Information Systems

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Information Systems

• Information Technology
• The exam 2001
• Tips and Tricks
• Andrew Shortell

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Introduction

• Why are we here?
• Why are you listening to me?
• Why am I using PowerPoint?

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Why are we here?

• 3100 you are 100
• ? 3
• Pass is based on SAC results
• Many in this subject know it all
• I dont

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Why are you here?

• You chose the subject
• You chose to come here
• What are your goals?
• It will be your ENTER not mine

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What is the trick?

• Study
• Practise the exam

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Study What?

• The exam
• What is asked?
• Why have an exam?

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Good Exam performance

• Depends on
• Understanding your subject
• Recalling the concepts
• And the examples
• Express your understanding

Efficiency in an exam Is related to the
effectiveness of your preparation
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And.

• Do not panic
• Visualise notes, remember notes
• Come back to it
• Caused by last minute cramming-
• Better a beaten path to the spot

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Strategies

• Check the time regularly
• Stick to the time associated to each question
• Answer all Qs
• Be positive
• Never leave early

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Answering

• Dot point
• Dot point
• Dot point
• I am serious

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What is on the exam?

• ?
• Always a mystery
• This year even more so

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The past

• Same people for nine years
• We learn about them
• They teach us
• Now there is a new one
• Changes are coming

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Structure

• Why are some things repeated?
• How do the examiners think?

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What is the hardest part?

• Psuedo code
• Both interpret and create
• Why?

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Why?

• Very few have a clear idea of the different
  structures
• Those few have trouble showing it
• Why?

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Why?

• Is it the material?
• Is it the study design?
• Is it the teachers?
• Is it just too complex?
• Is it just a lack of time?
• Is it lack of practice?

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What do you need..

• Begin
• End
• Open
• Close
• Read
• Write

• Note how these are paired
• !!!!!!!
• Why?

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Loops

• While pre test
• Might Never enter
• Repeat until post test
• Will always go once
• For next pre set number of times
• Number of iterations fixed before we start
  looping

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DFD

• Data flow diagrams
• Each part of system has different symbol
• Everything inside system has at least one in AND
  one out
• The examiners love em

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Backup

• Who does it?
• Who really believes in it?
• Off-site, on-site, frequency etc

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Data Disaster

• Data Disaster Recovery Plan
• What is a disaster?
• Why have a plan?

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Changeover

• Direct
• Parallel
• Prototype
• Trial
• Partial

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What This Means

• It is easy to do well
• Study
• Practise the exam
• Study
• Practise
• Study
• Practise

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Next Steps

• Summarise the course
• Learn it
• Practise your learning
• Practise the exam
• Ask for help

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What, Where

• Past papers see your teacher, library etc.
• Solutions youre kidding
• Past practice papers
• E.g. Octobers Solutions
• Under exam conditions (at home?)

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New Practice papers

• Suddenly plenty
• Quality?
• How close to the exam?

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New format

• New format for the exam
• Look at IPM 2000

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Summarise what

• Use the study design
• Use the book
• Use your class notes
• Use the systems dev. life cycle
• Use past papers

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Now what?

• Succeed
• You are motivated