Choosing a project (pp 108-9) Situations where ICT is useful There are situations where using computers is suitable and others where they are not. The following situations are where ICT is ideal: for boring or repetitive work for jobs which have to be done quickly for jobs where data needs to be better organized for jobs that need more security for jobs where there is a shortage of labour for jobs where better information is need in order to make decisions for jobs where there needs to be better presentation. Task related The syllabus recommends that the AS project should be task related. What does this mean? It means that you shouldn't invent the problem or produce a solution for yourself. These projects are always dire and easy to spot for the examiner. It is also a not a good idea for tutor to set a problem for you to solve unless it is a real one. Where do you find a problem? Your parents Your relatives Your part-time job, especially if you work for a small business (projects based on Sainsbury's are not a good idea) Your work placement company/organization. Your parent's friends Clubs or societies you belong to Ex teachers Small local business - plumbers, electricians, accountants, computer hardware builders, dress and cake makers, quilt makers. All of these have been used successfully. Departments of large companies can be used e.g. the training division of a large company like Rolls Royce or the Health and Safety unit of large locally based building company. Teachers are often not a good source as they are often too busy but the admin office might want a booking system for evening use of the outdoor hard courts or gym. Above all make sure you can regularly keep in contact with your end user. Avoid end-users who live abroad! Topics to avoid: Payroll - too complicated especially when working out tax, national insurance etc. Stock control - especially in large companies. Simple word-processing projects involving basic mail merging. Large companies eg McDonalds Video stores Any examples quoted in the main textbooks - newspaper delivery, theme parks, driving schools, insurance quotation systems - UNLESS you can make them individual. Some good ideas: Booking systems Invoicing systems Timetabling of facilities - computer rooms in a school, tennis courts, sports trainers Record keeping - collections, hire equipment. Web sites for clubs, hotels, plumbers, chemists, accountants, electricians, security device fitters, sportswear manufacturers, fitness trainers, recording studios. Scheduling systems for events. Choose something you are interested in. It is going to dominate your life for part of your AS life if it going to be any good. Pick a happy medium -not too complex or too small. Software Your tutor will probably recommend a particular package to you. Lots of schools advise you to use a spreadsheet or database package for your project. These packages are very suitable because you can demonstrate that a lot of processing is going on. However there is nothing to stop you using a DTP or web based package but you need to take care here as a basic DTP project is not A Level standard. You'll need some help from your ICT tutors as to advanced features and the processing of data. Moderators are always on the look out for projects that show some originality in a range of applications. It makes their job more pleasurable!! Example Project/how data is obtained/why computers are better. What application packages can and can't do Application Brand names Suitable for Not suitable for Word/Text Processing Star Office MS Word Presentation project Data storage Calculations on data Spreadsheet Star Office MS Excel Data handling Presentation Relational Databases Database MySQL MS Access Data handling Relational Databases Presentations Slideshow Presentation Star Office MS PowerPoint Presentations Website Projects MS Star Office Arachacnophilia Netscape/Mozilla Composer Dreamweaver MS FrontPage Websites! Presentations Example sports club diff between spreadsheet and database for a sports club. Research methods - pros and cons. Another warning about suitability. Importance of a good end user. Flow charts and data flow but not DFDs. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ This list belongs to the A Level ICT staff and students of Landau Forte College. *To send an email to the list mail to: alevel-ict@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx *List archives are here: //www.freelists.org/archives/alevel-ict/ *Remember this list is moderated! So keep it sensible. *Check http://www.assessment-online.co.uk/PmWiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HomePage for other messages.