Mr. Damon's terminale IB
ITGS

Graduating Class of 2009

This page is to inform you of your homework, exam revision and any other information you will need.  The assignments will be listed in reverse chronological order so that the most recent work will be on top of the list.  When it says "To Do for Week 2", that means that what is listed must be completed for the second lesson.  

(See below the box for homework)

Want to build your ICT vocabulary for this class and keep up-to-date with computer and technology news?  Why not check out these links:

Podcasts:

News agencies and magazine web sites:

Web resources:

For bibliographical entries, you can use Citation Machine or EasyBib. 

 

 
How can I contact Mr. Damon if I have a question?
 

To Do Every Week:

  • Have a look at technology news on TV, in newspapers or on some of the sites listed above, notably the NPR Technology News podcasts.  Keep up-to-date on how information technology is being used to help businesses, hospitals, governments, schools, or the entertainment industry.  This will help you in your essay writing and class discussions because you will have a wide variety of real-life examples and you will build a collection of news items and vocabulary words
  • Be sure to  keep up with project work and log books.  You should be spending about an hour a week on project work, so if you have not already done so, plan a time in your weekly schedule that you will dedicate to project stuff. 
 

Some students have been asking for help getting organized.  Click here for some suggestions.

Revision for the Bac Blanc practice exams in March 2009:

  • All of Section 1:
    • All the social and ethical issues
    • Be sure to know the definitions given in the very beginning of the IB Programme Guide for ITGS - in the section called "Nature of the Subject", definitions are given for information technology, social impact, ethical considerations and what an information system is.
    • Also, the section called "Methodologies for analysing social impact and ethical considerations" has examples of the key questions we have been asking when we look at an IT problem in a social context (such as "What are the advantages and disadvantages for the stakeholders?"). 
  • The following sections of Topic 2:
    • 2.1.1 Systems fundamentals
    • 2.1.2 Networks
    • 2.2.1 Software fundamentals
    • 2.2.2 Databases and spreadsheets
    • 2.2.3 Word processing and desktop publishing
    • 2.2.4 Images, sound and presentations
    • 2.2.5 Modelling and simulations
    • 2.2.6 Tutorials, training and wizards (assistants)
    • 2.3.1 The Internet
    • 2.3.2 Personal and public communications
    • 2.4.1 Robotics
    • 2.4.2 Artificial intelligence and expert systems
  • Remember, when you study, always follow this order:
    1. start with the IB Programme Guide for ITGS to see what the assessment statements are (i.e. "evaluate the social and ethical issues involved in the use of software..")
    2. use the guide to help you grasp the difference between each command term (define, identify, describe, outline, explain, evaluate...)
    3. refer to any class notes you have
    4. see what the chapters in the book have to say
    5. double check that you have memorized all the IT vocabulary terms (this is what the flash cards are for) - you should have around 300 by now and you should know them in both directions:  word to definition and definition to word. 

Have a look at my compositions groupées revision guide.  It contains suggestions for successful revision and test-taking skills. 
 
   

In January & February:

  • Be sure to keep listening to the weekly podcast of Digital Planet.  Each story has the kind of structure we expect you to use in your ITGS essays:
    • an introduction to the IT theory (the technical details behind the scenes)
    • placing the technology in a social context (school, hospital, business, bank...) with the appropriate stakeholders expressing their varying viewpoints
    • Bill Thompson is asked to give his evaluation at the end

 

 

 

 
   
   
 

ITGS Project work over the next few weeks:

As stated in class, the ITGS Project Report has some similarities to the Extended Essay in the sense that the teacher can look over a first draft before the final one is passed in. Rather than making the whole first draft due on one day, it has been spread out as follows:

Dec 16th – first draft of first part of Project Report – write the sections corresponding to Criteria G & H (identifying the problem & feasibility study) Together, these should be about 400 to 500 words long. Follow the ITGS Program Guide (SL project work described in general on pages 40 to 48 with criterion G described more specifically on page 45 and criterion H on page 46). Also, follow the project checklist which you should have in your logbook. Use the criteria names as your headings for each section but without the letters G through K.

Jan 8th 2009 – first draft for Criterion I (planning and developing the IT solution) – this is the section which is the longest and which is worth almost a third of the marks. It should be about 700 words long. Follow the guide and the checklist, please.  I will also check the log books for (I hope) the last time.

Jan 15th 2009 – first draft for Criteria J & K (testing the product & social impact of the product) – these sections should be about 400 & 200 words long, respectively. Follow the guide and the checklist, please, for both these criteria.

