2006A Operate computer packages
13 /
  • Task 4
/
  • MS Word
  • IE/Firefox
  • MS Excel
/ Task 4: A computer for home


14 /
  • Task 4/Digital Portfolio
Creative application of information design principles
  • relationship between the intended audience, the design and the final presentation of information
  • application of principles and elements of information design (purpose, audience and client specifications) to the development of information products
  • identification of criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of the design and output
Careers, work and jobs
  • identification of pathways and opportunities within the personal environment that provide relevant qualifications, experience and skills in ICT
  • use of ICT for personal use to support lifelong learning
/
  • MS Word
  • IE/Fire fox
  • MS Excel
  • FrontPage/
    Dreamweaver
/ Dreamweaver exercise
Design principles
15 /
  • Digital Portfolio
/
  • MS Word
  • IE/Firefox
  • FrontPage/
    Dreamweaver
/ Organise the semester work for review
The Digital Portfolio is not a formal task but is to introduce the students to different products for presentation and have them start to think about work they have done as well as design issues to make their product flexible should they need to add subjects or materials later.

Sample assessment outline for Unit 1CAIT

Task
Weightings / Possible
Mark / O1 / O2 / O3 / O4
Investigation
(Research work in which students plan, conduct and communicate an investigation)
(10–20 %) / Task 1: Leaving home information product
Design an information product outlining where information about independent living can be obtained. Students are to consider what they will need to know when the time comes to leave home. / 20% / 87 /  /  /  / 
Production/ Performance
(Extended production project in which students explore ideas and control the processes required to manage the aesthetic quality of production. Students engage in an activity or on the spot evaluation of a performance)
(55–75 %) / Task 1: Leaving home information product (continued)
Create an information product clearly showing where information about independent living can be obtained. / 20%
Task 2: Database
Create a simple data file that can create queries, forms and reports. Use a range of field types focusing on producing quality items, paying attention to issues such as headers, footers, titles, location of data on pages, meaningful field names and dates. / 25% / 57 / 
Task 3: Can I afford to leave home?
Create a spreadsheet for a personal budget exemplifying the cost of moving out of home. Students must use formulas and formatting. The focus is on quality. Therefore layout of the products is important. / 20% / 32 /  / 
Response
(Students apply their knowledge and skills in analysing and responding to a series of stimuli or prompts)
(15–20 %) / Task 4: Home computer
Cost a computer for home. Students are to look at hardware and software issues, input, processing and output device, as well as terminology used. Students must examine environmental issues to do with IT equipment purchased. They are to create a specification sheet for a home computer and cost it out. / 10% / 54 /  / 
Response
(15–20 %) / End of unit test / 5% /  /  /  / 

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Applied Information Technology: Sample unit package Unit 1C

Sample assessment task for Unit 1CAIT

TYPE: Investigation/Production

OUTCOMES: Outcome 1: Technology process; Outcome 2: Understanding ICT, Outcome 3: Quality of information solutions and Outcome 4: ICT in Society

CONTENT: Social Implications and Trends; Hardware and Software, Technology Process, Digital Data

UNIT LEARNING CONTEXT:Independent Living

TASK 1: Leaving home information product (87 marks) (20%)

Your task is to create an information product that can be used by people moving out of home for the first time.

Your finished product must address the following essentialcost areas:

  • Food
  • Clothing
  • Utilities-electricity, telephone, mobile, internet account, gas, water
  • Shelter
  • Transport

Additional aspects to cover include:

  • income
  • proof of identity
  • bank accounts
  • entertainment
  • luxuries (eating out, going to the movies, video/DVD)
  • the law (lease agreements, legal ages)
  • useful agencies
  • online help

Time allocation

Three weeks in and out of classto complete this task.

What you need to do

Instructions for Part 1 and 2

  • Create documents in a word processing package.
  • Answer the questions and create a new sub-heading for each question.
  • Write detailed, full sentence answers.
  • Put your name and today’s date in the footer section of the document.

Part 1: Initial planning[24 marks]

  1. Create a word processed document and call it INITIAL PLANNING.
  2. For whom is this product being created? (Consider the following: age, gender, economic status, access to technology, IT literacy, education)
  3. What style of information product would most appeal to the target audience you have identified in question 1 and why? (e.g. web page, information brochure, video, PowerPoint presentation)
  4. List and explain the techniques you would use to make your information product capture the attention of the audience.
  5. Construct a table with the following headings: essential hardware/software; reasons; personal skill level.
  6. In the table,list the software and/or hardware you would consider to be essential to completing this task
  7. Provide reasons for why you consider the software and/or hardware to be essential.
  8. Indicate areas where you believe your abilities in using the hardware/software are adequate, excellent or require more training.
  9. Create a new word processed document and call it JOURNAL.
  • Inserta footer with your name and today’s date on it.
  • During each lesson, make an entry in your journal:
  • write down the date
  • list what you have accomplished during the lesson.
  • explain how the work was done (techniques used, software/hardware).
  • explain why you chose to do the work in the way you have (style, graphics, impact, emphasis, structure, limitations).
  • explain any problems you have encountered and the solutions you achieved.

