AQA ICT AS Level Unit 3
Coursework element 40% of AS award (5521)

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 Subject  ICT AS
  Teacher  Mr Maney Mrs Robinson Mrs Fowler
  Unit  3 (40%)
  Duration  60 marks

Week Details & links Assessed work / further work
 1  
Excel Introduction: (RN/FW)
Introduction to Excel covering the basics. Cells, Rows, Columns, Formulas, Formatting, Values and Labels. Students will create their own basic spreadsheet with formulas, drop down validation, conditional formatting, formatting and simple functions.
Systems Lifecycle Introduction (MA)
Students will be introduced to the concept of the systems lifecycle and how it applies to the coursework element of the AS (40%).
Students will be introduced to the components of the coursework and mark weighting- AS Components.doc
Using Systems lifecycle worksheet 2 (homework) further clarification of the lifecycle will be given.
The Specification components will be briefly explained
Introduction to the concept of a generic and specific questionnaire		  
Systems lifecycle worksheet 1
Systems lifecycle worksheet 2 (Homework)
 2 Excel Introduction: (RN/FW)
Introduction to Excel, recapping all elements from previous week and investigating basic Form objects–students are to create a Binary to denary converter.xls
Systems Lifecycle: Analysis strategy(MA)
Different methods on how to analysis a problem will be discussed and students will create their own analysisstrategy Mind map using Openmind (software) and then export to Word. This is the opening section of their coursework project. Their homework task will be to:
  • Create a 1st Generic questionnaire –(Example).
  • Find an end user
  • Write a brief statement covering the nature of the End user business and system description (1-1 ½ pages of A4)
Start the Interview Log		 Binary to denary converter
Interview Log Generic questionnaire (Homework)
End user nature and problem statement (Homework)
 3 Excel Introduction: (RN/FW)
15 Minute in class spreadsheet skills test including: Formulas, formatting, conditional formatting, Basic form objects, basic functions
Recap over skills, and then further functions: Vlookup and IF
Analysis and Data Dynamics: (MA)
Discussions on how to analyse (Using analysis strategy) and present the data dynamics of a system with the use of DFD’s, objectives and IPO methodology. DFD example 1, DFD Example 2, DFD Example 3. Students will create their own DFD representing the process of coming to school in the morning		 Example test.xls
Vlookup Example.xls
IF example.xls
Students to hand in: Week 2 homework.
Students to create an IPO draft, DFD draft, and Objectives draft  of the current system for homework
4 Further Excel: (RN/FW)
Investigation into the use of functions and complex functions in context with a given problem - Teacher mark book.xls
The features and uses of the mark book will be demonstrated, x-referenced with the prior learning regarding Functions, and then rebuilt by the students from a given template.xls
Vlookup, nested if statements, Min, Max, Count, Counta, Countif, Countblank
Specification (MA)
Students continue to work on their specification and will redraft based on individual requirements and 1to1 teacher discussion. Folders to be submitted
Folder checklist:
  • Introduction
  • The Current system
  • 1 DFD draft of current system
  • Problems
  • Proposed systemObjectives
  • Interview Log
  • GANNT chart
  • Questionnaire (generic- blank and filled in!)
  • Questionnaire (specific- blank and filled in if possible!)
  • Any example documents
  Design templates
Design dictionary template