Jan 22nd 2009 – pass in the Product on CD or DVD. On the CD, you need the full project, screenshots of all the major features of the finished project, a Readme.txt file to explain how to open the project and where to find the screenshots. If it is a web site, you should have a full copy which can be opened and browsed from the CD without an Internet connection. Follow the guide and the checklist concerning what to put on the CD, please. You may not give in a USB key, memory card or any other memory device.

Jan 29th 2009, Final report due + Logbook. By this date, you should have given me everything I need for your IA in ITGS. It is 30% of your grade so do a nice job and present everything nicely bound in some kind of a folder to hold the report, the CD and the log book.

This marks the END OF THE PROJECT!

 

 

Revision for the Bac Blanc practice exams in November 2008:

  • All of Section 1:
    • All the social and ethical issues
    • Be sure to know the definitions given in the very beginning of the IB Programme Guide for ITGS - in the section called "Nature of the Subject", definitions are given for information technology, social impact, ethical considerations and what an information system is.
    • Also, the section called "Methodologies for analysing social impact and ethical considerations" has examples of the key questions we have been asking when we look at an IT problem in a social context (such as "What are the advantages and disadvantages for the stakeholders?"). 
  • The following sections of Topic 2:
    • 2.1.1 Systems fundamentals
    • 2.1.2 Networks
    • 2.2.1 Software fundamentals
    • 2.2.2 Databases and spreadsheets
    • 2.2.6 Tutorials, training and wizards (assistants)
    • 2.3.1 The Internet
    • 2.4.1 Robotics
    • 2.4.2 Artificial intelligence and expert systems
  • In the following sections, only some of the concepts have been covered so check your notes, previous podcasts, class discussions, etc. to see what we have covered:
    • 2.2.3 Word processing and desktop publishing
    • 2.2.4 Images, sound and presentations
    • 2.3.2 Personal and public communications
  • There is only one section we have not formally studied at all, so this one will not have any questions on this Bac Blanc: 
    • 2.2.5 Modelling and simulations
 
  • Remember, when you study, always follow this order:
    1. start with the IB Programme Guide for ITGS to see what the assessment statements are (i.e. "evaluate the social and ethical issues involved in the use of software..")
    2. use the guide to help you grasp the difference between each command term (define, identify, describe, outline, explain, evaluate...)
    3. refer to any class notes you have
    4. see what the chapters in the book have to say
    5. double check that you have memorized all the IT vocabulary terms (this is what the flash cards are for) - you should have around 200 by now and you should know them in both directions:  word to definition and definition to word. 

Have a look at my compositions groupées revision guide.  It contains suggestions for successful revision and test-taking skills. 
 
   
 

ITGS Project Work

Project Assignment #5:

  • Beta testing:  log books were checked on October 21st to see how your beta testing is going.  Continue with this.  A few comments to consider:
    • some of you have only done one - you should be done your 2nd beta tester and working on your end-user beta testing by now.
    • don't forget the BEFORE screeshots and the AFTER screenshots - label them carefully in your log book. 
    • some of you have not justified why a refinement was made (or not made)
    • be sure to include a description of HOW you did the testing - did you email a questionnaire or did you sit down with your tester and show him/her the product?
    • Log books will be checked again in November to see how things are going with the end-user testing. 
    • any comments I made about things which were missing in the past should be added - please clearly label these. 
  • Once you are finished with your technical/design beta testing > refinements > content beta testing (usually with client) > refinements > end user testing > refinements, you may move on to the final criterion (Criterion K) which is to evaluate the social significance of your product.    Things to think ahead to:
    • Think of ways you could observe your product in action so that you can actually see it working and see that it has solved the problem.  To "observe" includes the idea of obtaining documents which would "prove" that you made the observation (photo, questionnaire, email from client or end user...)
    • Your objective is to explain how your IT solution has had a social impact.  According to the guide, this could include any one of the following:  the economic, political, cultural, legal, environmental, ergonomic, health or psychological effects of your IT solution on the life of your client and / or end users.
    • A second objective is to imagine the next step for your product.  What will happen to it in the coming months and years?  Is it going to die out and be placed in a drawer to rot?  Or is it going to take off and be useful after you have graduated? Again, try to obtain some documentation for this - don't just make it pure conjecture because this is not a guessing game. 

