Level 1/2 Award in INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Unit 2 Creating IT systems Internal Assessment

Transcription

1 DRAFT SPECIMEN MATERIAL Please write clearly, in block capitals. Centre number Candidate number Surname Forename(s) Candidate signature Level 1/2 Award in INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Unit 2 Creating IT systems Internal Assessment Scenario Booklet Instructions It is recommended that you spend 20 hours in completing this assignment. Before beginning the assignment, read the whole of this scenario booklet thoroughly. There are restrictions on when and where you should work on this assignment. Your teacher will explain them to you. For example, you should only do any work that you intend to hand in for marking when a teacher is present, so that he or she can confirm that the work is your own. You must not work with other learners on anything that you intend to hand in for marking. You may need to use the Internet to research certain parts of the tasks (see the tasks for further details). This does not have to be within the 20 hours recommended time.

2 2 Introduction Before starting this assessment you need to select the type of IT system that you are going to create. Your teacher will explain the choices and options open to you and give you guidance on which system to choose. The occupational areas and IT systems within them are: Creative creating a website creating an interactive entertainment product Data Management creating a spreadsheet creating a database Technical creating a small office network building and configuring a PC. You need to include evidence of completing all of the following when submitting your work for marking: using appropriate tools to plan your IT system with explanations of the choices you have made using appropriate hardware to meet the needs of the user using the features of appropriate software to meet the needs of the user building and configuring an appropriate IT system to achieve the user s requirements carrying out effective testing to establish whether the user s requirements have been achieved evaluating the created system against the user s requirements. DRAFT Version 0.1

3 3 Assignment Overview CosyPooches is a business that looks after pets while their owners are away from home. The business was started a year ago by two friends, Ben and Suzy. They began by offering a dog walking service but their customers were soon asking them if they could do additional activities such as looking after their pet overnight. Ben and Suzy have no specialist IT training or knowledge and their IT skills are quite limited. They have been using paper based records to keep track of the jobs they have and the income and expenditure of the business. All of their work has come from recommendations and until now they have not advertised. As the business has grown they now feel it is important to improve the way the business is run. They realise that using paper based records will not be the most efficient way to continue administering the business as their customer base increases. They have just moved into a small purpose built office building and have been getting advice from a small business development agency. The agency has advised them to investigate creating the following: a database system to manage the customers and bookings a spreadsheet system to manage the finances a website to allow them to advertise and grow the business an interactive entertainment product to promote the business to families a computer system that is customised to their requirements a small office network that will be able to grow as their needs change. You have just started helping out at CosyPooches part-time. Suzy has noticed that you are studying an IT course and has asked for your help in creating one of the systems. What you need to do To complete this assignment you need to carry out the following tasks: 1) Select the IT system you are going to create. 2) Go to the relevant IT system section below and follow the detailed instructions for your chosen IT system. 3) Design a planned solution for your chosen IT system. 4) Select and justify the hardware and software you will use to create your IT system. 5) Create your chosen IT system. 6) Create and/or collect the required evidence to support the creation of your IT system. 7) Thoroughly plan and carry out tests of your created IT system and make a record of the test results. 8) Evaluate your IT system. DRAFT Version 0.1 Turn over

4 4 Evidence that you need to hand in Once you have completed the assignment you need to hand in the following evidence for marking: 1) A written portfolio containing: a. a full design plan that could be used by a third party to create your IT system along with the reasons for your choices; b. your choice and justification of the hardware and software used in order to fully meet the requirements of CosyPooches; c. evidence of the creation of your IT system, which can be in the form of screenshots, photographs, videos or any other suitable medium; d. a full test plan containing: i. A description/reason for each test ii. The specific test data being used for each test, including a range of normal, boundary and erroneous data iii. The expected outcome of each test iv. The actual outcome of each test v. A comment on the success or otherwise of each test along with what remedial action was required/taken (if necessary); e. a record of the test evidence in the form of screenshots, photographs or videos that clearly show the before and after states for each test. The evidence should clearly support the test outcomes within the test plan showing that the system meets the requirements of CosyPooches f. an evaluation that clearly discusses how successful you have been in creating an IT system that fully meets the requirements of CosyPooches. 2) Your portfolio should contain a cover page and a contents page. 3) Each page within the portfolio should contain a header containing your centre number, centre name, candidate number and your candidate name. 4) Each page within the portfolio should contain a footer containing a page number. The page numbering should be consecutive and continuous throughout the portfolio. 5) The completed portfolio should be bound using treasury tags. 6) A fully completed CRF and unit 2 marking grid should be securely attached to the front of the portfolio. 7) Any electronic files, such as videos, should be burned to a normal CD-R disk. The disk must be labelled with the centre number, centre name, candidate number and your candidate name, using indelible ink. The disk should be secured to the portfolio by means of a plastic wallet or disk holder in such a way as to ensure it cannot accidentally be separated from the portfolio. DRAFT Version 0.1

