Information Technology in a Global Society ITGS IB

Figure ITGS 1 (above) is a time schedule, created by a G12 student who was starting and completing the IA all in G12.

 

Suggested timeline for Grade 11 students who are completing the Internal Assessment task in Grade 12.

 

Grade 11 (Internal Assessment - 15 hours)

April  -  Criterion A: Initial investigation

May - Criterion B: Analysis + Criterion C: Project schedule
June - Criterion D: Product design

Grade 12 (Internal Assessment - 15 hours)
August - Criterion E: Product development
October - Criterion F: Product evaluation and future product development

November - Criterion G: Required elements

 

IA ITGS Guide for DP Students 

Criterion A) Initial Investigation ITGS

Three steps to Section A of the ITGS initial investigation:

1. Find a client.

2. Interview the client. Create a recording &/or transcript.

3. Write an analysis of the consultation.

To meet the requirements of this criterion, you must submit:

1. Criterion A Initial Consultation - A transcript/summary of the interview(s).

2. Criterion A Initial Investigation - An analysis of the client's problem and the inadequacies of the current situation.

3. Optional: An audio recording of the interview.

 

Criterion A Initial Consultation ITGS (no word count)

Documenting the IA Initial Consultation
You need to provide evidence (screenshots, photos, videos, signatures, dated forms, etc.) that the interview with your client occurred and that may be in the form of a:

• written record (summary &/or transcript),

• sound file,

• video,

• exchange of emails, and or 

• a questionnaire.

 

Your Initial Consultation file, in a universally accepted and secure format (e.g. jpg, pdf, mov, mp4, avi), must be included on your IA documentation CD. Sound and video files may be in any language, however, students will need to include a written summary of the consultation, in your school's language of instruction.

 

Tips Regarding Your ITGS Initial Consultation:

• Prior to recording your interview - discuss with potential clients and outline the general idea of this project (to create a technological solution to an issue they face)

• Prior to recording your interview - write a few questions and share with your client so they are prepared

• The aim of the interview is for your client to discuss 2 or 3 issues (not focus only on one) if they discuss a couple of issues then it will make a justification easier to write (e.g. aaa is the issue I will help overcome, because aaa is a major concern and helps a great number of people compared to bbb and ccc)

• The aim of the interview is to collect concerns and issues and ideas from your client and THEN start focussing on technology. If you are planning on creating a website it is best to FIRST get your client to talk about the need to get more customers, share new products with people and improve the promotion of their business. LATER you can then can discuss solution ideas like websites, brochures, business cards and social media ideas. Justifying a good solution, by comparing it with some average solutions is easy. 

 

IA ITGS Suggested Questions to Ask during the Initial Consultation:

• Please introduce yourself and tell me about your job.

• Please tell me about some specific problems you regularly encounter or issues you regularly face.

• Please tell me about some opportunities you see or ideas you have for the future - that have not yet been realised.

• based on the responses above - then turn the client's attention to TECHNOLOGY

• Please explain the technology you use at your workplace and can you give me an idea of your level of technological know-how?

• Are there some types of technology that you feel could help overcome some of your issues and/or make your job easier and your workplace?

• If there was a product/system created overcome YYY and XXX issues - how would this improve your work?

 

Criterion A Initial Investigation ITGS (250 words)

Below is what you will need to create for Criterion A:

 

Client’s Name: XXXX 

 

Interview Date: YYYY

 

Evidence of Interview: sound file (Appendix 1)

 

Analysis of the consultation: An analysis of the client's problem and the inadequacies of the current situation.

 

Briefly Explain who your client is and what they do:

• My client runs a small business and they work in the hospitality industry.

• My client is the floor manager of the Yokohama Youth Hostel and the hostel has 100 beds and usually runs at 75% occupancy.

• My client is a Science teacher and they teach at Horizon Japan International School. My client teachers MYP Science

 

Discuss their Specific problem:

• My client is frustrated by the messy communication and organisation of her class.

• My client wants to increase the occupancy rate of their hostel and is sure the poor social media and website is hindering their success.

• My client is struggling to manage student assessment tasks.

 

Examples of clients and problem:

• The IB Diploma Programme theatre teacher (client) requires a method of managing the finance and seat booking for a school theatre production (problem). A possible solution is to develop a multiple page spreadsheet that links a diagrammatic representation of the seating plan with the financial information.

• The IB Primary Years Programme or kindergarten teacher (client) requires a method to introduce the basic greetings in another language to 4-year-olds (problem). A possible solution is to develop a multimedia presentation that includes a series of sound and video clips.

• A photographer (client) requires a method of increasing his visibility and consequently his income from the sale of images (problem). A possible solution is to develop a website.

• A manager of a local sports team (client) requires a method of keeping accurate records of players’ details, attendance at training sessions and performance throughout the season (problem). A possible solution is to develop a relational database.

 

Criterion A: Initial Investigation Marks Level Descriptors ITGS

0  >>> The work does not reach the standard described by the descriptors below.
1 >>> A client and a problem with the present situation are identified.
2–3 >>> The inadequacies of the present situation are explained with cited reference to the consultation with the client.

 

Criterion B) Analysis ITGS

You must ensure that your proposed Tech solution addresses the inadequacies identified by your client in criterion A. You will also need to list requirements specifications and also justify your proposed solution. Students will have to use the ITGS IA Analysis Form and you must refer to the scenario described in criterion A and includes a requirements specification that can be used to effectively evaluate the success of the IT solution and a detailed justification of why your IT solution was chosen.

