Preparation for May Examination

It is important that the investigate research activities posted in this blog for the three units are revisited in readiness for the examination.

The following are some of the Examination Areas to be tested

Business Quest Unit

• Review of some business Information technologies tools in use
• Examine how the technologies work/function in particular sectors of business 
• The impact of using  information technologies in business
• Issues resulting from using the information technologies in business and solutions to some related problems

Sport Technology Unit

• IT technologies used for Sports
• How the technologies work or the way they have been used by stakeholders in past
• The impact of using those technologies
•  Concerns and issues resulting from using the technologies

Going Green Unit

• Review of some of the information technologies used to protect environment.
• Examine how the different technologies function as used in the different situation.
• The impact of using different information technologies in management of environment.
• Issues resulting from using the information technologies and solutions to some of the related problems

  N/B
-There will be three sections in the exam. You will answer only one question from each of three sections
-The Technology exam will be 1 hr 30 mins
-The following command terms will be used in each of the questions
            a) Identify
            b) Describe
            c) Explain
            d) Evaluate

Critical Thinking
When answering question from the different command terms, learn to use the trigger words in Describe,Explain and Evaluate which often signal critical thinking. 
The bold words are the key terms in the various criteria.
Identify / Define- Requires a brief response or just a list.
Describe- shows a technical process step by step, using an example is recommended  
Explanation - Because, as a result of, due to, therefore, consequently, for example
Evaluation - My opinion, overall, although, despite, on balance, on weighing up

May Examination Revision Excercises

Business Quest Unit.

1.  a)    Define the term Domain Name?

     b)    What makes up an URL address?

2   a)  Define the term MySQL?

    b)  Describe FOUR payments methods that shoppers can use to make payments online.

3. (a)  Define the term CAPTCHA.

   (b)  Describe two uses for CAPTCHA in any online business.

     (c)  Why might CAPTCHA become unpopular among users on a website?

4. (a)  Define Pay-Per-Click Advertising.

    (b)  Name other methods of used in advertising products online

     (c)  What some of the problems/risks that customers may face when doing transactions online.

5.  (a) What is a shopping cart service? 

     (b) State three reasons a shopping cart service is vital for an online business? 

     (c) Describe other business that can benefit from using an online shopping cart.

Sport Technology

     1.    Describe the sports technology/ software in the article in the link below. http://www.topendsports.com/resources/technology.htm

     2.    What is digital scouting? And why is scouting digital more advantageous http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb/news/20131009/mlb-digital-scouting/

       3.    What are these technologies that have affected sports http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2010/05/12/how-technology-is-affecting-sports/

    4.    Describe some specific areas of future developments in sports based on the article in the link below. http://blog.ted.com/2014/03/07/what-will-sports-look-like-in-the-future-three-ted-experts-discuss/

Green Technology

      1.    Define the term e-waste?

      2.    Explain two reasons why sending e-waste to Africa in an advantage?

      3.    Discuss what the disadvantages there are to the people sending the computers if they   

                   could not send them anymore.

      4.    Read and discuss some of the issues raised in the article below;

Electronic Waste Activities

a) What are some of the sources of e-waste?
b) What are some of the harmful components in the e-waste to humans?
http://www.eschooltoday.com/waste-recycling/sources-of-waste.html

c) Study the facts and figures in the link below. What are some of the shocking results.
http://www.electronicstakeback.com/wp-content/uploads/Facts_and_Figures_on_EWaste_and_Recycling.pdf

d) Read more on the following in this link http://www.electronicstakeback.com/resources/problem-overview/
i) toxics in electronics
ii) e-waste in landfills
iii) global e-waste dumping
iv) Prison e-waste recycling

Green Technology Unit

 

Key concept	Related concept(s)	Global context
Change	Innovations / Structure	Globalization and sustainability
Statement of inquiry
Technological innovations are a product of dynamic changes in systems
Inquiry questions
Factual Is renewable energy sustainable? Conceptual To what extent have changes in innovations impacted the environment? Debatable Will our environmental problems be addressed if we fully use renewable energy in all our systems?
AK strand
Ethics

Background information

The environment we live in is in most cases not well taken care of by those entrusted. The environment is that space which surrounds wherever you are.

How then can information technology be used to make our environment safe to us now and for others in the future?

Are there technology solutions that can be used to create awareness, or remind people of their responsibilities to the environment?

This unit allows you to explore the different environmental problems and develop information technology solutions.

