TED Talk on Innovation

Take a look at this TED Talk on Business innovations.

http://www.ted.com/talks/charles_leadbeater_on_innovation.html

And this one on what the Amazon CEO thought the next Web innovation would be (back in 2003).

http://www.ted.com/talks/jeff_bezos_on_the_next_web_innovation.html

 

Your homework is to search around the TED website and find an interesting video. Post it as a comment to this post and give us a brief summary of what it's about.

ITGS Project Checklist

Hey folks, here's a handy checklist for ensuring you're covering everything you need for the Project. At this point, we should be well into finishing Criterion A.

Also, check out this link for a step-by-step guide on what is required. This site is excellent because it shows you real examples of finished documentation for the Project.

Criterion A: Initial investigation
Initial investigation
A client has been identified.
A problem that requires an IT solution has been identified from the consultation with the client.
The inadequacies of the current system have been explained from the consultation with the client.
The word count for the initial investigation is approximately 250.
The initial investigation is linked to the cover page.
Initial consultation with client
Evidence of the consultation with the client has been included.
The evidence of consultation has been linked to the cover page.

Criterion B: Analysis
The analysis form has been used.
The solution has been identified.
Requirements specification
The proposed product is realistic in terms of time constraints, resources and the student’s ability to develop it.
Specific performance (success) criteria
Specific performance criteria have been drawn up that make it possible to evaluate the success of the product in criterion F.
Justification of the proposed solution
A feasible solution has been identified.
The choice of the solution has been selected that resolves the inadequacies identified in criterion A.
The justification of the proposed solution is approximately 350 words.

Criterion C: Project schedule
The project schedule form has been used.
The project schedule refers to the solution identified in criterion B.
The project schedule is updated during the lifetime of the project.
The project schedule provides a realistic plan and timeline for managing the project including the gathering of necessary information, the development of the product and the testing process.

Criterion D: Product design
The product design form has been used.
The product design refers to the solution identified in criterion B and the project schedule in criterion C.
The product design includes a range of design levels.
The product design includes a table of assets and a table of techniques required in the development of the product.
The product design identifies at least three advanced techniques that will be used in the development of the product.
The product design is presented in sufficient detail for an IT-literate third party to understand how the product was created.
The test plan proposed addresses the main types of test appropriate to the product and relates to the specific performance criteria identified in criterion B.
There is evidence of agreement with the client to develop the product.

Criterion E: Product development
The different techniques used to develop the product have been identified.
The product includes at least three complex techniques identified in criterion D.
The appropriateness of the product structure has been justified.
Screenshots along with justifications have been used to illustrate the choice of the techniques used to develop the product.
All sources have been cited using an appropriate referencing style (for example, Harvard, MLA).
The technical documentation is approximately 1,000 words.

Criterion F: Product evaluation and future product development
Feedback from client
Appropriate feedback has been obtained from the client.
The evidence for the consultation to obtain feedback from the client has been linked to the cover page.
Product evaluation
The evaluation refers to the requirement specifications in criterion B and the test plan in criterion D.
The evaluation explicitly refers to the feedback obtained from the client.
Future product development
The recommendations are appropriate to the client for the future development of the product.
The product evaluation and future product development is approximately 400 words.

Criterion G: Required elements
Evidence of testing and functionality
The product has sufficient extent to enable its effectiveness and functionality to be evaluated.
The product has been thoroughly tested in a range of situations to ensure that no tests will fail.
The tests used to ensure the functionality correspond to those in the completed test plan.
Cover page
The cover page template has been used.
The student’s details have been added where appropriate.
The cover page has been saved in HTM/HTML format.
File naming and folder structures
One folder called “product” has been created, which holds the product.
The product folder structure is intuitive and allows files to be located easily.
One folder called “documentation” has been created, which holds the eight documentation files: there are no other files or subfolders within this folder.
The documentation is easy to navigate and uses the file names prescribed in the guide.
All links within the project are relative.
There is appropriate use of file names throughout the project.