 

Criterion B Analysis Form (no Word Count)

THE ITGS ANALYSIS FORM (From IBO) must be used

Red = Heading

Green = Sub Heading

 

 

Criterion B: Analysis

 

Proposed solution:

 

Requirement specification

 

IT system requirements:

 

System interaction:

 

Input/output requirements

Input requirements

Output requirements

 

Processing

 

Security

 

Specific performance criteria

 

Justification of chosen solution

 

Criterion B: Analysis ITGS (250-350 words)

 

Proposed Solution: Listing 2-4 solutions you considered and indicate the solution you have chosen.

Requirements Specification: Bs sure to include inputs, outputs, security considerations, Often the client will provide the content, however, you need to be clear who will be inputting data into the tech solution (e.g. client will write the words for a website and student will copy text and insert into website). Regarding IT system requirements you should identify software and hardware required to create your solution and, once you solution has been created, also identify what software and hardware will be required by the end-user. System interaction is where you can either explain step-by-step what you solution will do and how is works &/or you can discuss the processing required to create your solution (e.g. Adobe Dreamweaver, iMovie, etc.). Furthermore, you may need to identify and contrast the different hardware and software requirements for developing the product compared to using it and outline what will be required for product development and the completed product. The input and output can be information, files, or data. Processing needs to be addressed and may be an explanation of the processes the student will use to produce the product or the system processing which converts the input to output. Security issues must also be addressed and this can be done by discussing preventing unauthorized access to systems or sensitive data, preventing loss or corruption of data and also preventing unauthorized use of the product.

Specific Performance Criteria:  This is where you can create and write a design brief and design specifications (MYP Design terminology) these are clear, specific bullet points which indicate the things your product must do in order to be considered a 'success'. You will assess yourself against these criteria in Criterion F, so it is essential to get them correct. Precision is vital: criteria must be specific and measurable. When you justify your chosen solution explain why your chosen solution is the best solution. Comparing weaker solution ideas with your best idea is a great way to justify. Be sure to make clear links to your client's problem and their tech skills and the technologies they have access to.

 

Criterion B: Analysis Marks Level Descriptor ITGS

0 >>> The work does not reach the standard described by the descriptors below.
1 >>> The analysis form is used, refers to the scenario described in criterion A and includes either a requirements specification that can be used to partially evaluate the effectiveness of the IT solution or a limited explanation of why the IT solution was chosen.
2–3 >>> The analysis form is used, refers to the scenario described in criterion A and includes a requirements specification that can be used to partially evaluate the effectiveness of the IT solution and an adequate explanation of why the IT solution was chosen.
4–5 >>> The analysis form is used, refers to the scenario described in criterion A and includes a requirements specification that can be used to effectively evaluate the success of the IT solution and a detailed justification of why the IT solution was chosen.

 

Criterion C) Project Schedule ITGS

Your project schedule must outline how your proposed IT solution in criterion B will be produced. Your detailed plan must be based on research you have conducted into the proposed IT solution and the significant factors involved (stakeholders, software, hardware, network requirements, data, input and output, processes and policies) is developed that addresses key events in planning, designing, developing, testing and implementing the product as a timeline/schedule.

 

IA Project Schedule Form (no word count)

Be sure to make explicit reference to these categories when creating your plan and present as a table:

• Date - when will you do this? and how many minutes/hours have you allocated?

• Criterion - what IA criterion is being addressed?

• Action - what specifically will you do and with what resources?

• Details, Follow Up and Comments - as the plan unfolds, what changes need to be made, adjustments to the schedule and what needs to be addressed?

• Date Completed - when was this task done

 

IB ITGS IA Project Scheule Form must be used and can be found here

 

You may wish to create a GANTT CHART for this section and

 

The aim of your schedule is that it contains enough detail that another person could follow your plan and create your product.

 

Criterion C: Project Schedule: Marks Level Descriptor ITGS

0 >> The work does not reach the standard described by the descriptors below.
1 >> The project schedule uses the project schedule form and refers to the proposed IT solution identified in criterion B, providing an outline schedule of the tasks involved in planning, designing, developing, testing and implementing the IT solution.
2–3 >> The project schedule uses the project schedule form and refers to the proposed IT solution identified in criterion B, providing a detailed schedule of the tasks involved in planning, designing, developing, testing and implementing the IT solution. The project schedule can be used as a basis for the development of the IT solution.

 

Criterion D) Product Design ITGS

 

ITGS IA Product Design identifies what you propose to create for your client, how it will be made, when and who it will be implemented and launched and how success will be measured.

 

IB Criterion D Product Design Form (no word count)

 In Section D the IB Product Design Form must be used and will cover:

• design methodologies appropriate to the type of IT product being designed

• different levels of draft design, an overall structure, layouts and mock-ups of the product itself.

• an investigation into specific elements used within the product (such as fonts, graphic elements, effects, etc.)

• identification of a range of appropriate resources and techniques required for the development of the product

• a test plan that addresses the main areas of functionality of the product and links to the designs brief and design specifications

• a signed agreement that the designs is approved by the client

The product design should be so detailed that the product could be independently created by an IT literate third party. You need to draw some mock-up designs and accompany them with detailed annotations that explain features and design details. For best results, several ideas should be shared with your clients to get an idea of what they want and need. Be sure to keep an open mind when discussing your designs and together decide on the best design and features.