GCE A2 Computing

Signing off...

2007-11-12T06:17:00.000-08:00

I'm moving course related material to the www.finnegas.net VLE.
Hopefully this will mean you only have to go to ONE website in future...

See you there!
PS - Keep your own blogs going for now!

Thank Crunchie it's Friday!

2007-11-08T08:02:00.000-08:00

Today you will continue working on the Analysis section of your project writeup (started yesterday).
In particular you should use try to identify Data Sources etc and create relevant Data flow Diagrams or flow charts of manual processes.
Continue working on this for HW over the weekend.
Bring in your books on Mon.
Have a good weekend!

Assembly Langauge Quiz

2007-11-07T13:35:00.001-08:00

(A) Today you will log in to www.finnegas.net
(You all BETTER remember your usernames and passwords!)

You should click on the link for "Assembly Language Quiz (1)".
This consists of 3 past paper questions on Assembly Language & the Fetch Execute cycle.

You should type your answers into the available edit boxes on the webpage.

You will not receive any immediate feedback / results as I have to mark these answers manually.

(B) - Get the "Practical Project" photocopy in your folders in the filing cabinet (bottom right drawer).
Create a Word document with the following headings:

Background to/identification of problem
Identification of the prospective user(s)
Identification of user needs and acceptable limitations
Use of appropriate analysis techniques
Data source(s) and destination(s)
DFDs (Existing and Proposed Systems)
Analysis Data Dictionary
E-R model; Objective Analysis diagrams (if appropriate)
Objectives of the project
Realistic appraisal of the feasibility of potential solutions
Justification of chosen solution

Read through the notes and try to complete the first 3 headings in relation to your proposed Computing project.
At this point you do not refer to actual programming techologies you will use.
You will 'decide' on this at a later stage.

Today you will...

2007-11-06T17:23:00.000-08:00

Complete summary of Ch 2 Assembly Language, started yesterday.
HW: Answer q's 1 - 6 on your blog

LNI bites the dust (for a while at least!)

2007-11-05T02:25:00.000-08:00

Today gentlemen you will go to:
http://www.finnegas.net
You will log in (details will be given in class) and explore this Virtual Learning Environment.

Please reply to the forum posts in "Week 3" (ignore the week numbers etc for now)
You should complete the 'First Impressions' question AFTER you have become familiar with the set up.

Learning PHP

2007-10-22T06:18:00.000-07:00

Over the past few days we have been learning about PHP.
We have installed XAMPP onto our USB memory sticks and been working through w3schools PHP tutorials.
We saw how PHP could be used to create dynamic webpages that could be accessed by a wifi enabled device (simulated on a Mobile Phone Browser).

You have a LNI test on PHP tomorrow!

PS your homework for over the weekend was to blog about all this PHP stuff we have learned...

Structure and Role of the Processor

2007-10-16T07:22:00.000-07:00

Today we read through the start of Ch 34 "Structure and Role of the Processor".
We then looked at notes on the datapool on the Fetch-Execure Cycle and you were asked to print these / copy to memory stick and complete Ex's 19 (q1) & 20 for hw.
You should trace through the example cycle until you are happy with the concepts involved in how the Fetch Execute Cycle works.

HW: Tidy up HBB's and print off blog for Parent's Evening tomorrow night.

Binary Quiz

2007-10-15T05:33:00.000-07:00

Today you had a short class test using the C2K online quiz facility.
You should print your results and then do any corrections on the printed page, to then be stuck into your book.

And yes, I know, there was a mistake in q3...

For the weekend...

2007-10-12T07:13:00.000-07:00

NOT ON YOUR BLOG (in your hardbacked book / a Word doc) you should write out documentation for the Design Section of Peter's Petrol Pumps:
- Definition of Data Storage Requirements
--> Variables, Constants etc
- User Interface Design
--> What will the two / (three ?) forms look like?
--> What reports might you create (as html files?)? What would they look like?
- Algorithms for:
--> Pump Operation
--> Console Operation
--> 7 Segment LCD
--> Producing Daily Totals

NB Parent's Evening on Wed. You will be printing off your blog and handing me your Hardbacked book for Wed night.

Binary Worksheets...

2007-10-08T04:33:00.000-07:00

Today we will correct the work that you were supposed to have completed for today.

"There are 10 types of people in the world..."

2007-09-27T15:39:00.000-07:00

"Those who understand binary & those who don't!"

By the end of this week you will understand the joke above (and realise how hilarious I am!).

You are to read through & complete the "Binary Floating Point Representation" workbook.