 

Final check
The organization of the project prescribed in the guide has been adhered to.
The project is no more than 2,000 words.
The links within the product and documentation (where appropriate) are relative, allowing portability.
The project has been tested in more than one location under different conditions.
The correct forms have been used for the cover page, analysis, project schedule and product design.
There are no appendices in the project.

The Roaring Lion!

 

(image taken from http://images.apple.com/macosx/whats-new/images/whatsnew_launchpad_screen.jpg)

http://www.apple.com/macosx/whats-new/

Check out the link above for some information on what's new in your new OS. This will be part of your Reflections for the Mac Air trials...

 

Remember, the document you should be writing in is here.

Too Much Tech?

Is it possible for a company or other organization to rely on technology too much?

What are some of the drawbacks of a company that has gone completely 'paperless'?

Can you think of some specific areas within our school where we are relying on technology too much? What would you change?

Post your responses on your blogs and then read and comment on two of your classmates' posts.

Feasibility Study

This is the stage where you determine whether or not your proposed solution is even possible.

You need to consider:

Time
Money
Ease of creation

Will you be able to make your product?

Investigation of Existing Systems

Basically, there are two major ways that we will be investigating the current setup of our client.

Questionnaire/follow-up
Interview

By sending the initial questionnaire to your client, you find out what they need assistance with, and you should find out what sort of system they have in place at the moment. It's important that you have a clear picture in your mind of what your client wants to accomplish.

After sending the initial email (or having the initial interview), you need to follow it up with another conversation to get more details. *Remember to document all of this stuff with screenshots, video, sound recordings, etc*

Product Development Life Cycle

Today, we are going to start looking at the PDLC. This is like a more sophisticated version of the Design Cycle that you might remember from your MYP IT classes. The overall process is very similar, but there are more steps and you are required to look deeper into the requirements of your client. Additionally, since your product in this case will be more technologically advanced than those you did in MYP, you'll be creating Instructions for your client.

Here are the major steps in the PDLC:

Investigation of Existing Systems
Feasibility Study
Requirements Specification
Project Schedule
Project Design
Project Development and Technical Documentation
Client and End-User Evaluation, Integration

All of this is covered in section 3.9 (pg 247-252) in your textbooks. Also, check out our Collaborative Document (you need to be logged into your Gmail account to access).

ITGS Major Project

Today, we'll begin discussing the specific format and purpose of the ITGS Project. For more detailed information, check out this document: ITGS MAJOR PROJECT DESCRIPTION. (Whenever you need guidance on what is required for the Project, please refer back to this document!). Here is another really good resource. And another one.

 

Our goal for today is to identify a specific client for whom you will create an IT solution. There are a couple of guidelines:

- the client must be a real person with a real need

- I suggest that the solution be web-based (ie. a webpage), but this is not set in stone. (see the ITGS Mark Scheme)

- all of the official IB documentation policies must be followed in order to get marks for the various Criteria (see ITGS Project Forms)

 

So today, we need to brainstorm potential clients. Who do you know in your life that could potentially benefit from an IT-related creation? This could be a family member, friend, teacher, business-owner, etc. Post some initial ideas about clients on your blog (including some potential problems they might have).

 

Please note the timeline for the project.

