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Author: Bob Created: 3/12/2008 12:29 PM

The Grade 12 PAT focuses on Information Managment (LO3)

English version

Afrikaans version

 

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Feedback from Practical Assessment Task (PAT) moderation suggests that teachers and learners still need to work hard on the topic of Information Management in Computer Applications Technology (CAT).

Dr Jamie McKenzie wrote in his article, A true original in the educational technology journal, From Now On (January 2009):

"The biggest failing of the past 20 years of ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) in schools has been the putting of carts before the horses, stressing the tools themselves rather than the information, the communicating and the building of new ideas and insight. "

 

What is CAT about? CAT is about the tools themselves (LO2) as well as the information, the communicating and the building of new ideas and insight (LO3). The latter is the focus of LO3 and the PAT.

Read the article in preparation for the 2009 PATs and find the focus.

Dr Jamie McKenzie writes:

"The focus of ICT should be on ways of knowing, learning and understanding, making smart use of information technologies to support exploration and contribute to both comprehension and invention."

 

 

The PAT is

  • solving an information problem
  • applying the techniques/processes of information management
  • using ICTs (tools such as application packages, Internet)

The tools (application packages, Internet) should not be the focus of the PAT, but the knowing and understanding of the problem, finding information on the problem and learning more about the problem using ICTs, sifting, sorting and analysing information to gain insight and new knowledge and to share new ideas.
 

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The final countdown to the 2008 Grade 12 examinations has begun...

Teachers should now focus on finally preparing their Grade 12 learners for the examinations.
 

Working through prelim papers is good exercise for learners.

Papers from different provinces could be used.

 

Gauteng Prelim papers

Grade 12 Paper1 Sept08 & Memo Data Files Part 1– Paper 1 Grade 12 Paper2 Sept08 & Memo
Graad 12 Vraestel1 Sept08 & Memo Data Files Part 2 – Paper 1 (8 MB) Graad 12 Vraestel2 Sept08 & Memo

 
KZN  Prelim papers
Grade 12 Paper 1 & Memo Sept08 Data Files Part 1– Paper 1 Grade 12 Paper 2 & Memo Sept08
Graad 12 Vraestel1 & Memo Sept08 Data Files Part 2– Paper 1 (3 MB) Graad 12 Vraestel2 & Memo Sept08

Please note: The content of all the papers should be compared to the content in the Learning Programme Guidelines (Annexure A) .

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Download videos to teach various topics in the CAT curriculum such as Word Styles, Excel SumIf

These could serve as good revision material for Grade 12s as well. 

Find more teaching videos. (Look for July 2008 blog entries)

 

 

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Most of the third term should be dedicated to finalise the PAT and to let learners practise their skills with regard to the application packages and prepare them for the November examinations. I have uploaded the Free State Grade 12 mid-year exam paper so that you could have additional papers that your learners could use to practise. 

Free State Mid-year Papers

Grade 12 June08 Paper1  Eng Graad 12 Junie08 Vraestel1  Afr Mark Sheet and Data Files
     

Limpopo Mid-year Papers

Grade 11 June08 Paper1 Grade 11 June08 Paper2 Link to papers and memos
Grade 10 June08 Paper1 Grade 10 June08 Paper2
 KwaZulu-Natal June08 papers
Grade 10 June08 Paper1 Grade 10 June08 Data Files Grade 10 June08 Paper2
Grade 11 June08 Paper1 Grade 11 June08 Data Files Grade 11 June08 Paper2
Grade 12 June08 Paper1 Grade 12 June08 Data Files Grade 12 June08 Paper2
 Study Opportunities June08 papers
Graad 12 Junie08 Vraestel 1 Graad 12 Junie08 Vraestel 2 Memo
Grade 12 June08 Paper 1 Grade 12 June08 Paper 2 Data Files

 

 Eastern Cape exemplar papers 2008

Grade 12 June08 Paper 1 Grade 12 June08 Data Files Grade 12 June08 Paper 2
Grade 12 Junie08 Vraestel 1 Grade 12 June08 Datalêers Grade 12 Junie08 Vraestel 2
 
Please note: The content of all the papers should be compared to the content in Learning Programme Guidelines (Annexure A) .

Watch this space for more…
Learners should know their applications well and should not search through menu options when they need to complete practical questions. They should work productively and efficiently.
 
Learners should also not waste time on things that they cannot immediately get right. They should rather continue with the next question (as questions in exam papers should not be dependent on previous questions) and rather come back at the end to attempt these. 
In completing an exam paper, they should start with the application that they know best and will have less difficulty with.

By the time they are in Grade 12, learners need to be proficient at skills they have honed from grade 10 and 11.
For example, a grade 12 learner should not be spending an inordinate amount of time on "mechanicals", tasks such as setting tabs in a document or a primary key in a database table. One of the aims of the subject is for them to be able to work confidently, accurately and quickly through these types of tasks. This will allow them ample time to tackle some of the higher-order skills that might be required such as setting up more complex formulas in a spreadsheet.
The practical paper also provides for assessment (efficiency, productivity, etc) in that learners who are well versed in the features of the various packages and who can work efficiently will be able to work through the paper fairly quickly.

 

 

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When starting with Phase 2, read the article from Jamie McKenzie regarding Searching for the Grail and Finding Good Information on the Net to prepare learners for phase 2.

The learners should answer the following questions for phase 2:

  • Where will I find the information that will answer my questions / help me solve the problem? I.e. in a magazine, on the Internet, etc.
  • How will I find the information that will answer my questions? I.e. what would my search strategy be? Identify keywords, advanced search tools, etc. I like Jamie's idea of giving them one good website or article to read about the topic first to start them thinking. As a matter of fact, this could be done when starting with phase 1.
  • What tools will I need to find some information? E.g. a questionnaire

Have a look at an example of what phase 2 could look like.
 

 

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Read how to make the most of Word and learn from a Microsoft MVP (most valueable person).

Shauna Kelly follows a professional approach.

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Did you know...?

the number of mouse clicks needed to format a heading in Word using direct formatting: 21

and if you use a style: 2

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The CAT curriculum requires learners to use productive methods, procedures and techniques and this is a good example of using Word more effectively when you know how to work with styles.

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This presentation could provide you with a better understanding of the PAT and information management in general.

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If you are looking for examples of exam papers or assessment tasks, you could visit the following websites:

Western Cape

Limpopo

IEB

Dr Pam Miller's blog

 Also visit  our Exam Centre on Thutong

Please let us know if you know of any other websites where teachers can find exam papers or assessment tasks to look at.

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