SPECIMEN

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Computing Unit A452: Current trends in computing Specimen Controlled Assessment Material

A452CA

INSTRUCTIONS TO TEACHERS

SP (SLM) T12103

SP
This document consists of 4 printed pages.
OCR 2009 [QAN number] OCR is an exempt Charity

EC

IM

Please refer to Section 4 of the Computing specification for instructions on completing controlled assessment tasks. Each task can be contextualised appropriately to suit facilities available in your centre. The quality of written communication will be assessed in the judgements and conclusion section. The total number of marks for this unit is 45.

EN

2 The task is to investigate different peripheral storage devices.

Research (12 marks) You will need to: Describe and justify the use of peripheral devices found in your school/college and possibly in your home Use primary sources of information including: determining the types of storage used in your school/college; perhaps use your family and friends to find out what types of storage are used in the workplace Use secondary sources like books to give a perspective as to what has been used in the past; the internet to determine new devices which could become common in future Collect information that is clearly referenced, giving the sources of the information plan straightforward work with others, identifying objectives and clarifying responsibilities

recommend ways of improving work with others to help achieve given objectives

Technical understanding (12 marks)

Analysis the characteristics of devices and describe why they are suitable for the jobs which they do

Analyse the data collected and compare the different characteristics of each device and critically appraise the uses that they are currently utilised for Produce a historical perspective together with an appraisal of the future devices that may become popular Explain why different types of device were not successful or why they are no longer used, including a discussion of what caused their demise Use correct terminology to describe the characteristics and the relationship of the devices to other parts of the system

SP

Understand devices that are currently being used, historical devices, and investigate future devices, comparing their different types of use according to organisational and operational requirements. This should also include scale of use and types of data access required.

EC

You will need to:

IM

EN

work with others towards achieving given objectives, carrying out tasks to meet their responsibilities

Breadth of enquiry and development over time (9 marks)

You will need to: Contextualise the system in order to justify the choice of device Analyse the secondary evidence according to the types of uses the devices can be used for by considering their characteristics. This will be particularly true for new types of device which are not generally available Present a time line of the devices and situations that you are investigating so that a historical perspective can be seen and this will include branches that died out as well as ones that continue to evolve

Judgements, evaluation and conclusions (12 marks) You will need to: Draw conclusions throughout the work that relate to the way the devices have been studied. Report on any strengths or weaknesses of your work, for example the possible need to curtail an avenue of investigation because the scale of the report was becoming to unwieldy

Make reasoned predictions on what the future may hold evaluate theirs and others contribution create and review their own solution

review and modify work as it progresses to improve the quality evaluate and amend their own work

identify areas to improve and recommend and justify appropriate changes that could be made

SP

EC

IM

Demonstrate a good level of communication skills

EN

Copyright Information: OCR is committed to seeking permission to reproduce all third-party content that it uses in its assessment materials. OCR has attempted to identify and contact all copyright holders whose work is used in this paper. To avoid the issue of disclosure of answerrelated information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced in the OCR Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations, is given to all schools that receive assessment material and is freely available to download from our public website (www.ocr.org.uk) after the examination series. If OCR has unwittingly failed to correctly acknowledge or clear any third-party content in this assessment material, OCR will be happy to correct its mistake at the earliest possible opportunity. For queries or further information please contact the Copyright Team, First Floor, 9 Hills road, Cambridge CB2 1GE. OCR is part of the Cambridge Assessment Group; Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is itself a department of the University of Cambridge. OCR 2010 ...Jun10

SP

EC

IM

EN

1 OXFORD CAMBRIDGE AND RSA EXAMINATIONS General Certificate of Secondary Education

COMPUTING
Unit A452: Current trends in computing Specimen Controlled Assessment Mark Scheme The maximum mark for this paper is 45.

A452CA

SP (SLM) T12103

SP
This document consists of 5 printed pages. OCR 2009 [QAN number] OCR is an exempt Charity

EC

IM

EN

The assessment grids are intended to allow assessors to support their decisions by providing best fit. A. Research. 0-12 marks