Students areto submit their folders:
ASS -25th Sept
ASR- 28th Sept
5 Further Excel: (RN/FW)
Students to work through and complete markbook  and then tackle the Theatre.xls example
Specification (MA)
As week 4 &
Students will be given design templates to work on in lesson and over half term. They will start on producing detailed designs of their work and a Design Dictionary		 Theatre.xls
design templates
Design Dictionary
6 Further Excel: (RN/FW)
Macros will be demonstrated: Simple navigation macros to complex absolute/relative procedures.
Form objects (Combo boxes, Buttons, Spinners, Option buttons, Tick boxes and Scroll bars) will be demonstrated.
Students will be expected to build the given example: carpet shop.xls
The INDEX function will be taught, and placed in context with Form objects
Students will be expected to build the Car Auction example.xls from a given template.xls
Specification (MA)
Specification 1st submission deadline – (This will be returned for improvements)
Students will continue with design documentation		 Car Auction example.xls
Carpet shop.xls
Template.xls
Specification 1st submission
7 Further Excel: (RN/FW)
As week 6
Security and Naming Areas in Excel: (MA)
Students will learn how to protect, hide, lock and customise their spreadsheet to provide a more finished product. The concept of naming areas and their use in functions will be shown
IPO mapping to a spreadsheet model – 3 worksheet example
Students will be given the Implementation component breakdown		 IPO example
8 Further Excel: (RN/FW)
Recap over all areas
Students will continue with design documentation
Testing Strategy and plan: (MA)
The concept of testing with a strategy and then a plan will be delivered through discussion and Template. Students will create a Strategy Mind map and export to Word.
An example test plan has been started for the school markbook
 Homework:
Design documentation to be drafted
Test plan
9 Further Excel: (RN/FW)
Recap over all areas
Students will continue with design documentation
Introduction to VBA: (MA)
Students will be introduced to the VB environment and learn to manipulate objects e.g. Msgbox’s
10 Individual Excel work: (RN/FW)
Students will now be working on:
  • Design
  • Test strategy and plan
  • Implementation
Introduction to VBA: (MA)
As week 9 & Further investigation
11 Individual Excel work: (RN/FW/MA)
Students will now be working on their own projects, supported by staff expertise
  • Design
  • Test strategy and plan
  • Implementation
 Homework:
Students to work on their specification
12 Individual Excel work: (RN/FW/MA)
Students will now be working on their own projects, supported by staff expertise
A peer assessment can be completed this week. Students should study another project (preferably one they have not seen previously) and comment on it to the developer. THe comments could be recorded in the Interview log under the heading "3rd party implementation assessment"
This process can be used to improve the specification ans evaluation sections
  • Design
  • Test plan
  • Implementation

13 Individual Excel work: (RN/FW/MA)
Implementation: (SM)
A tutorial will be delivered on presenting your Implementation section.
A checklist can be used to ensure all apsects are covered for the mark scheme

Students will now be working on their own projects, supported by staff expertise
  • Design
  • Test plan
  • Implementation


  • The FINAL specification is to be submitted and must include all of the specification components
    Implementation 1st submission
Specification final Submission Deadline:
To include:
  • Analysis strategy
  • All appendix documents
    • Questionnaires
    • Background research evidence
    • Updated GANTT chart
    • Meeeting Schedule evidence
    • Any other docs
  • Current system and proposed system:
    • Descriptions
    • IPO's
    • Problems
    • DFD's
    • Qual and Quant objectives
  • Design documentation including:
    • Excel design sheets showing:
      • Interface design
      • Macro names, event, and purpose
      • Formulas
      • Validation, sources, drop down areas
      • Names areas
    • Design dictionary
    • Test strategy (inc prototyping)
    • Test plan (1st draft)
14 User Guide: (RN/FW/MA)
The concept of a User Guide and it’s purpose will be discussed, including Target audience, language, components and layout. Example user guides will be shown and the QUESTIONS:
  • What is a user guide?
  • What is a user guide for?
  • What makes a good user guide? – will be discussed
  • Guidance on the guide
Using an example Subheading list, students will be set the homework of creating their guide (Over the X-mas period)
Students will also work on:
  • Design
  • Test plan
  • Implementation
Implementation checkpoint
Implementation 1st submission
 
User Guide Subheading list
15
 Catchup week
N/A
 Xmas Holidays
Homework List:
  • You should be working on your implementation if you have Excel at home. Dont forget to use the Implementation checklist you were given (see week 13).
  • Make sure your test plans are complete - you will get penalised twice (Specification and Testing) if they are poor!
  • When you come back your specification must be submitted
You should also start doing:
  • User guide
  • Evaluation
Spring Term - During this term there are no timetabled coursework lessons. All coursework will be completed inthe students own time. Opportunities for feedback and updates may be found in some lesson but these will be minimal. Dinnertimes and some after school sessions will allow students to submit sections and recieve feedback to improve thier work.
1
 Project development
2
 Project development
3
 Project development
4
 Project development
 Implementation,Testing and User guide submission
5
 Implementation and User Guide feedback
Spring Half Term
1
 Evaluation:
Pupils are to produce an evaluation for their project. This is marked and goes towards the final project mark
Evaluation guidance
 Specification Deadline
2
 Project development Implementation deadline
3
 ICT Paris Trip

 Testing deadline
4
 Project development User Guide and evaluation deadline
(Postponed to after Easter)
5
 Project development
Easter Holidays
1
 Project development
2
 Project development
Evaluation guidance
 User Guide submission
(11th April)
3
 Project development
Evaluation guidance
 Evaluation submission
(18th April)