How can i start the project?
OCR Computing AS and A Level Discussion Board: 2510 - Computing Project: How can i start the project?
I have found in total, 12 different companies with problems but they have never been viable for an A-Level computing project! ( I quote my teacher)Needless to say, it is getting very late and i need to get started. Can someone give an example of a situation, please? which could be used for a computing project so i can actually find someone! Thanks.
I have always told my pupils that they get zero marks for doing clever, complex projects. Do yourself a favour and go for something very very simple that allows you to concentrate on getting marks for showing your project management skills, not how clever you are at VB or Access - that's how you get top marks. Even better, find a project in school, so that all resources and people are to hand. Forget the business about solving real problems for real businesses - as long as you have a simple, potentially real problem with a 'real' end user, you are in business for high marks. I usually have about half of pupils doing projects for family or businesses that they are closely related to, and then half do projects inside school - those who put the hours in and follow the mark scheme always score well.
Possible projects?
Do you have lockers at school? If yes, find out who is in charge of dishing them out and do a very simple database for keeping track of lockers, keys, deposits and pupils.
Does your teacher have a shelf of books in the IT room? Do a mini library-type project.
Or a database that keeps track of cars, staff and students, in the school car park, issuing permits etc.
Remember - there are no marks for complex projects, only for project managemt skills. Make sure you have a copy of the mark scheme and structure your project exactly as in the mark scheme, using headings that are in each section. And make sure you have lots of documented contacts with your user at every stage - it's flavour of the month with the exam board this time round.
Ask to see your teacher's A grade project - it was handed out at the last teachers' meeting. You will probably be surprised how micky mouse it is - some of my GCSE projects are more involved than the last A grade' project I was given!!
Good luck.
Dave C
I am having trouble setting my project on solid ground and I'd like to see exactly what is required to make my project an 'A' standard. Does anyone know any places where I can download old coursework projects/examples that would get an 'A'?
Dave C, you have referred to see "your teacher's A grade project". I don't think my teacher is aware of this. Perhaps you could direct me to an online source or some other method of obtaining it.
Thanks,
J Titus Mulquiney
The two questions asked above are exactly what your teachers are for!! You need to ask them for guidance / suggestions / examples because giving advice from a distance is always difficult and often muddies the waters rather than aids understanding.
Your teachers will be delighted to show you past example projects that their students have done and they will help you select a suitable project that can provide opportunities for you to meet the marking criteria. They also have access via OCR to resources that you cannot get access to, such as example projects and advice on selecting projects.
Hassle your teachers until you get what you want!
Dave,
I saw your comments saying
"And make sure you have lots of documented contacts with your user at every stage - it's flavour of the month with the exam board this time round."
I have interviews, for the anaylsis stages and a a few documents showing my meeting with them during user testing, which suggest improvements and letter from user for evaluation which says that project was successful.
Is this good enough?
Thanks a lot
Could anyone give me some ideas about what type of project should i do? I will be doing my project in pascal. Please its really urgent!!!
???
Why is it so urgent? The deadline for handing in project marks for the June 2003 session was a week ago.
What research have you done regarding projects? What examples have you seen from your teacher? What A level project books have you looked at to get some ideas? Have you really thought through whether using Pascal is better than Access in terms of getting the best marks?
You can't beat good preparation, time planning and organisation for getting high marks.
A
hey,
I am going to Do a E-commerce Web site that allows, people to purchase stuff online, would you tihn thst the project is rather too complex? or beyond the Scope of AS?
i need some help with my A.S computing project. I'm doing my project on payroll and i dont know what should be the input, output and processing requirement in the new computerised system.
i will be really thankful to you if you can help me
I cant find anything only thing i have is schl library but thats been done and i feel it will be too complx
I am severely disappointed with the assessment criteria for the project in A-Level Computing. To suggest that complex systems get zero marks is absolutely ludicrous. Those are the types of comments that have the public commenting every August, "A-Levels are getting easier".
Bottom fact, I work as a software engineer, and I not once used my A-Level skills during my degree, nor during the job I do right now. Project management can only be taught in industry. Academia should stick to academic and theoretical study, instead of trying to postulate what is done in industry. I have seen many students with some sort of wild idea about how to conduct a software project, but as a result of this new "vocational" exploration in A-Levels, they do not have the technical grounding or understanding to do the job properly.
I am tutoring an A-Level student this year in Computing, and I am sad to say that once again I will be giving the advice of "You shouldn't be solving the problem, you should be producing exactly what the examiner wants to see, whether it's right or not". Because, at the end of the day, this is the only way to get an A grade.
is this site still on? anyone alive here? but anyways, i need some ideas for this project. my dad's working in a car trading company. hopefully the ideas are based on it so it will be easier for me to do the project. please please please help. urgent. thanks.
|