Activity	Description(A-D also reviewed by the ITGS teacher before the student can begin to develop the product and has set the Due Date for each stage.)
Informal Contact	Student and client informally meet to discuss the ITGS Project.A date is arranged for an interview.
A:Initial Investigation of the Problem and Interview	Interview is held with the client regarding the problem and requirements and possible solution. Recording methods for the interview could include: written record of the interview (either a summary or transcript) signed and dated by the client, a sound file, a video, or an exchange of emails that may be supported by a questionnaire.The following key questions should be considered in the interview: • What is the problem? • What is the present situation? • What are the inadequacies of the present situation? • What IT solutions could be used to solve the problem?
B:Analysis	The client has reviewed the analysis consisting of two parts:• A completed requirements specification • Justification for the proposed solution
C:Project Schedule	A plan is discussed with the client based on the research into the proposed IT solution and factors involved (stakeholders, software, hardware, network requirements, data, input and output, processes and policies). The plan addresses:• key events in planning, designing, developing, testing and implementing the product in the form of a timeline • any other issues that may arise which may affect the development of the product.
D: Product Design   and client’s signature on the Product Design Form	The Product Design form is discussed with the client. It should include:• design methodologies appropriate to the type of IT product being designed • different levels of draft design, such as the overall structure as well as the internal layout of the product itself. This can also include investigation into specific elements used within the product (such as fonts, graphic elements, effects) • identification of a range of appropriate resources and techniques required for the development of the product • evidence of a test plan that addresses the main areas of functionality of the product • signature of the client to develop the product on the Product Design form
EProduct Development and  on-going consultation with the client as the product is developed	During the product development there must be on-going consultation with the client. The final report will contain a detailed account including:• The structure of the product and why it is appropriate • Complex techniques used including screenshots, in the development of the product, and reasons why they are appropriate for the IT solution. • Additional technical information, if appropriate, that will support the functionality of the product, such as web hosting or security information Any reference material such as templates, program code, applets or other materials that have been used or modified must be acknowledged.
FProduct evaluation and future product development	The first part of this section of the report addresses the evaluation of the product by the client, including any feedback and any problems identified. The second part makes recommendations for the future development of the product. The student will use the client feedback and the evaluation of the specific performance criteria to recommend possible future developments to the product. These recommendations should succinctly explain how possible future developments of the product will be of benefit to the client and/or other stakeholders. Methods such as a written record of the interview (either a summary or transcript) with the client’s signature, a sound file, a video, or an exchange of emails that may be supported by a questionnaire.
G	Technical requirements for submission of the product
Handover	The product is turned over to the client with the necessary documentation and training to use and maintain the product.

Grade 9 Blogs re-visited

Today, we are going to take a look at your blogs. It turns out that a large number of us haven't completely set up the blogs in the correct fashion, so we'll need to review what's necessary and fix anything that isn't working yet.

First, please open up this document.

Our goal for today is to make a blog that looks like this one.

Notice how she has

- her About Me page listed along the top

- there are categories in the sidebar

- she has a tag cloud

- she uses Categories and Tags in her posts

- she's created a custom banner at the top

MOST IMPORTANTLY, notice how she is posting frequently (even when her teachers aren't asking her to)! This is the sort of thing we are creating at SWA: a community where everyone is blogging often, so we can talk to each other about what is happening in other classes.

Also, having all your work posted on your blogs is a GREAT way to keep it all in one spot (which will be very useful to you when you're applying for universities in the future!).

Once you are ready to make a banner, go to www.picnik.com and upload a couple of photos. Please make sure you size your banner as 969 x 213 pixels (we'll go over how to do that in class).

 

Your first piece of blog homework is to read this post and make a comment on your blog. Due next Tuesday.

ITGS Final Project

Hey guys, it's time to start thinking about THE PROJECT!!

Don't worry, we have a lot of time, but I wanted to make sure you have at least started to think about it. For that reason, I'd like you to take a look at this link for some potential ideas. We will talk a lot about this in the next few weeks, but I just wanted to put it into your heads early.

 

Post some initial ideas on your blogs.

Why One 18-year old Quit Facebook

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/unfriend_VhP9QLXispf2RzznaNHPNK 

Take a look at this interesting post about how Facebook can be a tool that actually SEPARATES us from our friends (rather than connects us). Please write a response post on your blog, talking about your experiences (good and bad) with social networking.

 

New Tech Articles

Please choose TWO of the following articles and analyze them using the Triangle.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16969509

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16962129

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16971177

Gantt Chart

Follow this link to find the Gantt Chart for your Planning stage.

 

Remember to save your own copy of it!!

Computer Misuse and Copyright

(image taken from: http://harisbahalwan.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/hacking-21.jpg)

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/ict/legal/1dataandcomputermisuserev1.shtml

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/ict/legal/2copyrightrev1.shtml

 

Read through both of the links, take the quizzes, and create a blog post answering the following questions:

1) if a hacker simply gains access to a computer system without trying to cause any damage, should they still be considered a criminal?

2) how strict should copyright laws be? Do you feel stealing a movie or a song is enough of a crime to go to jail?