5 5 Occupational Area Creative IT System Creating a Website Ben and Suzy would like you to create a website for them. The website needs to meet the following requirements. It will be used to: o promote CosyPooches; o allow users to make bookings; o educate pet lovers about how to look after their pets; o allow users to post messages and pictures of their pets. It should o target anyone who is interested in pets; o be quick and easy to navigate (consider using menus); o load easily and work on different browsers; o contain at least eight linked pages; o have a consistent use of page styles for all of the web pages; o have a consistent use of text and colour schemes for all of the web pages; o be appropriately designed to appeal to the target audience and end users; o contain a range of relevant and appropriate multimedia/digital assets (eg graphics, video, animation and audio) embedded within the pages. These assets can be original or ready-made; o contain some interactive features, eg a feedback form to allow users to post messages; o use a common API to embed a useful and relevant object within at least one webpage, eg a live link to an online map; o look good whether it is displayed on a desktop screen or a mobile device. What you need to do Once you have designed your IT system it is recommended that you complete the required tasks in the following order: Multimedia/digital assets: create/obtain your assets; videos, images, and animations, etc. all assets should be fully referenced. You should create an asset inventory detailing what the asset is, where it has come from, what file type and file size it has and who owns the copyright. Develop your website: using your plan, develop the website structure. add and format the page content. add/embed your assets and format them appropriately. add interactive features to the website using simple client-side scripts (eg JavaScript) which add functionality such as data validation. embed a useful and relevant object by linking to its API (eg interactive live map). provide suitable evidence to explain how your pages meet the requirements that CosyPooches gave you. provide suitable evidence of the web pages, explaining the features you have used (eg the use of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to achieve a consistent look and feel across pages). Test and evaluate your website Develop and use a test plan that will allow you to test the functionality of the website, including any interactive features. Fully evaluate your IT system against the requirements. DRAFT Version 0.1 Turn over

6 6 Occupational Area Creative IT System Creating an Interactive Entertainment Product Ben and Suzy would like you to create an interactive entertainment product (IEP) for them. The product can be an animation, mobile app or a computer game and needs to meet the following requirements. It will be used to: o promote CosyPooches; o educate young children about how to look after their pets. It should: o target young children who are interested in pets; o load easily (either from a webpage or from the desktop/mobile device); o be easy to use; o be fun and engaging to young children; o have a consistent use of style (eg layout, text and colour schemes); o be appropriately designed to appeal to the target audience and end users; o contain a suitable method to make it easy to access the different parts of the IEP. If the product is an animation: the animation should last for between 30 and 60 seconds it should: o contain a range of graphics and sound effects; o contain at least three distinct sections. If the product is a computer game: it should contain at least three levels; each level should be harder to complete than the previous level; the game should contain a range of graphics and sound effects. If the product is a mobile app: it should contain at least three screens; navigation between the screens should be easy and intuitive; the app should contain a range of graphics and sound effects. What you need to do Once you have designed your IT system it is recommended that you complete the required tasks in the following order: Multimedia/digital assets Create/obtain your assets; videos, images, and sounds, etc. All assets should be fully referenced. You should create an asset inventory detailing what the asset is, where it has come from, what file type and file size it has and who owns the copyright. Develop your IEP Using your plan, develop the IEP structure. Add and format the content. DRAFT Version 0.1

7 7 Add/embed your assets and format them appropriately. Add interactive features to the IEP using scripts (eg ActionScript, GML) which add functionality. Provide suitable evidence, to explain how your IEP meets the requirements that CosyPooches gave you. Provide suitable evidence of the product, explaining the features you have used (eg the use of scripts to add interaction). Test and evaluate your IEP Develop and use a test plan that will allow you to test the functionality of the IEP, including any interactive features. Fully evaluate your IT system against the requirements. DRAFT Version 0.1 Turn over