Under this category candidates should show an awareness of sources of information such as their own classroom experiences and other people as primary sources, reference books and the internet as secondary sources. Candidates will be expected to consider the different reliability of sources and the importance of reinforcing concepts found during research. All sources should be credited and it should be possible to determine where each of the pieces of information in the report has come from. Direct quotations should be acknowledged.
Marking criteria Research AO2 6 AO3 6 Marks 0-4 5-8 Little information is given Some relevant beyond the original information will be stimulus material and the supplied from more than candidates own one source. experience Some analysis has been Few, if any, sources will carried out on the have been used and information presented. these will not be acknowledged. Sources are clearly identified but there is a limit to the detail given. There is a commentary on others and their own Any direct quotations used may be input into group work acknowledged. 9-12 Primary sources of information have been used Secondary sources of information have been used and assessed for their reliability. Information presented has been analysed and the information is sensibly linked. References to sources are clear and detailed. Direct quotations used will be acknowledged. Any information that has been collected which is thought to be of questionable integrity will have been identified They will provide an evaluation on theirs and others contribution to any group activities

SP

EC

IM

EN
They will have commented on their own and others contribution to any group work and whether it was useful

B. Technical Understanding

0-12 marks

Candidates should present the evidence behind their investigation and apply the evidence in order to support their analysis of the scenario. Candidates will be expected to use appropriate technical vocabulary in a way that indicates that the principles are understood.
Marking criteria Technical understanding AO1 3 marks AO2 6 AO3 3 The evidence of investigation will be entirely restricted to the core concepts presented in the original task. There will be limited indication of any evidence provided being analysed. 0-4 The use of technical terminology may be limited or may not have been used correctly. 5-8 There will be some understanding of the computing concepts and terminology involved evident in the report. The report will show evidence of some analysis carried out on the evidence collected. The report will fail to investigate any more than the main concept supplied in the original task. 9-12 There is a detailed presentation of the available evidence in the area of the scenario. The evidence which has been collected will have been fully analysed There will be a breadth and depth of study involving the collection of information peripheral to the main course of the investigation and clear analysis of its relevance to the investigation. It will be clear that the candidate understands technical terminology and is able to use the correct terms widely in their supporting script. The report shows a thorough analytical treatment of all the evidence.

SP

EC

IM

EN

4 C. Breadth of enquiry and development over time 0-9 marks

The candidate will be expected to produce a report to research into the concepts behind the chosen scenario that is to be studied. This will often include both peripheral areas to the central scenario and a presentation of the historical development behind the central theme.
Marks 0-3 4-6 The candidate will The candidate will concentrate almost present some wholly on the present researched material state of the concept which will place the topic being studied and offer under consideration in a little or no context in relevant context. which the topic should be seen. The research will be incomplete either in breadth or in detail.

Marking criteria Breadth of enquiry and development over time AO2 6 AO3 3

7-9 The candidate will have researched, analysed and reported on a number of areas that are peripheral to the main concept but serve to put the main concept within a context. The report will demonstrate that an integrity of the information supplied and will be presented as a cohesive whole rather than as a set of separate investigations The candidate will have explored the developmental basis of the topic in such a way that a clear time line is presented and/or all relevant areas have been covered.

SP

EC

IM

EN
It is unlikely that a convincing time line will have been produced.

5 D. Judgements, evaluation and conclusions 0-12 marks

The candidate is expected to research the aspects of the area of the topic. This may include the analysis and understanding of other points of view.
Marks Marked criteria Conclusion and evaluation AO1 6 AO2 3 AO3 3 0-4 The candidate may have identified some strengths and weaknesses. The conclusion is weak with little or no justification. The evidence of written communication is limited with little or no use of specialist terms. Errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar maybe intrusive. Information may be ambiguous or disorganised. 5-8 The report has structure and coherence with justifiable conclusions being reached although there may be some omissions. Candidates will have produced a sound evaluation which reviews some aspects of the task. 9-12 A full set of conclusions has been reached, each one of which has been justified by the research carried out by the candidate. This evidence has been presented in a clear and relevant way which is simple for the user to navigate. Candidates will have identified strengths and weaknesses in their work and explained why these are evident. A set of recommendations improvements or further work will be presented. A high level of written communication will be obvious throughout the task and specialist terms/technology with accurate use of spelling will have been used Grammar and punctuation will be used correctly and information will be presented in a coherent and structured format. The evaluation will be relevant, clear, organised and presented in a structured and coherent format

There is limited if any reference to test evidence

SP

The evaluation may be simplistic with little or no relevance

EC

IM

EN
Identifies several strengths and weaknesses and explained why some are evident. Identifies areas to improve but recommendations may be weak Produces evidence of good written communication using some specialist terms. There will be few errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation. Information for the most part will be presented in a structured format. Specialist terms will be used appropriately and for the most part correctly There is a description of limitations supported by test evidence