3.6.1 Describe the following causes of errors with reference to an
application in each case: data entry, accidental, deliberate, software
and hardware.
(No teaching notes for this one.)
JSR Notes:
This is an assessment statement that actually requires you to apply the concept to an application; i.e. explain such and such, ***and*** give an example. The such and suches in question are errors.
So certainly look through all that the textbook has to say about these errors, and look through the rest of 3.6, but ultimately come up with your own example, and when we get to the Case Study, we'll address this with specific reference to it.
(By the way, they've now released the Case Study for 2010, and it has to do with the computer systems at airports; looks to be a good one - remind me to start using it as a good system example in class. The 2009 one is on systems for disabled people; this one doesn't fit as nicely into lots of the syllabus, as it is more discrete things that can be done with IT to help people with disabilities; it's very interesting, just not as universally applicable to "systems".)
For now, it would be good to come up with some non-case study examples; I'll use things around the school.
But key here is to think of DATA ERRORS, so, for example, don't think broken laptop screens etc., be thinking incorrect data of some sort or another causing problems.
Data entry errors:
- Application: errors in the IB predicted grades submission.
- Cause could be incorrect entry, in combination with lack of proper double checks, and/or proofing.
Accidental:
(Note that here we can be dealing with anything accidental, either by the programmer, or other accidental causes.)
- Application 1: Any one of the applications used by students or teachers could mis-represent data, like grades.
- Cause could be a programmer of this product accidentally make any error that is not picked up by a compiler - so any logic mistake or oversight in error handling.
Application 2: Data corrupted, and file no longer able to be opened.
-Cause could be accidental electro-magnetic interference at any stage in data processing, storage or transmission causing data corruption/errors.
Deliberate:
- Application: Grades are subtly bumped up for certain students.
- Cause: A student hacks into a school computer and change grades.
Software:
- Application: Repeated crashes of a particular software program.
- Cause: Bad programming.
Hardware:
- Application: Internal teacher e-mails missing characters .
- Cause: Some sort of interference with wireless communication.