Assignment
Description
The object of this
information technology project is for you to design a “Dream Computer System”
for handling your information processing and communication needs. You should design your computer system using
the six-phase systems design process along with hardware and software
specifications, data flow and other concepts you will learn in CS 1000. You must utilize the basic guidelines of
buying and upgrading PCs, depending how you intend to use your computer
system. The project report about your
computer system should obviously take into account economic, operational and
technical feasibilities, as determined from a needs analysis. Your report also should discuss the major
purposes of the system, parts specifications, application memory requirements
and corresponding prices.
Project Skill
Self-Assessment
During the process of the
creating your “Dream Machine” you need to complete a series of Self-Assessment
Journals to analyze the progress on your project and the development of the
skill areas required to successfully create your computer system. As you work to create your system, you should
also assess and develop action plans for improving the critical thinking and
problem-solving skills necessary for developing a “Dream Computer” that meets
your information processing requirements as determined from a needs analysis.
Assessing Learning
Skills
Twenty specific information
technology learning skills are listed on Page S-11. When you start this project refer to the
Learning Skills list and record the 4 skills you anticipate using during the
first few weeks of the project; you, of course, will use other important skills
later to successfully complete this project.
Your analysis of the skills used in preparing this systems design
project will provide you with the feedback you need to build an effective and
efficient computer system for handling your processing needs.
Implementation of
Action Plans
As you progress in creating your own computer system, you will find that the self-assessment process of developing and implementing detailed action plans will help you become more efficient in information processing and systems design efforts. Your use Self-Assessment and the Learning Process Methodology for improving your computer systems design and analysis skills will also help you improve your problem-solving abilities and build on the general IT concepts taught in this course.
Value of the Project Self-Assessment
The real value of your project depends on the effort and thought you put into the preparation and implementation of your short- and long-term action plans written on each self-assessment journal. Therefore, on a periodic basis, you should analyze your strengths, areas of improvement and insights in relation to your project progress in analyzing systems needs and designing effective systems.
Requirements of the
Systems Design Analysis Project Report
Your Systems Design and
Analysis Project Report should generally include the following information:
1.
Introduction
points out your general reasons for choosing this project and what you expected
to accomplish.
2.
A needs analysis
of your current and future computing (hardware and software) requirements.
3.
Detailed criteria
and specifications of systems elements -- hardware, software, data, procedures
and people, plus an itemized budget.
4.
Description of
the actual learning process you used in developing your “Dream Computing
Machine.”
5.
Identify the most
important skills you learned from doing this project and explain how you can
use these skills to your advantage in the future.
6.
Summary discusses
your ability to self-assess the development of the learning skills you used in
designing your computer system.
7.
A Start-Up Self-Assessment
Journal and at least 6 Project Self-Assessment Journals.
8.
A list of
resources used in creating your system.
Some Critical Thinking Questions
What role did language development and understanding of the six phases of systems design and other terminology play in the development of your own computer system?
Why did you want to create your own computer system and what learning skills were most helpful in systems design and analysis?
What Learning Process Methodology steps did you used in recognizing and understanding the meaning of systems design for buying or upgrading your computer system?
What action plans did you incorporate into the development of your systems design skills, especially when you got frustrated? What insights or new understandings did you learn about yourself in the process?
Requirements of Your
Systems Analysis Portfolio
You must use a word
processing application to write your project report. You may also integrate information from some
other applications -- Internet browsers, spreadsheet, database, presentation, email
and your selected applications -- in preparing your report. Since the quality of content of your
report is the most important, no suggested length guideline, requirement
or limit of pages for your Systems Design and Analysis Project Report is provided. However, in many cases the extra pages for
charts, graphs, illustrations, computer-produced results and a reference
(bibliography) page exceed the report. Please
use a 12-point type size and double-space the lines with a half-inch indent at
the beginning of the paragraphs. The
use of subheads is suggested for appropriately separating topics and improving
readership.
Special Note: Be sure to include your Self-Assessment Journals as
an appendix with your project report in addition to other references. The evaluation of your Systems Design and
Analysis Project Report requires that your graded journals be included in your
Portfolio. Self-Assessment Journals that
are not reviewed and dated by your lab instructor during the assessment process
(weekly) will not receive credit during the grading process. The report grade will be based on the
criteria listed below:
Evaluation of Self-Learning Project Progress Report
Progress Criteria
|
Outline of development plan |
10 |
|
|
Report on project and skills progress |
10 |
|
|
Research support – results, illustrations, resources and Weekly Self-Assessment Journals |
10 |
|
|
Instructor Project Feedback Interview |
5 |
|
|
|
|
35 |
Evaluation of Systems Design and Analysis Project Report
Project Criteria
|
Level of thought and
analysis |
10 |
|
|
Overall quality of
content – project planning and implementation |
10 |
|
|
Effort on the Project |
5 |
|
|
Quality of writing the
Project Report |
5 |
|
|
Completeness of the
Project Report |
5 |
|
|
Results, illustrations,
resources and bibliography |
5 |
|
|
|
|
40 |
Self-Assessment Criteria
|
Your level of effort and
diligence throughout the self-assessment process |
10 |
|
|
Your ability to
self-assess project and skills performance |
10 |
|
|
Your commitment to
improving your growth through self-learning |
5 |
|
|
Primary referencing of
information in the Self-Assessment Journals |
5 |
|
|
|
|
30 |
Journals
|
Start-Up Self-Assessment
Journal |
3 |
|
|
6 Weekly Self-Assessment
Journals (Each worth 4.5 points) |
27 |
|
|
|
|
30 |
|
Total Points |
|
135 |
NOTE: As is the case with ALL of your assignments
in this class, you should keep copies of ALL of your self-assessment
journals. Your copies not only
will serve as backup in case of loss during the evaluation process, but more
importantly you use your Self-Assessment Journals in formulating weekly action
plans in becoming a self-grower learner
and as research resources for writing your Systems Design and Analysis Project
Report.