8 8 Occupational Area Data Management IT System Creating a spreadsheet Ben and Suzy would like you to create a spreadsheet for them. The spreadsheet needs to meet the following requirements. It will be used to manage the finances of CosyPooches. It should: o contain a workbook for each financial year (the first year should be , followed by and ); o be quick and easy to navigate (consider using a menu page and/or a menus on individual sheets); o contain a summary sheet that shows the profit/loss for each financial year; o have a consistent use of layout styles for all of the worksheets; o have a consistent use of text, number and colour schemes for all of the worksheets; o be designed to appeal to the end user. All data entered should be validated where possible. The system should be easy to update if variables, such as VAT rates, change. What you need to do It is recommended that you complete the required tasks in the following order: Worksheet structure and customisation: decide which data is fixed and can be looked up when required. decide which data changes frequently and needs to be entered by the user. create suitable structures to represent the user requirements, you will require at least five linked worksheets. plan and create consistent layout styles as well as consistent text, number and colour schemes. use cell formatting (eg colours, shading, merging cells, alignment) to enhance the presentation and layout of the system. import suitable images to enhance the layout and presentation of the system. ensure that the final product is appropriately designed to appeal to the end user. use macros to automate common functions and features. Data entry: import the data from the provided data file format all data appropriately (cell type, alignment, borders, shading, fonts etc). use conditional formatting appropriately. use built-in functions such as IF, VLOOKUP, AVERAGE and SUM to create the data processing logic. use formulae and functions (including relative and absolute cell referencing) to calculate the required data. use data entry forms and components (eg list boxes, drop-down boxes) to create efficient data entry mechanisms. use appropriate data validation techniques to ensure data entered is reasonable. use cell protection and techniques such as hiding rows/columns and sheets to protect fixed data from accidental deletion or change. Data output: use well formatted graphs to show the changes and relationships between the data in appropriate ways. DRAFT Version 0.1

9 9 use filters and sorting to present the data in appropriate ways. use the goal seek functionality to predict the outcomes to questions posed about changes to the data. Test and evaluate your spreadsheet Develop and use a test plan that will allow you to test the functionality and usability of the spreadsheet, including any customisation features. Fully evaluate your IT system against the requirements. DRAFT Version 0.1 Turn over

10 10 Occupational Area Data Management IT System Creating a Database Ben and Suzy would like you to create a database for them. The database needs to meet the following requirements. It will be used to manage the customer details and bookings of CosyPooches. It should contain database tables to store details of customers, available appointments and appointment bookings. Relationships should be used to link the tables together in a logical manner. It should be quick and easy to navigate (consider using menus/buttons/macros and/or a switchboard). It should contain data entry forms to make entering data as efficient as possible. All data entered should be validated where possible. The system should be easy to update when data changes. There should be a number of queries designed to extract relevant information for Ben and Suzy. There should be a number of reports designed to display the extracted information in a consistent and user friendly manner. All database elements should have consistent layouts, styles and formatting. It should be designed to appeal to the end user (this could include the use of graphics if appropriate). What you need to do It is recommended that you complete the required tasks in the following order: Database table structure: decide and plan which data needs to be stored in the tables. decide and plan how the data will be divided between multiple tables. decide and plan on the names, data types and the appropriate characteristics for each field. o examples of field characteristics could include: lookup wizards input masks validation rules field sizes and formats default values indexing (primary/foreign keys). Database creation and data entry: create the required database tables, field structures and field characteristics. create the required relationships. import the appropriate data from the provided data file create the required data entry forms so that the users can enter data as efficiently as possible. The forms should have an appropriate user interface with programmable buttons that run events (add new, delete and print records as well as navigation) and main menu forms allowing users to access other database elements eg data-entry forms, run queries and view reports. create and use sub forms within main forms to allow the easy entering and editing of data across multiple tables. DRAFT Version 0.1

11 11 Database queries: Create queries that can be used to extract data for specific purposes. It is expected that a range of queries will be required, eg (select and update queries, parameter queries and some containing calculated fields and wildcard criteria); use sorting as appropriate. Database reporting: create reports that can be used to display and print meaningful information for specific purposes. the reports should use features that enhance the presentation and layout of the information (eg titles, images, colours, page layout, field selection, headers/footers, grouping/sorting). Database navigation and ease of use: provide onscreen navigation by creating a switchboard or similar. use macros to automate tasks. use database security to protect the data. Only Ben and Suzy should be able to open and use the database. Test and evaluate your database Develop and use a test plan that will allow you to test the functionality and usability of the database, including any customisation features. Fully evaluate your IT system against the requirements. DRAFT Version 0.1 Turn over

