Download 2016 Year 13 Course outline File

Year 13 Digital Technology
2016 Course information
The Year 13 Digital Technology course is based on Level 8 of the Technology
Curriculum, focusing on the Digital Technology strand.
Aim
The course aims to develop students’ ability to work and learn independently,
manage their time and resources during a project, and follow the technological
process.
Specific aims
The students will develop:
 The ability to locate appropriate resources and use them to teach
themselves required skills
 Competence in using a wide range of industry standard software ranging
from office products such as Excel, PowerPoint and Word to creative
software such as Inspiration (creative thinking tool), Adobe Photoshop,
Adobe Dreamweaver, or Game Maker
 Competence in combining programming languages such as HTML, PHP,
SQL or Python
 An understanding of design theory and the importance of designing for a
target audience and specific purpose
 An understanding, and the ability to effectively follow the technological
process to solve a real life issue
 The ability to plan a project by managing their time, resources and skills
 The ability to gather feedback from stakeholders
 The ability to appraise the quality of solutions based on measurable
criteria
Costs
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Costs will vary depending on the student’s project, however for the
majority of students there is no cost.
Course Outline
Unit 1
Concepts in Computer Science All Year
Learning outcomes
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Students are able to demonstrate
their understanding of advanced
concepts from computer science,
such as artificial intelligence, formal
languages, and complexity and
tractability.
Topics
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Artificial intelligence
The Turing test
Regular expressions
Finite state automata
Complexity and tractability
Students will prepare a written report for external submission. The report will
demonstrate their knowledge of advanced concepts in computer science and
is assessed against Digital Technology standard 91636, worth 4 credits.
In this report they should address two main topics, which could include
artificial intelligence and the Turing test, formal languages, or complexity and
tractability. Their report has a maximum of 10 A4 pages. Most resources for
this topic can be found on csfieldguide.org.nz.
Class time has been set aside for this topic in each term, and it is expected
that the majority of the report is completed and submitted for feedback by the
end of term three. However, final submission is not required until 28th October
so students have time to make further refinements over the remainder of term
four.
Unit 2
Programming in Python
Learning outcomes
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Students will be familiar with
programming concepts such as
use of variables, conditional
statements and loops
Students are able to plan their
program using an algorithm or
flowchart
Students can identify whether
variables are local or global
Students can document their
code with comments
Students can use functions to
make their programs more
efficient
Students understand the strength
of object-oriented programming,
and can use classes effectively
Students can use tkinter to
create a GUI for their programs
13 weeks
Topics
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Variables and data types
Adding comments
IF statements
Lists
While loops
Scope of variables
Functions
Try and except
Classes
Tkinter and creating GUI
Planning a program
Testing
Practice project
Timeline: Term 1 (week 5) – Term 2 (week 6)
In this topic students extend their knowledge from Year 12, learning about objectoriented programming in Python through the use of classes, while also using
Python’s GUI elements to create a user interface for their programs.
Students will work through the resources provided, completing daily tasks, while
also using other resources such as Code Academy. They will revise concepts
covered in Year 12, such as variables, assigning values and types, conditional
statements, loops and functions.
There will also be a focus on planning a software project, identifying variables
required and their nature (global or local), inputs and outputs, functions and testing
against expected outputs.
The unit ends with an assessment task where the student will be required to plan
write and test an original program using Python to address a given brief. The
plan, code and testing documentation are assessed against internal achievement
standard 91637, worth 6 credits.
Unit 3
Dynamic website creation
Learning outcomes
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Students are familiar with design
and colour theory
Students can use CSS to lay out
their website
Students can convert a digital
mockup into a website
Students are able to create and
manage MySQL databases
Students are able to load content
dynamically onto a webpage
from a database using PHP and
SQL
Students are able to create a
secure admin section
Students are able to create,
update or delete records from a
database using their own web
interface
14 weeks
Topics
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Design and colour theory
HTML/CSS
Creating a one-page website using
PHP includes
Relational database design
SQL queries
PHP basics
Encryption
Password protecting webpages
Creating, updating and deleting
records using web forms
Timeline: Term 2 (week 7) – Term 3 (week 8)
In this topic students extend their knowledge from year 12, designing and creating
websites where content is loaded dynamically from a MySQL database. They will
learn to build their own secure admin section where content in the database can
be created, updated or deleted using web forms that they create themselves.
Students will become proficient in using HTML, CSS, PHP, SQL and a MySQL
database. They will connect their website to a MySQL database using PHP,
displaying results using PHP and SQL, formatting these results with HTML and
CSS.
Students will use free open-source software, using a local server such as
wampserver, plus a code editor like Notepad ++ or Sublime Text.
NCEA Assessment Policy and Procedures
The Technology Department will follow all school policies as detailed in ‘NCEA
Assessment Information for Students’ booklet given to students at the start of the
year. Attention is drawn to the following points.
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Authenticity
Assessment work completed must be the students own work. Students and
caregivers may be expected to sign authenticity declarations and, where
appropriate, submit working drafts. Students can expect that they may be
required to verbally clarify any work presented as their own. Where evidence
indicates work presented is not your own work, the school policy will be followed.
