Introduction
Create a website detailing information about information technologies, specifically focusing on the design for user friendliness, and data transfer. The requirements are listed below as separate tasks. We will complete the tasks over the next 5 weeks. For each section of the webpage, please add any links to external resources that you feel might help a user of your site.
Task
|
Week |
Task(s) |
|
1 |
Task 1: Website design Task 2: Network Types |
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2 |
Task 2: Network Types (continued) Task 3: Binary and Data Representation |
|
3 |
Task 4: Phone Use (data collection) |
|
4 |
Task 5: Behaviour online Task 6: Evaluation of the website |
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5 |
Task 7: Internal Documentation Submission of website |
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6 |
Feedback and mark for website |
Process
Task 1: Website design
Create a website interface using Microsoft Expression Web. The site should have the following pages created:
- Home
- Network Types
- Representing Data
- Phone Use
- Online Conduct
Consider navigation – users on your site should find it easy to navigate. Include a navigation bar, as well as other links to your pages. Don’t forget to include links back to your home page (tip: often these are buttons called “BACK” or “HOME”.)
On your home page add an image representing digital technologies. On this page, write 3 paragraphs about digital technologies, and how they have changed the way people live. Use the following questions as the basis for each of your three paragraphs:
1. What are digital technologies?
2. How do 'people' (generally) use digital technologies?
3. How do 'you' (personally) use digital technologies?
Task 2: Network Types
In term 1, we considered how different types of networks (e.g. wired, wireless, mobile, local, the internet, etc.) can serve different purposes. They meet the needs of the user, recognizing that these needs can change. Consider how a family might store data on a local network to keep their information private, but so they can also access it from different devices in the home. Would this network be practical for a bank with multiple branches? Would a WAN be more appropriate than a LAN? What might be a problem with a bank using the internet?
On you page “Network Types” you must describe the following 4 types of networks:
- LAN
- WAN
- The Internet
- VPNs
Consider how they serve the needs of users in particular context. This description of each of the network types should include the following sub-headings, followed by relevant discussion:
- Overview
This is a description of the network type. Imagine you are explaining the network to someone who knows nothing about network types. What is the key information? (e.g. A LAN is a Local Area Network. It describes a network which is quite small physically. It can be wired, or wireless, etc…)
- Benefits of “insert network type”
In this section, list at least 3 benefits of the network type. Feel free to use dot points here! (e.g. -the internet is good for long distance communication)
- Pitfalls of “insert network type”
In this section, list at least 3 benefits of the network type. Feel free to use dot points here! (e.g. -the internet is sometimes less secure than other network types, etc…)
- Two specific examples
Use this section to describe 2 examples of how users would use this type of network. Be sure to describe why they would use this specific type of network over different types of networks.
Task 3: Binary and Data Representation
Last term we talked about how binary data is used to communicate data within computers and across networks. Use your “Representing Data” page to describe this process of data being communicated using binary code.
- What is binary code? (consider what the 1s and 0s represent)
- What is the role of the CPU?
- What is the role of software?
- What is the role of network cables?
Condsider that binary is used not only to represent text, but also images and sounds. Why is data represented in differently? Explain on the page. Could you use images to help you explain how binary code works? Add some pictures from the internet that might help – be sure to reference these!
Task 4: Phone Use (data collection)
Today we are going to consider how people use their phones. It is a very difficult question to answer, luckily some people have already done some research on this question. Use the internet to find out how different people are using their phones across the world. Remember to reference your data by including the author, publisher and date of the article/website. Provide a link back to the source website by using a hyperlink.
Create an new section heading below the data you collected called “Data Collection”.
Answer the following questions under the paired sub-heading:
|
Sub-heading |
Question |
|
Authentic Data |
How do you know the data you collected is authentic? (not made up?) |
|
Accurate Data |
How do you know the information is accurate? (consider how the source collected their information) |
|
Timely Data |
How old is the article/website where you gathered your information? Describe how you think old data might skew results in relation to how people use their phones. |
|
Data Collection |
Write a paragraph about how you can ensure the data you’re using is authentic, accurate and timely. Describe why you think it is important to collect reliable data. |
|
Reliable websites |
What websites do you consider reliable and why? Provide links to at least three external websites. |
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Referencing |
You have been asked to reference information and images in your website. Describe 2 reasons why this is so important. |
Task 5: Behaviour online
Consider the following video about online conduct (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVSAFhTjAdc)
Embed this video to the page “Online Conduct”.
Write 2 paragraphs describing the importance of appropriate online conduct and the consequences of negative behaviours online.
Use the sub-headings, “Appropriate Behaviours” and “Inappropriate Behaviours”, to list at least 5 positive and 5 negative online behaviours, respectively.
