- •Integrated Programme of Development
- •What is the Project?
- •Choosing a Suitable Project
- •Complexity
- •3.1 Complexity examples
- •Methodology
- •Guidance on marking the Project
- •Examples of marked candidate responses
- •6.1 Quality of report [Total 3 marks]
- •6.2 Definition, investigation and analysis [Total 11 marks]
- •Quality of report
- •Introduction
- •Quality of report
- •Quality of report
- •Investigation:
- •6.3 Design [Total 12 marks]
- •Nature of the solution [8 marks]
- •Quality of report
- •Intended benefits [2 marks]
- •Limits of the scope of the solution [2 marks]
- •6.4 Software development, programming, testing and installation [Total 18 marks]
- •Development [4 marks]
- •Programming [5 marks]
- •Installation [4 marks]
- •Installation Plan
- •6.5 Documentation [Total 10 marks]
- •Systems maintenance documentation [4 marks]
- •Quality of report
- •6.6 Evaluation [Total 6 marks]
- •Discussion of the degree of success in meeting the original objectives [3 marks]
- •Quality of report
- •Evaluate the client’s and user’s response to the system [3 marks]
- •Quality of report
3.1 Complexity examples
Data processing
Most projects should involve some form of data processing. This will involve a database, XML or alternative record structure being used to input, output, update and delete data. An example might be of a web based hospital administration system setting appointments for doctors:
1 |
Single table called appointments with a web application to add appointments and return timetables for different staff members |
2 |
Separate tables for doctors, patients, rooms and appointments. Ability to cancel appointments and update existing appointments |
3 |
Custom made reports and timetables for individual doctors listing all patients. Recommendations for available slots provided. On screen validation of things such as dates and doctor's names |
4 |
DDL used to create databases. AJAX requests to update doctors timetables in real time. Ability to match patients to specialist doctors |
Control Systems
Cheap computer systems such as the Arduino and Raspberry Pi allow for the easy use of sensors in student projects. Control systems can also be simulated using standard systems and graphical interfaces. An example might be a traffic light system for a local neighbourhood:
1 |
Use of variables and timers to simulate traffic light systems on a graphical map |
2 |
Use of custom made functions and procedures to control lights |
3 |
Use of OOP in creation of lights and simple simulated cars moving randomly through town |
4 |
Use of queues and AI to simulate cars navigating road grid to get to set destinations. Use of hypothesis testing to evaluate different traffic light set ups, storing results. Recommendation of an optimal set up based on findings. |
School revision programs
There are an increasing number of revision websites that involve simple games. Such a project may be an easy one to find clients for, as you can get students to create games for teachers in your school. Making computer games can be motivating for students and they allow for some very complex projects nearly always covering databases, OOP and high level algorithms. An example might be a projectile motion game, firing an arrow to hit the correct answer from a set of revision questions
1 |
Arrow flies in straight line, left to right height controlled by arrow keys, questions loaded from a single table database |
2 |
Database keeps track of students and high scores. It allows the teacher to add and edit questions and students. Questions appear randomly and don't repeat. |
3 |
Use of projectile motion equations to simulate flight. Use of OOP to model arrows and targets. Database normalised and high scores displayed using a complex query. |
4 |
Addition of wind and other obstacles into the game. System allows multiple users at once on different machines. Teacher able to run reports on most difficult questions. |
Utilities
It might be difficult to find external users who need specific tools that don't already exist, however, this is a good opportunity for students to create their own versions of commercial tools. Utilities can cover sound, images, compression, encryption etc. An example might be creating a sound effects utility for any given input, e.g. a guitar.
1 |
Records input and saves the sound in a wav file, which can be retrieved later |
2 |
Database keeps track of each wav file, listing who created it, and simple descriptions |
3 |
Simulation of one effect such as echo coded by student. Ability to save to a variety of formats. User accounts on the database allow different people to save their own sound files. |
4 |
Simulation of multiple effects and the ability to combine them. DDL used to make database tables. |
Websites
The use of the Internet for business, educational and recreational purposes has led to an increase in the number of projects involving the design of websites. At its basic level this type of project is often not well documented by the weaker students and so does not score highly. We would expect to see the HTML and server side code for such a project together with a site map and links to external sites. The solution could be extended to include an email facility, use of forms, links to a database to collect user information and use of Javascript/AJAX to make dynamic web pages. The investigation involving the client should bring up more than just a set of static web pages. An example might be an online shop for a local clothes shop
1 |
Static web pages with external CSS and good use of file structures |
2 |
Make pages from a database of linked products with the ability to order items. |
3 |
Normalised database with the ability to order multiple items in one basket. Sales figures created and displayed as graphs using Javascript. Email system implemented for sales. Bulk creation of orders for the shop owner |
4 |
Use of hashing functions to encrypt user passwords or implementation of secured web pages. Use of Javascript to zoom and pan product images. AJAX pages with recommended items on previous shopping habits. |