Computational Thinking for Information Technology

COMPUTATIONAL THINKING

FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

HOME | OBJECTIVES | WELCOME | TASK 1 | TASK 2 | TASK 3 | HELP

STUDENT SCENARIO:WEB DEVELOPERS GROUP

In this scenario, you will work in project teams to identify outdated websites and recommend, develop and present updates to the site(s).

Tina Richardson will be your Creative Director and virtual supervisor for the lesson. Your

instructor will be the project manager.


ObjectivesThis course will enable you to develop logical thinking skills, including:• Asking probing questions to uncover details of a problem• Clearly defining a problem• Defining clear success criteria for the project including

measurable objectives• Evaluating the effects of design options• Making design decisions based on rational criteria• Seeing “the big picture”


Objectives (cont.)This course will enable you to develop logical thinking skills, including:• Deconstructing the problem into its component parts• Identifying the steps required to solve a problem• Identifying the sequence of steps including possible

decisions and alternatives• Measuring and adapting the solution to optimize resource

utilization• Measuring and evaluating solutions against the success

criteria


WELCOME

Welcome | Business Objective


Hi, I’m Tina. Welcome to the Student Web

Developers Group team.


Welcome

We have accepted your application to participate in this exclusive opportunity. We feel that your web development experience will add value to the group. This first page of the site is for orientation. We want you to know why the Student Web Developers Group (SWDG) was created and how the group finds clients and works to complete tasks.


Business Objective

We are a college student group that scours the internet for outdated websites. We offer our web development expertise for short 1 to 2 month projects intended only to update an existing site at a very affordable rate.

We complete projects year round. However, the majority of the work is completed over the summer break. Our clients work with us remotely. We offer our services and receive payment only when work is agreed to be satisfactory.


Business Objective (cont.)

We know that the majority of a web site's effort is in

the maintenance of the site. We are just giving

companies who have let their sites become

outdated a chance to get back to being functional

and maintainable!


Now, let’s move on to the tasks!


TASK 1: CLIENT GATHERING

In this task, you will identify outdated sites anddraft letters to the site owner(s).

Use the Resources List and Grading Rubricas guides for your work.


Step 1Define what an outdated site is (define the general problem). Include discussion of:

• XHTML DTDs• Frames Layouts• Table Layouts


Step 2Each member should find a site that needs updating on the internet.

Record these sites and site problems in your progress notes on the discussion board


Step 3Select 3 sites from those found in Step 1 and write a letter to each site owner. Make sure the letter covers the following:

• Who SWDG is

• A short list of problems withtheir site


Step 3 (cont.)• Define specific Problems.

Compelling reasoning behind allowing you to update their site (affordable, timely, college student support, satisfaction guaranteed)

• Detailed expectations (including: recreating the same site with the same content; NOTHING more)


Step 3 (cont.)• A timeline and price quote (based

on research of competition)

• Conclusion and contact information


DebriefReflect on what we've learned from this task by discussing the following questions with your colleagues and project manager:

Group Discussion (The group recorder needs to document the discussion and results of the following group discussion):

1. This was your first task as a team. Discuss as a group what you learned about your group dynamic and what changes might need to take place before the next task.


Debrief (cont.)2. Think about the following list:

• Writing skills

• Creative Skills

• Programming Skills

• Communication Skills

• Problem Solving Skills

Rank yourself for each one of these skills.


Debrief (cont.)3. Is your group lacking in some skills

and too abundant in others? Make sure you consider this when assigning items that require the skills that lack. Maybe you will want to pair up on some items or work as a complete group?

4. Document the findings and results of this discussion.


Now, you’re ready for Task 2!


TASK 2: BEGIN SITE UPDATING

Congratulations! You have found us a client to work for. Now, let’s show them how professional, timely,

organized and awesome we are.

Use the Grading Rubric as a guide.


Step 1Determine how the income will be divided. Explain reasonable time-to-pay ratios. Devise a work time logging method

Step 2Download the site and site images and objects. Document and report the original state of the site and the downloaded state of the site.


Step 3Divide and document the workload of the pages amongst the team.

Step 4Produce the updated pages and site.


Deliverables1. Time-to-pay ratio for the group and/or

per person and time logging method.

2. Formatted document with screenshots of the original state of the site and the downloaded state. Explanations of differences, assumptions and other pertinent information.

3. Site files Zipped and submitted



1. What worked well within your team regarding project management and efficiency?

2. How did your team divide up responsibilities?

3. How did your team communicate and share files?


Debrief (cont.)4. How did the process of downloading the

website and related files go? What did you learn during the process?

5. Was the original site code that you worked with documented with comments? If not, do you wish it had?

6. Was the original site code well indented with good use of white space?


Debrief (cont.)7. Do you feel like you have accomplished

something useful in this project? When you calculate the pay to hours worked, do you feel the money earned was worth the work?


Let’s move on to Task 3!


TASK 3: PRESENTATION

It’s Show and Tell time. In this task you will present your work to the client.

Use the Grading Rubric as a guide.


Step 1Create a PowerPoint presentation that shares the details of the process of completing the project.

Step 2Present the PowerPoint to the class and show us the finished product.


Deliverable• Power Point presentation

CONGRATULATIONS on the completion of the project for the SWDG. We hope the experience has been beneficial to you and that your web development portfolio will continue to grow!



1. What elements of the other teams' solutions did you particularly admire? Why?

2. Have you learned more by having had your classmates share their experiences with you?


Debrief (cont.)3. Would you accept a job doing

projects like this? Would you do it just for money or because you like it?

4. Discuss the pros and cons of consulting vs. company employment.


INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION

eMail:

Phone:

Office location:

Office hours:

Other info:


Date post:	22-Feb-2016
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Computational Thinking for Information Technology

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