Appeals
Appeals of grades awarded are to be made within three days of the return of
assessed work. Where a grade is appealed school policy will be followed.
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Late work
DUE DATE means just that. Late work will not be accepted for assessment
unless in exceptional circumstances exist and extension has been granted by the
HOD before the due date. Technology failure will not be grounds for an
extension of a deadline.
Assessment Opportunities
No reassessment opportunity is offered.
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A resubmission opportunity will only be offered when the teacher believes a
student is capable of discovering and correcting the mistake themselves within
one class period.
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Compassionate considerations
Internal Achievement Standards – compassionate consideration for a student
who is absent from an internal assessment may be made if there is sufficient
evidence available from other work related to the same skill / content and no
other assessment opportunity is available.
 Retention of Students work
The department may retain internal assessment material until it is no longer
required for moderation purposes.
 Verifying grades
Students are required to verify the grades that they have been awarded by
signing the result slip for each assessment. Students will also be required to
verify final grades awarded that are submitted to NZQA.
 Moderation
Internal assessments are checked before handing out for their quality and
suitability. They are then either marked by one person or by both teachers to
ensure consistency of marking over the two classes. Where one teacher marks
the assessment, they are ‘check’ marked to ensure the results are valid,
consistent and fair.
 Course endorsement
This course meets the requirements for course endorsement. N.B. Students will
have only one opportunity to achieve the external requirement.
Student obligations:
1. Attend class and complete all tasks including homework
2. Ensure you understand the assessment programme and policies
3. Ensure you understand the requirements of each assessment being
completed
4. Check thoroughly the accuracy of the assessment by teachers when work
is returned
5. Discuss problems / concerns with teacher/HOD well in advance
6. Complete and hand in all assessment material on time.
First in Subject Award
This will be awarded to the student who has achieved to a high level in the formal
assessments and one-period challenges, and with their attitude and independent
work throughout the year.
Outlined below are the Level Three ICT Course Assessments
Credits
Number
Title
Assessment Mode
20
AS 91633
DT 3.41
Implement complex procedures to
develop a relational database
embedded in a specified digital
outcome.
6
Internal
Project
AS 91637
DT 3.46
Develop a complex computer
program for a specified task.
6
Internal
Project
AS 91635
DT 3.43
Implement complex procedures to
produce a specified digital media
outcome
4
Internal
Project
AS 91636
DT 3.44
Demonstrate understanding of areas
of computer science
4
External
Report
Expected timelines for assessment are listed below. Please be sure you record
them in your diary. You will be advised well in advance exactly when each
assessment will be carried out.
Major Project: Student Assessment Instructions
This project assesses:
Achievement
Standard 3.41
Version 2
91633, credits 6
Implement complex
procedures to develop a
relational database
embedded in a specified
digital outcome
Achievement
Standard 3.43
Version 2
91635, credits 4
Implement complex
procedures to produce a
specified digital media
outcome
Level 3 Digital Technology
Dynamic Website Project
In this project you are required to design and build a
dynamic website using PHP and MySQL. You will plan the
design, develop, test and implement the website on a testing
server. It is not required to be live on the Internet.
The website should enable you to create, update and delete
records on a MySQL database using web forms that you
create. You should consider security for the site, using
encrypted passwords and aim to prevent SQL injection
attacks.
A brief and some resources will be supplied to you by your
teacher, however you may design the website for anyone
you wish. If you choose to do your own idea keep in mind
that it must provide you with the opportunity to display
advanced digital information and media skills while at the
same time be something you can achieve in the time given.
The final website is assessed against Achievement Standards
91633 (6 credits) and 91635 (4 credits), and is due on the last
day of Term 3, Friday October 28th at 12:30pm
This project assesses:
Achievement
Standard 3.46
Version 2
91637, credits 6
Develop a complex
computer program for a
specified task
Level 3 Digital Technology
Programming in Python
Project
In this project you are required to plan and construct an
original computer program using Python.
You have the option of writing a program to follow a given
brief, or writing your own program for a project of your
choosing. It will involve building an event driven software
program using classes and creating your own GUI for the
program. Use tkinter to create the GUI.
You are required to prepare a comprehensive plan for your
program that includes an overview of all variables, inputs
and outputs, functions, scope of variables, expected output,
and testing cases. Please make sure you check your plan
against the checklist provided before submitting it.
The final plan and program will be assessed against Achievement
Standard 91637 (6 Credits) and are due at the end of week six of
Term 2, Friday 10th June at 3:30pm
Year 13
Anticipated assessment times in 2016
Term 1
Term 2
Term 3
Term 4
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
Prelim Exams
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
AS91636 External
Due 28 Oct
Exam Leave
5
5
AS91637
5
6
6
AS91637
6
6
7
7
7
7
8
8
8
9
Easter
9
10
Easter
10
11
Summer Touney
Winter Tourney
AS91633
AS91635
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2017
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