 

 

 
 

DST:

  • On Saturday morning October 18th, you will have a DST in ITGS.  It will consist of the following:
    •  some Paper 1-type questions (short answers and perhaps some multiple choice) This will represent between 45 minutes to an hour of testing time.
    • and two Paper 2-like essays.  This will be 1 hours and 20 minutes long. 
  • The revision will basically be everything we have covered so far.  Be sure to go over the program guide and be sure you know your vocabulary terms and the social and ethical issues. 

 
 

To do for Week 5:

  • A reminder was given in class on September 30th that the next time your log books are checked will be Tuesday 21 October.  That gives you three weeks.  What should you have in the log book by then?
    • anything that was missing from before (look through the checklist and at my comments to see what you haven't done yet)
    • the beta testing phase:  technical testing with questionnaire completed > evidence of refinements made with before and after screenshots > content testing with questionnaire completed > evidence of refinements made with before and after screenshots
    • if you have time, you could do the final end-user testing, too.  That will depend on how far along you are. 
  • If you have not completed your first two questionnaires, you are behind schedule.
  • If you have not made an appointment with your first two beta testers to test your product then you are behind schedule. 

 

To do for the beginning of September 2008:

  • Be sure you are up-to-date on your IA project work (see pink box below).
  • EE candidates should be in contact with me about their progress - a meeting should be set up both before and after the deadline at the end of September for the penultimate draft.

ITGS Project Work

Project Assignment #4:

  • By the end of the 3rd week in September, you should have already shown me your "finished" product. Obviously, it will most likely be modified after the beta testing.
  • Testing:  you need to send by email information concerning the testing process: 
    • Who will be your technical beta tester?  Why was that person chosen?
    • When will you show them your product and get them to fill out the questionnaire concerning technical aspects?
    • What questions will you put on the questionnaire?
    • After refinements, who will be your content tester (often it's the client but it does not have to be)?  Why was that person chosen? 
    • When will you show them your product and get them to fill out the questionnaire concerning content?
    • What questions will you put on this second questionnaire?
    • After the second wave of refinements, who will be your end user tester (if you did not already use your client for beta testing, the client can go here)?
    • What questions will you put on this last questionnaire?
  • As said in class,
    1. Don't forget to always go back and look at the criteria in the guide, step by step.
    2. Use the checklist - don't just guess what you are supposed to be doing in the project - find out.  It's all on there.
    3. If you see that something is missing from parts of the project which we should have all already finished (such as explaining how each program was used to help complete the project), add it to your logbook now.  It's not too late! 
  • Reminder:  Log books checked on September 18th. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To do for Friday 4 April 2008:

  • If you have not done so, bring back your exams.  They do not need to be signed. 
  • Anyone doing an EE with me, should look at the new extended essay page and you should be working on your primary source(s).  Please email me your ideas on what kind of a primary source or sources you are considering using for your EE.  
  • For the project, be sure to have done project assignments 1 and 2 below:

ITGS Project Work

Project Assignment #1:

  • Get a notebook to use as a logbook.  It must be big enough to be able to paste A4 sheets into it.
  • On the inside make a title page: write your name, "ITGS Project Logbook", the school's name and leave a space for your candidate number, which you will get in 2009. 
  • Print and paste the ITGS Project checklist into the pages after the title page.
  • Do the same for the pages in the ITGS Programme guide which explain the criteria for the project.
  • READ the section in the guide which explains the ITGS Standard Level project.  This section includes an explanation of what the IB expects from you and the criteria you will be assessed on. 

Project Assignment #2: 

  • Complete the first criterion (Criterion G) by following the checklist and the criteria in the guide.  Include the answers in your logbook.  Among the things which are asked for are these:

  1. Who is your client?  Remember, the client is the person you are helping.  He or she must be an adult and must be someone you can keep in contact with easily.

  2. What is the problem that you hope to solve?  In your description of the situation, be sure to indicate the social context such as school, hospital, business, hotel...But remember DO NOT talk about a solution yet (web page, film, database) - you will have plenty of time for that later. 

  3. What evidence suggests that this problem really exists?  This question is to make sure you are not just making up the problem in your head.  The evidence can be through conversations (say the names of the people) or through emails. 