Task 6: Internal documentation
Behind the scenes of your website there is a code being written by Microsoft Expression Web. Your task is to include Internal Documentation in your code which describe the functionality of at least 10 different modules within you code.
Use this PDF document to help you decipher the code: HTML Help Sheet
Task 7: Evaluation of the website.
Consider the following questions:
- Is my website easy to navigate and do all of my internal links work?
- Have I checked the content to ensure there are no spelling/grammar mistakes?
- Does my homepage describe the content of the website?
- Do my images contain tags with images titles, descriptions and links to the source?
- Have I included enough relevant links to external websites for people who need more information?
Make any necessary changes to your website and list them on an external word document called “{your_name} - Modifications to Website”.
Evaluation
Name:
Total mark /40
Design
| CATEGORY | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Content | The site has a well-stated clear purpose and theme that is carried out throughout the site. | The site has a clearly stated purpose and theme, but may have one or two elements that do not seem to be related to it. | The purpose and theme of the site is somewhat muddy or vague. | The site lacks a purpose and theme. |
| Navigation | Links for navigation are clearly labeled, consistently placed, allow the reader to easily move from a page to related pages (forward and back), and take the reader where they expect to go. A user does not become lost. | Links for navigation are clearly labeled, allow the reader to easily move from a page to related pages (forward and back), and internal links take the reader where they expect to go. A user rarely becomes lost. | Links for navigation take the reader where they expect to go, but some needed links seem to be missing. A user sometimes gets lost. | Some links do not take the reader to the sites described. A user typically feels lost. |
| External Sources | All links point to high quality, up-to-date, credible sites. | Almost all links point to high quality, up-to-date, credible sites. | Most links point to high quality, up-to-date, credible sites. | Less than 3/4 of the links point to high quality, up-to-date, credible sites. |
| Layout | The Web site has an exceptionally attractive and usable layout. It is easy to locate all important elements. White space, graphic elements and/or alignment are used effectively to organize material. | The Web pages have an attractive and usable layout. It is easy to locate all important elements. | The Web pages have a usable layout, but may appear busy or boring. It is easy to locate most of the important elements. | The Web pages are cluttered looking or confusing. It is often difficult to locate important elements. |
| Graphics | Graphics are related to the theme/purpose of the site, are thoughtfully cropped, are of high quality and enhance reader interest or understanding. | Graphics are related to the theme/purpose of the site, are of good quality and enhance reader interest or understanding. | Graphics are related to the theme/purpose of the site, and are of good quality. | Graphics seem randomly chosen, are of low quality, OR distract the reader. |
| Website Content | ||||
| CATEGORY | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Types of Networks | Student describes in detail at least 4 types of networks and highlights their suitability in meeting defined purposes. | Student identifies at least 3 types of networks and highlights their suitability in meeting defined purposes. | Student can distinguish between different types of networks and their suitability in meeting defined purposes. They are vague in their descriptions. | The student identifies that networks are designed to meet defined purposes. They do not identify a range of networks and purposes. |
| Binary and Data Representation | Student can explain how binary code is used to create, secure and present text, image and sound data in digital systems. | Student can explain that binary code is used to create, secure and present text, image and sound data in digital systems. | Student can explain that text, image and sound data can be represented and presented using digital systems. | Student demonstrates an understanding that information can be represented using text, images and sounds. |
| Data Collection and Validation | Student collects data from a wide range of sources and explains why the data is authentic, accurate and timely. They use this data to explain how people use their phones. | Student collects data from a few different sources which are authentic, accurate and timely. They use this data to explain how people use their phones. | Student collects data from a few different sources. They use this data to explain how people use their phones. | Student uses anecdotal, or otherwise unreliable evidence to describe how people use their phones. |
| Online Conduct | Student describes the rationale for behavioural codes of conduct for online forums. They model these at all times. | Student describes some behavioural codes of conduct for online forums. They model these at all times. | Student demonstrates an understanding of appropriate behaviour in online forums. They typically model these behaviours. | Student identifies some inappropriate behaviours given an online context. They sometimes engage in unacceptable online conduct. |
| Evaluation and Modification | Student evaluates their website in terms of meeting user needs, both functional and non-functional. They modify their website based on the results of their evaluation. | Student evaluates their website in terms of meeting user needs, functional or non-functional. They modify their website based on the results of their evaluation. | Student evaluates some aspects of their website. They modify their website based on the results of their evaluation. | Student modifies website without completing an evaluation. |
| Algorithms | The website functions as designed. Internal documentation clearly and accurately describes what the html code is doing. | The website functions as designed. Internal documentation accurately describes some of the functions of the html code. | The website generally functions as designed. Internal documentation is used to describe some of the basic functions of the html code. |
The website generally functions as designed. The html code includes some internal documentation.
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