Course Overview

One 3-hour paper that consists of practical and theoretical content with a total of 180 marks (60% of the total marks for the subject).

The paper will comprise of two sections:

1. Section A: Time allocation 60 minutes.

This section will cover all theory aspects of all topics, including elements of Solution Development (viz. application packages and file management) theoretically. It will also assess the understanding of the technologies studied to make informed decisions in a real - life end - user scenario, ranging from choices of technology to its responsible use. The paper should also include some design based and problem-solving practical questions relating to applicable Topics (represented as pillars) and the associated LO’s outlined later in this document.

Different types of questions could be utilised including a Short Answer Section +/- 40 marks, which include a range of short questions covering all topics that could include:

• Multiple choice,

• Modified true and false, and

• Matching columns.

The short question mark total could then be deducted from the suggested totals per topic as presented in the table on the next page.

2. Section B: Time allocation 120 minutes.

This will be a practically oriented section covering questions on predominantly Topic 1 and Topic 3. To successfully complete this section, each student must have access to his or her own computer in the exam room. Provision needs to be made for sufficient computers to enable the examination to be completed in no more than two sittings.

This section assesses the practical skills pertaining to the use of the application packages studied (i.e. Topic 1 and aspects of Topic 3), namely word processing, spreadsheets and databases, notebooks as well as creating an integrated solution.

The section will comprise of questions based on a scenario and will cover the following content areas in an integrated manner:

• Word processing

• Spreadsheets

• Presentations

• Notebooks

• General (integration and application of techniques, knowledge and procedural skills to new situations) These skills will be assessed in an integrated manner based on real-life scenarios.

Problem solving, and aspects of file management will form part of the assessment of the application questions in this section. The student will not be required to enter large amounts of data. The required data could be retrieved from the data disk or imported from documents such as a text file, word processing document, a database table or a spreadsheet. An understanding of the concept of integration is required by the student and some questions should include aspects thereof.

The instructional offering is presented full time over one semester comprising 12 weeks.

60 hours (5 hours per week) of which:

• 35 hours are instructor led contact hours (which also include practicals on PCs),

• 17 hours are instructor led contact hours dedicated to practical tutorials (on PCs) and

• 8 hours are used for assessment purposes.

Each week should comprise two double periods of 2 hours each dedicated to practical lessons and exercises and one period of 1 hour each for theory-based content.

In addition, a further 24 hours, (i.e. 2 hours per week) are required for students to practice on their own to reinforce and master practical concepts and skills. (This should be accommodated in open labs provided by the college or on a students’ personal PC/laptop.)