Monday: Two's Complement +/-. Complete Tasks 1 - 7 (pgs 1-3)

Tuesday: Fixed & Floating point no's. The mantissa. 8 - 13 (pgs 4 - 7)

Wednesday: Positive Binary Floating Point Representation using 2 bytes. 14 - 18. Negative Floating point representation (1 byte). Tasks 19-22.

Thursday: Negative Binary floating point representation using 2 bytes. Tasks 23 - 27.

Friday: More Normalisation: Complete Tasks 28 - 32.

You should complete the work in your hardbacked book, showing your working out for all the tasks.
You must blog at least one question & answer from each day this week.

Enjoy, and I will see you on 00001000 00001010.

Work for Week Beginning 24th Sep

2007-09-21T07:01:00.000-07:00

You should spend some time over the next week thinking about YOUR Module 6 project.
Your project MUST involve the following core aspects:

Data Input (including validation)
Data Processing (including transformation: e.g. calculating totals, calculating prices etc
Information Output (printed reports showing a variety of USEFUL information)

School:
Equipment Hire System (e.g. Tablet PC, mobile Laptop Suite, Quizdom handsets)
Minibus Hire / Booking System
Room Booking System
Evening Sports Facility Booking System (e.g. Basketball courts, Pitches for football / GAA / athletics)
Electronic (Web Based) Bookpress (for initial intake at start of the year)
ICT Support System (Record Machine / Network Issues -> Assign to Technician -> Mark Complete -> Report Statistics)
Dynamic Notice Display (eg PPT or Flash from Database)
Charity Collection / Fundraising System
Photocopy Tracking System
Paper Supply Tracker: (how much paper is supplied from Reprographics to IT / Business Studies rooms etc...)

* Y13 / Y14 Target Setting System - a system which records student targets then compares against actual module results?

* Internal School Exams Timetable system (for Christmas / Summer exams?)

* Work Experience allocation System - boys register areas of interest / preferences. Admin adds list of employers / areas. Matches students to area. Employers / Students fill out evaluations. Reports would include - individual slips for each student giving Employer details etc / vice versa for the employer. Complete list of all placements (by area / form class / subject class).

* GCSE / GCE Subject Choice system - forms filled out with this information currently - could be done online!?! Boys login and select / edit subject choices. Reports printed off showing totals for each subject etc.

Community:
Club Member Database (football / GAA etc...)
Charity Collection / Fundraising System
Charity Donated Furniture System
Wheelie Bin Collection / Cleaning system
Foyle Cup Registration / Accreditation system
Newspaper Delivery system Appointment / Booking Systems:
Barber's / Hairdressers e.g. Don the Barbers - appointment system.
Baker's (Birthday cake ordering - photo and/or greeting message)
Sports Injury / Massage
Medal / Trophy Shop (think about Jobby's - sells different medals / trophies, stickers, ribbons, shields etc)
Flower Arrangements
Jewellery / Watch Repair System
Shoe Re-Sole system
Limo / Party Bus / Fire Engine Booking

All of these options allow for data to be input, processed / transformed and then output in a variety of Reports.

Payroll Application Output

2007-09-21T06:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we covered methods of creating a text file in VB Express.
We saw how this could be used to create a simple 'Payslip' from our Payroll application.

We progressed from there to writing an html file as output from the program, and saw how this technique could be used to create nicely formatted payslips.

Today in class I want you to complete the code for the print button so that you program:

Creates an html file with the following filename format employeename_todaysdate.html
The html payslip should the school logo as part of the header.
A table showing the hours worked.
Use html formatting to emphasize the total pay etc.

Programming Concepts

2007-09-17T05:34:00.000-07:00

Today you were asked to copy & complete the Mind Map on Programming Concepts as part of Module 4 Theory.

You have to use the Freemind package (Start > Programs > ICT > Freemind) to add to the sample summary of Ch 37 (pg 217).

You must export the completed MindMap as a jpeg image (File > Export > As JPEG) and then:

print this jpg and stick it into your HB book

upload it to your blog, with an account of what features you used in the mindmapping program e.g. add cloud outline, format cloud colour, add icon.

You should have this completed by the end of today's class.

Homework for Monday 17th Sep

2007-09-14T07:33:00.000-07:00

This week we spent some time developing our web browser program.

We then looked at how to program a 7 segment LCD display, taking a number from a text box as input.

Your homework is to download the AQA specification, read through 'Peters Petrol Pump' AS resit exercise and simply draw out what you think the interface would look like.
You should have (at least) two forms - Console & Petrol Pump.

Issues to consider:

What information has to be displayed on each form?
What buttons are needed? What will happen when these buttons are pressed?
What input areas are needed? Are these text or numeric?