Possible Solutions

•  Creating and animation for company to educate children on how keep the environment safe
•   Creating a video for your Geography teacher as a resources for topic on environment being covered currently.
•   Simulation to present in a student’s conference on how future will look like if environment concerns are not addressed now.
• Interactive online magazine for an online environmental club
• Database to document and analyses environmental
• Website using complex techniques software solutions such PHP or Joomla for and environmental organization
• Programming by applying programming to develop a solution to calculate how to rate or rank towns using different parameters to decide whether the town is environmental friendly.
• Mobile app to update students in the environmental club of current news related to the subject.
• Music video to be played during the environmental day in school
• Computer games to educate students on better ways of protecting their environment. The game can allow player to develop better project or programme proposal that is environmental friendly.

Task 1

Before you start work on the inquiring and analyzing, it will important that you answers the following questions first;

• What environmental related problem would you like to address?
• Who will be your client?
•  What type of solution do you plan to create ( Always remember to try out something new, that will expose you to more complex techniques during creating solution stage.)

Once you get approval from the teacher, then you will proceed to Criterion A activity.

Criterion A: Inquiring and analyzing. This tasks is posted in managebac.

Samples for reference:
https://sites.google.com/site/stevensonstechnologyclassroom/design-cycle/criterion-a-investigate

video
https://www.ted.com/talks/paul_bennett_finds_design_in_the_details?language=en

Task 2 Further areas of investigation (Note that all the areas below will be tested in the May examination) 

1.    Explain the term green technology and give some examples of how it is applied.

  Models and Simulations

2.    Define the terms:

§  Computer models

§  Computer simulations

3.    List down 5 examples of computer models and simulations

4.    Explain the difference between computer modeling and simulation

5.    Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of models & simulations

Resource

http://www.teach-ict.com/gcse_new/spreadsheets/modelling_simulation/miniweb/pg8.htm

http://www.teach-ict.com/as_a2_ict_new/ocr/AS_G061/314_spreadsheet_concepts/models/miniweb_object/pg10.htm

Electronic waste

http://doyourpart.com/green-living/terris-top-5-sources-of-e-waste/

http://www.electronicstakeback.com/wp-content/uploads/Facts_and_Figures_on_EWaste_and_Recycling.pdf

6.    What is e-waste? Explain.

7.    What constitutes e-waste? List the different items that can be classified as e-waste.

8.    Explain 4 causes of e-waste. Identify specific examples of hazardous electronic parts/components in your explanation.

9.    E.g computer system casings are made of plastic which is non bio-biodegradable and these can pollute ground water which in turn may cause health problems for people and animals

10.  Discuss the main impacts that result from e-waste.

11.  Suggest FIVE practical solutions to the e-waste problem.

Describe the features of the following technologies.

§  Smart homes

§  Smart cars

·         What is Green IT?

·         What are some of the technology changes that have contributed to Green IT

Describe the role of the following in relations to Green IT

a) Cloud computing

b) Blogs and web 2.0 resources

c) Computer games

d) Telecommuting 

e) Green networking services
f) Green security services
g) Green storage services

h) Green systems services

Possible game builders solutions
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/
http://www.stencyl.com/
http://www.jsdares.com/
http://ael.gatech.edu/lab/research/authoring/arspot/
http://www.engine001.com/
https://www.unrealengine.com/

Mobile app Builder
https://www.touchdevelop.com/

Sports Technology Unit

Unit Details:  Sports Technology

Key concept	Related concept(s)	Global context
Systems	Innovations and ergonomics	Scientific and technical innovation
Statement of inquiry
Technological innovations are a product of dynamic changes in systems
Inquiry questions
Factual What are the prerequisites for the development of systems? Conceptual To what extent does a product meet universal needs? Debatable Is the development of a system linear or iterative?
AK strand
Ethics

Below are the unit details for this unit

Designers don't just create products and solutions out of no where.  They have a process that enables them to succeed.  In MYP Design we focus on how to approach design.  Students learn the Design Cycle- An effective method for engaging with design problems.  Always remember that your goal is to apply the design cycle to solve problems for real situations. That is why we insist on a real client.

In design emphasizes in the process is actually MORE critical than the product at this point in MYP.  Evidence of your learning and the evolution of your ideas throughout in the product development should be clear.