12 12 Occupational Area Technical IT System Creating a Small Office Network Ben and Suzy would like you to create a small office network for use within the CosyPooches office. It is important to note that the purpose designed office building has a secure, air conditioned room, where the Internet connection enters the building and where all of the network servers are located. This server room is in the basement and CosyPooches office is on the third floor. A plan of the third floor CosyPooches office is shown below. Ben and Suzy have a private office in the bottom right corner. The computer network in the third floor office needs to meet the following requirements: use a router in the basement server room to connect them to the Internet; connect their third floor office to this router by cable rather than wireless, because of the distance; CosyPooches do not currently use a network server so the network will be configured as a peer-to-peer network; be a wired network. The infrastructure wiring is already in place with RJ45 sockets distributed around the office; be configured to allow a minimum of four wired PCs to connect to it; all devices should use static IP addresses; allow the secure connection of mobile and other wireless devices under the control of CosyPooches staff; the wired devices should use a different IP address range from the wireless devices; configure all devices appropriately, including security settings; access to the wireless network should be protected by MAC address filtering, WPA2 keys and hiding the SSID; the network should be protected by a firewall and anti virus software; be configured so that Ben and Suzy have full control and access to all areas of the network; be configured so that the remaining office staff have limited control and limited access to the network; be protected by the use of appropriate user accounts and passwords. DRAFT Version 0.1

13 13 What you need to do It is recommended that you complete the required tasks in the following order: Cabling Structure: create suitable UTP Patch leads for connecting the devices. Develop your network: Plan the physical network layout; plan the network addressing; using your plans, develop the network structure; install NICs (if required); install network cabling as required by the design; install network devices (eg switches, routers, wireless AP) as required by the design; connect PCs to network devices as required by the design; configure network settings on all PCs and network devices as required by the design; create an annotated network diagram showing the physical layout of the network and the network addressing information; create password protected local user accounts (administrator and standard user) on all PCs; create a folder on each PC and share it so users on other PCs can access it; set permissions so that only the administrator level accounts can access the folders on the other PCs; from one PC connect to a folder on another PC as an administrator and copy a file between the two PCs. Test and evaluate your network Develop and use a test plan that will allow you to test the functionality of the network, including any security features, wired connectivity and wireless connectivity. Fully evaluate your IT system against the requirements. DRAFT Version 0.1 Turn over

14 14 Occupational Area Technical IT System Building and Configuring a PC Ben and Suzy would like you to build and configure a new PC for them. The new PC needs to meet the following requirements: the PC must be a desktop PC that can run one of Microsoft Windows 7 or above, Linux or MAC OS X; the PC must be network ready; the PC must have a minimum of 1GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor, 1 GB RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit), DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver, VGA capable of 1024x768 screen resolution, an internal or external DVD drive; a minimum HDD capacity of 50GB; the PC must be configured to receive automatic updates for the operating system; the PC must have an active anti-virus application installed that is configured to update automatically; the PC must be configured to allow the staff access as follows: o Ben and Suzy administrator level access to the PC; o All other staff restricted level access to the PC. the PC must be configured with the following directory structure in the My Documents folder: My Documents Admin Marketing Ben Suzy Customer Records Leaflets the PC must have a scheduled backup created that will back up the My Documents folder contents every evening at 5pm. What you need to do Once you have designed your IT system it is recommended that you complete the required tasks in the following order: Obtain and prepare the required components: check that you have all of the required hardware components to hand; check that you have all of the required tools to hand; check that you have all of the required anti-static materials and tools to hand so that you comply with all relevant health and safety requirements. Build the PC Hardware: use best practice methods at all times (anti-static mats/wristbands etc); select the appropriate PC parts and tools; build the PC from the component parts (including use of heat conducting gels); DRAFT Version 0.1

15 15 reset the BIOS to factory settings; ensure the HDD contains no disk partitions and no OS; boot the PC and check it passes the BIOS tests. Install an operating system: create suitable disk partitions ready for OS install; install an operating system on to the PC (Windows, Linux, OS X) use default settings wherever possible; ensure the PC connects successfully to the Internet (via local network if necessary); ensure the PC boots correctly once the OS is installed. Configure the operating system: activate the OS (if necessary/required by vendor); turn on auto updates (if available); perform a manual update of the OS (all updates) following the install; install anti-virus software and configure for automatic updates; create three user accounts (two administrator accounts for Ben and Suzy and one standard user all password protected); create a folder structure to match the requirements given to you by Ben and Suzy; configure the folder permissions so that they meet the following requirements: o all users have read/write access to the My Documents folder; o all users have read/write access to the marketing folder and its sub folders; o all users have read/write access to the admin folder and the Customer Records sub folder; o Ben has full access to the folder called Ben. All other users are denied access to this folder; o Suzy has full access to the folder called Suzy. All other users are denied access to this folder; configure the desktop wallpaper and screen saver; configure a scheduled backup of the hard drive to an external drive (can be local or networked). Test and evaluate your PC Develop and use a test plan that will allow you to test the functionality and usability of the new PC, including any customisation features. Fully evaluate your IT system against the requirements. DRAFT Version 0.1 Turn over