Project Assignment #3:

  • Using the calendar we made using Excel in class as a source of ideas, make a first draft of an ITGS Project Calendar.  You need one column for the date (or the week) and another column for what project tasks you will do.  If you want, you could have a third column showing other important deadlines such as extended essay stuff. 
  • To find out what to put on your calendar, look at the checklist.
  • General guidelines to keep in mind when making your calendar: 
    • You should be done the first working version of your product (film, web site, etc.) by mid June this year. 
    • Your project work (including the report) should be all done by January of your Terminale year. 
    • Note that the last section of the report asks you to comment on the impact of your product on the end users (the people who benefit from it).  In order to see an impact, there needs to be enough time for people to use your product for a while.  Keep that in mind when making your calendar

 

 

 

 
 

For the Mock Exams (Bac Blanc):

Examination Revision List

How to prepare for the the Bac Blanc exam.

  1. The first things to know are found in the IB Programme Guide which you obtained from Miss Burchill.    
    • Memorize the list of Social and Ethical Issues from Section 1.  
    • Memorize the list of Command Terms at the end of that guide.  The most frequently used ones are Identify, Outline, Describe, Explain, Discuss, Evaluate.     
    • You should have flash cards to help you learn those words & definitions by heart. 
    • Otherwise, the best preparation is being aware of how IT is used all around us.  (See next point.)
  2. Reveiw any ideas and uses of IT discussed in class.     
    • how computers work, internet, databases, applications, operating systems, etc. (everything up through section 2.2.2.)
    • issues of privacy, storing and accessing data  
    • Visit the news web sites (found at the top of this page) on a regular basis to improve your technical vocabulary and your awareness of how IT is used today.  When you read the articles, think of how they can be connected to the ITGS Social and Ethical Issues. 
    • Go back over the notes you have taken in class
  3. Go through the Computer Confluence web site and look at the sections in any of the chapters concerning material we have covered - remember, though, some sections go beyond the ITGS program:
    • How It Works (usually has a nice Flash movie)
    • Key Terms (gives vocab but not the same as the ITGS guide)
    • End of Chapter Materials > Review Questions
    • Online Study Guide (good multiple choice questions with answers given at the end)
    • IT puzzles (crossword puzzles - fun but time consuming)

Don't forget the page about how to do well on the exams:  Mr. Damon's compositions groupées guide. 

 
 

To do for Tuesday 11 December:

  • Bring back exams.  They do not need to be signed. 

 

 

Revision for BB 1 in November 2007:

  • All the social and ethical issues in Section 1 of the ITGS guide
  • Section 2.1.1 Systems Fundamentals
  • Section 2.1.2 Networks
  • Anthing we have listened to in the podcasts or discussed in class (see your notes).

Have you seen my compositions groupées revision guide?  Have a look at some of my suggestions for successful revision and test-taking skills. 
 
   
 

To do for Tuesday 16 October:

  • Listen to the Digital Planet podcast from 8 October 2007 (with stories about Russia using open source software in classrooms and GPS in the African rainforest).  The best way to listen is through iTunes but it is possible to get it directly from the BBC Digital Planet web page.  Be careful:  this web page may change because they update it every week. 

 
 

First Assignment:

  • If you have not done so, find an article and start to highlight the following
    • IT terms (these are the technical vocabulary terms:  The guide says "Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage, manipulation and dissemination of digital information by computing or telecommunications or a combination of both."
    • Social and ethical issues ("Social impact includes the economic, political, cultural, legal, environmental, ergonomic, health and psychological effects of IT on human life. Ethical considerations refer to the responsibility and accountability of those involved in the design, implementation and use of IT.")
    • Stakeholders (those who stand to gain or lose from this technology)
  • Once you have finished highlighting the three things above, send the article to me.  Most of you have already done so. 

 
 

At the beginning of the year:

  • Be sure you have iTunes on your computer and subscribe to the two podcasts at the top of this page.  Contact me by email if it does not work - see my How to Contact Mr. Damon page. 
  • You will need an ITGS notebook, binder or folder.  It is up to you to decide how you want to organize your papers.  There will be notes, photocopies, homeworks and quizzes to keep organized. 
  • Each student should have a USB thumb drive.  Be sure your name is on the outside somewhere.  If ever I collect them, I need to know whose is whose!  Also, if you lose it, we know who to return it to.  If you are buying a new one, I do not recommend the U3 Smart drives in class.  For the moment, they are not compatible with Mac or Vista.  Also, 1 or 2 Gb is enough - do not spend more than 25€ for this.

     

  • Copy onto your USB drive the IB Programme Guide for ITGS.  You should also have the Academic Honesty guide and the Extended Essay guide on the USB drive.  I recommend that you create a folder for each subject.
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

 

 

   

© A.W. Damon 2010

 
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