Activity 1

a) Read the following article and comment on how the technologies described will impact sports.

http://www.topendsports.com/resources/technology.htm

http://www.topendsports.com/sport/tennis/hawkeye.htm

http://news.discovery.com/tech/gear-and-gadgets/ten-techs-transforming-sports.htm

b) Databases used to manage sports

Create your own online database for sports management using https://www.zoho.com/creator/create-online-database.html

c) Sport training solution

Open the following training and discuss how effective these solutions are for training in sports.

Coach solution http://micoach.adidas.com/

Trainer solution http://www.tricoretraining.com/trainer/

d) Sport simulators

What are they and how useful are they in sports?

http://www.animotion.eu/pages/en/sport-simulators.php

http://www.sportssimulator.com/

http://www.visualsportssys.com/

e) Spreadsheet used in sports

can this be achieved?

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AuC7ACqWvsLudHFndGlnWjJyOUkyWHZLRlRsMFNDbHc&usp=sharing#gid=0

f) Sports Animation

How effective is the use of animations in sports development and management?

http://www.explania.com/en/channels/sports/detail/what-is-offside-in-football

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy1rumvo9xc

http://sportinnovation.co.uk/sport-animator

http://www.igameplanner.com/

http://www.en.easy-animation.com/soccer-software-animations-tactics/

g) Gaming in sports

How has gaming transformed sports? Which are the common softwares used to develop sports gaming solutions?

http://www.teamonthree.com/features/playbooks/create-sports-playbooks.aspx
http://gizmodo.com/5509025/how-professional-athletes-use-video-games-as-training-aids

h) Sports apps

http://tech.co/best-sports-apps-2014-07

http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2011/06/the-5-best-app-building-programs/
http://wasp3d.com/combbuilder.php

i) Top Sports website

Which the best sports website? what was used to build them?

http://www.webdesign-inspiration.com/web-designs/industry/sport

https://www.123-reg.co.uk/website-builder/

http://www.sportata.com/

Other sport software

http://www.lynda.com/After-Effects-tutorials/Mograph-Techniques-Creating-Sports-Bumper/161474-2.html

http://www.adigitaldreamer.com/game-design-software.htm

Business application Videos

Watch the following video and evaluate the solution

Mobile app solutions for business
http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/2514228664001/top-apps-for-small-business-owners/#sp=show-clips

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YFpaNWjq_8

Animation created for business
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYmWUb5GTFk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TIE6AxFYDg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lwIqyxcPOs


Games for business
http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/3803282489001/big-bucks-behind-free-online-game-creation/#sp=show-clips

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1760JOeK_Ig

Free online interactive simulation
http://www.thesmallbusinessgame.co.uk/Game/global/Play.aspx?GameID=229347

Business Quest Research Activity

Business Quest Worksheet

Unit Details:  Business Quest

Key concept	Related concept(s)	Global context
Communities	Market and Trends	Scientific and technical innovation
Statement of inquiry
Technical innovations are both a function and product of trends in communities.
Inquiry questions
Factual          — What software tools and techniques have been for numeric analysis? Conceptual   — Can results of any market trends system be influenced by the designer for their advantage? Debatable     — How reliable are the results of market data in decision making?

Work on the tasks in Pairs

Activity one

a)   Name the unique digital technologies used by Ebay, Amazon, and Alibaba businesses?

What is common and what is different?

b)   Who owns Alibaba online business, and how did the IPO perform recently?

http://projects.wsj.com/alibaba/

c)   Read the article in the link below

https://www.verisigninc.com/en_GB/domain-names/online/initiate/web-tools/index.xhtml and discuss the responses

i)             Which three tools would you recommend for a small business in Mombasa and why?

ii)           Which two tools will you not recommend for use in small business in Mombasa and Why?

d)   Read the article in http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/22/magazine/ebays-strategy-for-taking-on-amazon.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 and answer

What is Ebay’s strategy to take on Amazon?

Activity Two

a)   What is cloud computing?

b)   What are some main benefits of cloud computing? http://www.business.qld.gov.au/business/running/technology-for-business/cloud-computing-business/cloud-computing-benefits

c)   Watch the Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whkyRvugqlM and distinguish between IAAS, SAAS, PAAS.

d)   What are the common concerns of cloud computing? Use only the following links

http://www.insidecounsel.com/2012/09/14/technology-5-key-cloud-computing-concerns

http://www.infoworld.com/article/2652198/security/gartner--seven-cloud-computing-security-risks.html

http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240089111/Top-five-cloud-computing-security-issues

e)   Which business in Kenya offer cloud computing Services?

          Would you recommend businesses to use cloud computing services?                 Why?