Part 2:Investigation[23 marks]

  1. Create a new word processed document and call it INVESTIGATION.
  2. List possible sources of information or other resources you might require to make your information product.
  3. List the information you will need to research in order to create your information product.
  4. List possible key words or phrases you might use on internet search engine.
  5. Create another word processed document and call itBibliography. In the footer, insert your name and today’s date. Make a list of your references and indicate how useful reference was.
  6. Create a word processed document and call itNOTES. In the footer, insert your name and today’s date. In this document,store your notes and graphic resources in discrete sections. Ensure that each item of information and graphicsis correctly annotated with its source or reference listed with it.
  7. Examinethe design features of existing information products e.g. brochures, PowerPoint, WebPages etc. These features include: layout, graphics, background, text style or something eye-catching.

Identify the positive features that you could incorporate into your work. Make sure any ideas that you might like to use are recorded in your notesdocument.

  1. Gather any other notes, ideas and resources for your own information product. Record them in your notesdocument.

Part 3: Developmental planning[20 marks]

  1. Using any of the planning templates provided, create annotated plans that use both text and diagrams to describe all aspects of how your finished product might look. Make sure your name is on each piece of work.
  2. Now look at the plans you have made. Identify areas that could be done in a different way or improved upon. In your journal, record your ideas of how your plans could be changed along with an explanation of why these changes would be an improvement.
  3. Create a new set of plans that include your improvements
  4. Create a word processed document and call itplanning notes. Follow the same rules for headings and sub-headings as per previous documents. In this document, explain how your work can be made interesting for the target audience.
  5. In your PLANNING NOTESdocument, make notes about why the medium (video, PowerPoint, brochure, web page) you have chosen will be able to reach the most number of people in the target audience. Consider the following aspects:
  • Access to IT
  • Education (IT Literacy)
  • Wealth of target audience
  • Family values/ beliefs
  • Cost of production and distribution
  1. List any additional resources you might need in your PLANNING NOTESdocument.
  2. In your PLANNING NOTESdocument, document any problems that may arise and solutions that may be needed.

Part 4: Create your Information Product[10 marks]

  1. Create your Information Product in the medium you have chosen.
  2. Make a record of all changes to the original design in your journal.
  3. Test your product; make a judgement on whether it meets the design brief criteria based on your own plans for the product. If it does, move on to the Part 5: Evaluation.

If your information product does not meet the design brief criteria, state what is not yet finished and why. Then modify and/or upgrade your work and record changes made in your journal. (Note: Do this process for as many times as it takes for you to perfect your information product)

Part 5: Evaluate your information product[10 marks]

In this section, create a new document and call itEVALUATION. In the footer, put your name and today’s date.

For each of the following questions, create a new sub-heading, write in full sentence answers and explore the implications of each answer.

  1. Is your product finished and does it fulfil your designed expectations? Explain why it does or does not.
  2. State why your finished information product will appeal to your target audience. Describe those aspects that you have used in detail to make the product more attractive to your target audience. Why do you think such strategies will work?
  3. Describe any negative issues for our society associated with your finished product e.g. health issues, pollution, excessive power consumption, IT literacy and access (equity).
  4. Explain which aspects of your finished work are the best and why.
  5. Explain which aspects of your finished work you would do differently if asked to do this project again and why.
  6. Using any of the criteria above and/or any of your own, make a survey of other students and seek their opinions of your work.
  7. After your own evaluation and the evaluation of your peers do you feel you have created a successful product? Why/why not?

What needs to be submitted for assessment / Due date
□Initial planning including a covering document and journal document
□Investigation/ research and presentation of findings, including a bibliography
□Developmental planning including draft designs, planning notes and updated journal
□Final product
□Survey
□Evaluation

Student Name: ______

Brochure Planning Template

  • In the rectangle below indicate the placement of information blocks, columns of information and graphic objects. This must be done for each page.
  • Annotate your work to indicate font information, sources of information, background colours and any other special effects used.
  • If the brochure is a two page spread work in landscape mode not portrait.