1 Introduction

1.1 INFO 102 – Information Systems Development – is an introductory course in information systems, examining the nature of IS system development life cycle from a practical perspective. It is a complimentary follow-up course to INFO 101 – Foundations of Information Development, and is required for a major in Information systems and electronic commerce.

1.2 It is run in trimesters two and three (summer), and has done so since 2004.

1.3 In trimester 2, 2006, the demographic make up of INFO 102 varied greatly from the wider university population. 40% of the students in 102 were enrolled as international students, while in the wider student body only 17% were. 4% of students in INFO 102 identified as Maori (compared with 9% of the VUW student body), and less than 2% identified as Pacific Islanders (compared with 4% for VUW). The number of Chinese students has declined inline with the New Zealand tertiary sector’s downturn in the Chinese market.

1.4 MATURE STUDENTS?

1.5 Enrolment figures have fluctuated between 202 and 267 in regular trimester, and 42 and 52 in summer trimester (figure 2). Its enrolment peak in Trimester 2 2005 follows a significant marketing and recruitment drive for the co-requisite course INFO 101 at the beginning of trimester 1 2005.

1.6 PASS RATES?

1.7 Trimester 3 2006 was the 6^th iteration of INFO 102. The faculty members associated with INFO 102 were motivated to improve the delivery and content of the course after if was plagued with low attendance and poor performance. Enhancements are on-going, and centred around improving student attendance, higher and deeper student engagement in class activities, improved performance in assessment, and greater retention of students in the second year of the degree.

2 Course Objectives

2.1 The course objectives for INFO 102 remain largely unchanged:

2.1.1 Introduce students to the stages of the SDLC and their relevance to the creation of an effective information system

2.1.2 Enable students to understand and apply requirements analysis, data modelling and process modelling

2.1.3 Provide students with an understanding of relevant design issues, including user interfaces, physical and logical design, data storage, and implementation; and

2.1.4 Enable students to understand and apply methods for translating process design into IS software, using a designated programming platform (VBA - Visual Basic for Applications).

2.2 The exception is the 4^th iteration, where objective 4 made reference to “MS Access” as well as Visual Basic, and objective 2 has reference to “alterative methods for requirements analysis” removed. These variations may be linked to time constrains associated with summer courses.

3 Assessment

3.1 Assessment consists of three assignments, a tutorial attendance/participation mark, and a final examination/test. The weightings of these vary from iteration to iteration (figure 3).

3.2 Most minor changes in assessment weighting are a result of the condensed time-frame in summer trimesters.[JG1] For example, iterations 4 and 6 have a greater weighting allocated to the first two assessments, and less weighting allocated to the final exam/test.

3.3 Assignment three varies greatly in the 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th iterations, compared to the first three iterations.

3.3.1 During iteration 4, assignment three was changed from “programming” to “development”, and was broken into two parts; practical and written (allocated 15% and 10% respectively). It was changed back to “programming” in iterations 5 and 6.

3.3.2 During iteration 5 and 6, assignment three was broken into 4 parts, with due dates staggered throughout the second half of the course (see figure 4). This helped both advanced and novice students in different ways. Advanced students were able to complete the tasks early, allowing them to focus on the exam earlier. Novice students were able to get assistance and valuable feedback as they progressed, allowing them to correct any mistakes as they went.

4 Mandatory Course Requirements

4.1 The mandatory course requirements for terms in the 1^st iteration were:

4.1.1 Correctly enrolled in the course

4.1.2 Attend at least four out of the five tutorials

4.1.3 Attend at least five out of the six workshops

4.1.4 Achieve at least 40% of the possible marks for the exam

4.1.5 Achieve a weighted average over all assessments of at least 50%

4.2 Attendance at all tutorials and workshops was compulsory in order to achieve terms in the 2^nd iteration. This was discontinued in the 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th iterations.

4.3 Attendance at workshops was not required during the 5^th and 6^th iteration.

4.4 Attaining at least 40% of the possible marks for the exam was not required and the weighted average mark for all assessed items was changed from 50% to a “pass”[JG2] in the 6^th iteration.

[JG1] Is this a valid statement?

[JG2]One and the same?

info102

Monday, December 4, 2006

1 Introduction

1.2 It is run in trimesters two and three (summer), and has done so since 2004.

1.4 MATURE STUDENTS?

1.5 Enrolment figures have fluctuated between 202 and 267 in regular trimester, and 42 and 52 in summer trimester (figure 2). Its enrolment peak in Trimester 2 2005 follows a significant marketing and recruitment drive for the co-requisite course INFO 101 at the beginning of trimester 1 2005.

1.6 PASS RATES?

2 Course Objectives

2.1 The course objectives for INFO 102 remain largely unchanged:

2.1.1 Introduce students to the stages of the SDLC and their relevance to the creation of an effective information system

2.1.2 Enable students to understand and apply requirements analysis, data modelling and process modelling

2.1.3 Provide students with an understanding of relevant design issues, including user interfaces, physical and logical design, data storage, and implementation; and

2.1.4 Enable students to understand and apply methods for translating process design into IS software, using a designated programming platform (VBA - Visual Basic for Applications).

