AREA OF STUDY 3 - Tools, techniques and procedures
- In this area of study students apply all stages of the problem-solving methodology to create solutions to information problems.
- No restrictions are placed on the software tool used to create these solutions for clients.
- By working in teams, which can be virtual, to solve information problems for known clients, students develop an understanding of how constraints imposed by clients (users) affect the techniques and procedures applied when creating solutions.
- Individual team members prepare designs for the solutions and collectively they consider the designs and select one, based on agreed criteria, and make adjustments, if appropriate.
- These designs are considered by the clients, who provide feedback to the teams. Any modifications suggested by the clients are incorporated into the designs.
- Each student in a team can then individually follow the final design and develop the entire solution, or each student can contribute to the completion of the team's solutions. This involves using techniques and procedures to efficiently and effectively process and manage data, information and files.
- Team members record and monitor progress through shared electronic files. Students do not have to use dedicated project management software.
- A client-based approach provides the opportunity for students to develop and apply, in real situations, knowledge and understanding about criteria for evaluating the efficiency of processing and the effectiveness of solutions, as identified in the solution designs.
Team solution for a client
On completion of this unit the student should be able to work collaboratively and apply the problem-solving methodology to create an ICT solution, taking into account client feedback
- analyse information problems
- prepare and follow plans that coordinate the tasks, people, resources and time required to develop solutions
- select and apply appropriate tools and techniques to design solutions
- liaise with the clients in order to obtain feedback on the preferred designs, and make adjustments, where necessary
- select and apply suitable equipment, tools, functions, formats and conventions to create solutions
- apply techniques and procedures to securely and effectively handle files
- devise and implement an evaluation strategy.
ASSESSMENT
Assessment tasks for this unit are selected from the following:
- using ICT tools and techniques, produce a solution in response to an identified need
- visual presentations such as multimedia presentations
- oral presentations supported by a visual presentation
- an electronic learning journal, such as a blog, to record learning progress
- a written report using ICT
- a test.
Using a design process of Analysis--> Design--> Development--> Evaluation students will produce an IT based solution for a specific business/client. The solution, or end product(s), should address and real world IT related problem or issue and regular communication with your client is expected. The majority of the work must be your own so therefore templates, downloads, web-based generators should not be used.
All journals will be submitted via your IT website and all team members need to contribute.
Acceptable solutions could be:
- A website created using Dreamweaver
- An advertisement for publishing on YouTube created using MovieMaker & Audacity
- An mobile App created using GameSalad or Visual Basic
- Product line development using Inventor or Sketch-up and 3D printed
- An interior design proposal using Sketch-up
- Re-branding using Photoshop and Illustrator
- Advertising using 3ds Max
Or any combination of the above. You will justify your end product(s) and IT tools to be used in your Project Proposal.
The best option is to find an actual business, and therefore a client, that you can work with.
Some suggested industry areas :
- Child Care
- Hardware
- Beauty
- Fitness
- Clothing
- Electronics
- Restaurants/Cafe
- Automotive
- General Retail
- Travel/tourism
Once you have made a decision on a client, the following questions should guide your initial research and analysis and will guide your project proposal.
How does an organisation communicate to customers? Is this one way or two way communication?
Who are the customers/clients?
What products and services are provided by this organisation/business?
How do they use technology to communicate?
How effective is their communication? How do they know?