You can draw your ideas out by hand in your book, or use a graphics package.

Now you have finished your browser...

2007-09-12T07:26:00.000-07:00

Take a screenshot of it in action!
Demonstrate the different features available in your browser on your blog.

HW: Think about how we could implement a 7 segment LCD display on a vb form?
We will start that tomorrow

Revolutionising the Browser!!!

2007-09-12T06:45:00.000-07:00

Today I challenged you to create a 'different' type of browser interface.

Rather than the traditional layout using one main 'form' I asked you to create a 'remote control' type browser interface.

The control form should look modern / futuristic (transparent???) and should use at least one image (maybe as the background to all the buttons?).

You can control items on the second form through code by using form2.control.property where form2 is the name of your browser form.

You should also include an 'about' form and splashscreen for your browser project (check .

Using Visual Basic 2005 Express IDE

2007-09-10T05:21:00.000-07:00

On Friday a selection of you were shown how to use the VB 2005 Express IDE.

We created a simple web browser program.

Today we will go over the main concepts involved and build up our browser:

Your Webbrowser should contain:
- A Main Form (Form1.vb)
- A Label (Change the label's TEXT property. Experiment with how it looks...)
- A TextBox Control (for entering the web address)
- A Button to load the webpage (contains the relevant code)
- Webbrowser control
- MenuStrip (Should have File > Exit options, and some navigation features e.g. Home, Back, Forward...)
- Tool Strip (graphical representations of the common navigation features)
- A Statusbar control that contains the name of the current webpage
- A Image control with the logo for your browser (designed yourself)

Using the GIMP graphics package, take screenshots (acquire > screenshot > window) of the different features you added in your project, explaining them to a Y13 AS Computing student via your blog.

HTML TEST

2007-09-10T05:18:00.000-07:00

Back of your hardbacked books:

"Write all you know about HTML" (20)

Describe the structure of an HTML document = 3 marks
HTML stand for ... = 2 marks
Tag & Explanation = 1 mark
Sample code & drawn example of how it would look in a browser = 2 marks

Moving on...

2007-09-05T06:41:00.000-07:00

Today you had to log into your C2K email system and send me a simple email.
(http://www.c2kni.net/ >>> Learning Services for Schools >>> Email)

You were then to go to w3schools and continue working through the Basic & Advanced HTML sections (test on Monday!).
I suggested you might work through a section, e.g. Tables then blog straight away a summary of what you covered and a few screenshots of example html code and the results shown in a browser. You would then move on the next section and work through it.

Homework:

Read through Ch64 "HTML and ASP".
In your hardbacked books, write out answers to exercises 1 & 2 on pg 377 /378.

Blogging Rocks...!

2007-09-04T14:56:00.000-07:00

You WILL agree with me on this (eventually!).
Today you were to continue working through the html tutorial on w3schools.
I asked you to write an account of what you have learned so far about html, and upload some screenshots to explain / demonstrate what you have achieved so far.
When writing your blog, remember you have a global audience, so try to make the images as relevant and easily read as possible.

You could try adding a label to your post e.g. 'html' so you can categorise similar posts later.

Could EVERYONE please ensure they have their blog set up and the address left as a comment so I can add you to the links list.

Our First Monday!

2007-09-03T06:14:00.000-07:00

Hi Gentlemen,

Today we:
- outlined the letter you are to write to me for tomorrow (signed)
- reminded everyone that Hardbacked notebooks are to be brought in to class tomorrow
- distributed textbooks
- introduced w3schools as a resource for learning html.
==> You are to work through the "Learn HTML" sections and compile your own notes on HTML. Experiment with the interactive examples online and create your own 'local' html files on the computer using Notepad++.
==> *TEST on FRIDAY* (topics from Basic & Advanced HTML)
- used Notepad++ (Start > Programs > IT1 Freeware) as our HTML editor.

Welcome !!!

2007-08-31T06:05:00.000-07:00

This is the first of many "posts" to our online class blog.
You will all eventually set up your own blog for class related tasks and activities.
This will be an online portfolio of the Computing work you do this year.
I would like to see you post to your blog 'little and often', that is get into the habit of posting a few lines each day on what you have done in our class, in addition to the directed work I ask you to complete through your blog.

If you would please set yourself up with a Google account (use your c2k username please) and then create your blog as soon as possible. We will also sign up for additional Google services later in the term.

For my class please get yourselves the following equipment:
- A dedicated USB memory stick for this class (preferably 1gb look here)
- Two hardbacked notebooks (one for each 'theory' module)

Please complete your letter to me and get it signed for Monday!