2.2 The exception is the 4^th iteration, where objective 4 made reference to “MS Access” as well as Visual Basic, and objective 2 has reference to “alterative methods for requirements analysis” removed. These variations may be linked to time constrains associated with summer courses.

3 Assessment

3.1 Assessment consists of three assignments, a tutorial attendance/participation mark, and a final examination/test. The weightings of these vary from iteration to iteration (figure 3).

3.2 Most minor changes in assessment weighting are a result of the condensed time-frame in summer trimesters.[JG1] For example, iterations 4 and 6 have a greater weighting allocated to the first two assessments, and less weighting allocated to the final exam/test.

3.3 Assignment three varies greatly in the 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th iterations, compared to the first three iterations.

3.3.1 During iteration 4, assignment three was changed from “programming” to “development”, and was broken into two parts; practical and written (allocated 15% and 10% respectively). It was changed back to “programming” in iterations 5 and 6.

4 Mandatory Course Requirements

4.1 The mandatory course requirements for terms in the 1^st iteration were:

4.1.1 Correctly enrolled in the course

4.1.2 Attend at least four out of the five tutorials

4.1.3 Attend at least five out of the six workshops

4.1.4 Achieve at least 40% of the possible marks for the exam

4.1.5 Achieve a weighted average over all assessments of at least 50%

4.2 Attendance at all tutorials and workshops was compulsory in order to achieve terms in the 2^nd iteration. This was discontinued in the 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th iterations.

4.3 Attendance at workshops was not required during the 5^th and 6^th iteration.

4.4 Attaining at least 40% of the possible marks for the exam was not required and the weighted average mark for all assessed items was changed from 50% to a “pass”[JG2] in the 6^th iteration.

Blog Archive

About Me

info102

Monday, December 4, 2006

1 Introduction

1.2 It is run in trimesters two and three (summer), and has done so since 2004.

1.4 *MATURE STUDENTS?*

1.5 Enrolment figures have fluctuated between 202 and 267 in regular trimester, and 42 and 52 in summer trimester (figure 2). Its enrolment peak in Trimester 2 2005 follows a significant marketing and recruitment drive for the co-requisite course INFO 101 at the beginning of trimester 1 2005.

1.6 *PASS RATES?*

2 Course Objectives

2.1 The course objectives for INFO 102 remain largely unchanged:

2.1.1 Introduce students to the stages of the SDLC and their relevance to the creation of an effective information system

2.1.2 Enable students to understand and apply requirements analysis, data modelling and process modelling

2.1.3 Provide students with an understanding of relevant design issues, including user interfaces, physical and logical design, data storage, and implementation; and

2.1.4 Enable students to understand and apply methods for translating process design into IS software, using a designated programming platform (VBA - Visual Basic for Applications).

2.2 The exception is the 4th iteration, where objective 4 made reference to “MS Access” as well as Visual Basic, and objective 2 has reference to “alterative methods for requirements analysis” removed. These variations may be linked to time constrains associated with summer courses.

3 Assessment

3.1 Assessment consists of three assignments, a tutorial attendance/participation mark, and a final examination/test. The weightings of these vary from iteration to iteration (figure 3).

3.2 Most minor changes in assessment weighting are a result of the condensed time-frame in summer trimesters.[JG1] For example, iterations 4 and 6 have a greater weighting allocated to the first two assessments, and less weighting allocated to the final exam/test.

3.3 Assignment three varies greatly in the 4th, 5th, and 6th iterations, compared to the first three iterations.

3.3.1 During iteration 4, assignment three was changed from “programming” to “development”, and was broken into two parts; practical and written (allocated 15% and 10% respectively). It was changed back to “programming” in iterations 5 and 6.

4 Mandatory Course Requirements

4.1 The mandatory course requirements for terms in the 1st iteration were:

4.1.1 Correctly enrolled in the course

4.1.2 Attend at least four out of the five tutorials

4.1.3 Attend at least five out of the six workshops

4.1.4 Achieve at least 40% of the possible marks for the exam

4.1.5 Achieve a weighted average over all assessments of at least 50%

4.2 Attendance at all tutorials and workshops was compulsory in order to achieve terms in the 2nd iteration. This was discontinued in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th iterations.

4.3 Attendance at workshops was not required during the 5th and 6th iteration.

4.4 Attaining at least 40% of the possible marks for the exam was not required and the weighted average mark for all assessed items was changed from 50% to a “pass”[JG2] in the 6th iteration.

Blog Archive

About Me

1.4 MATURE STUDENTS?

1.6 PASS RATES?

2.2 The exception is the 4^th iteration, where objective 4 made reference to “MS Access” as well as Visual Basic, and objective 2 has reference to “alterative methods for requirements analysis” removed. These variations may be linked to time constrains associated with summer courses.

3.3 Assignment three varies greatly in the 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th iterations, compared to the first three iterations.

4.1 The mandatory course requirements for terms in the 1^st iteration were:

4.2 Attendance at all tutorials and workshops was compulsory in order to achieve terms in the 2^nd iteration. This was discontinued in the 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th iterations.

4.3 Attendance at workshops was not required during the 5^th and 6^th iteration.

4.4 Attaining at least 40% of the possible marks for the exam was not required and the weighted average mark for all assessed items was changed from 50% to a “pass”[JG2] in the 6^th iteration.