Mr_Arunpreet_Singh

Task F My aim for this unit of work was to gather data and work around databases, investigating how house prices have changed in the past ten years. I used the internet to perform advanced searching, use local and on-line databases, create a complex spreadsheet, present my findings, analyse my own way of working to find the information and, write a report on the availability of information. Task A I was asked to show my own knowledge in what search engines where used for and advanced searching could help find more specific data that I was after Again I did not know how to use advanced search and now I use it all the time Task B I believe that I reached my highest quality of standard in this section of work as I tried my best to work around everything that was asked to work on, on the assessment sheet. As I was working on this Unit I learnt more around how to use a database, from collecting data and making graphs and queries which then lead to reports. I had already used a software on the computer called Microsoft access but doing more work around databases helped me learn more about the software. I had never made a query before then make a report afterwards Having print screens was part of what was asked to be shown, I applied it to my work in order to gain a better mark when my teacher comes to marking it. I wanted to gather the best information, data, and print screens of work in order to get the best work I could possibly get. I wasn’t asked to create a bibliography in this unit but if I did have one I think it could have been better, as I would of bin up to date with all my work and I wouldn’t of lacked any time. All my work would of bin time consuming. I would have been more organised and put on pressure if I had a gantchart prepared with me for the Unit. My teacher however gave us certain amounts of time to do our work, week by week as homework and lesson time. All together I spent around 20 hours of lesson and home study time in this unit, including gathering all the data, and gathering all other types of information and writing it up into my own words in a word document. At first I wasn’t sure if I was doing the right thing in my work so I was anxious to show my teacher, but I got help of one of my class mates and asked to review my work and make any changes with me if anything was wrong. I then got my work checked from my teacher and he said “You need to be a bit more specific, and back up your data So I then improved on my graphs that I had gathered, changed the coloursand made my work more specific, backing up my research. I think that out of all my tasks my database was the best part, as I gathered a lot of data, and worked around it quite a bit. I found this part task very hard to understand but I kept my mind to it, and got the hang of it then it became easier to understand. The work was around finding out what a digital divide is and how it effected people indiuvally and in the society. I produced a report and a spreadsheet to evaluate results on how the Digital was effecting the development of groups and individuals globally. I had to show clear proof about what approached the digital divide to occur and how the lack of internet access around the world, mostly in the UK was effecting society around areas. I started of with explain what the term digital divide meant, which means a gap in the worlds of people who have internet access and people who don’t. I then researched on the net how it was effecting others around the world, the benefits and all the advantages, disadvantages etc.., and then explained them in a detailed way and typed it up in my report. To back my point up more I had gathered data from the internet, which was all graphs, and then pasted them into excel and made my own graphs so that they will be a bit more specific, and I could write more about them I then was given a set of data in a table which was known as the TBL survey of children in yr 8 and 9 who might or might not have access to the internet. From this survey I was asked to produce queries and evaluate the results in a spreadsheet using formulas and graphs. There were 189 records in the data. There were different formula’s I used for different purposes which helped me in analyzing the TBL data and come to an overall conclusion. The purpose of this was to show that the Digital Divide is happening and how people can overcome and benefit from this. I also produced queries in Microsoft Access to sub divide different the TBL survey into different catorites to try and help me understand why people might not have access to the internet. I was asked to find population statistics on many continents to show in regional parts of the world why individuals are unable to use a computer and the Internet. There were graphs and a lot of information on this. My teacher had helped us by given us some websites we could use in order to help us with our work. I was no comparing and showing others as readers how the digital divide is effecting us. Using my knowledge I applied it all to the digital divide essay and also added in all the information about the search engines, and then linked it back to the digital divide. I then just carried on doing research on the internet, finding out how the Digital divide is affecting us. There were many other graphs and information such as the digital divide within schools, schools in different countries and areas. This was very good to put in my essay, as it was backing up all my answers and giving me what I needed. I also added in all my reports and queries to help me get across my point, and show you as a reader what the data showed,. The essay was coming together finally, I was struggling to find and gather the correct data at 1st but in the end it all worked out well. I think If I worked hard at 1st to this unit of work I would of gathered more data, than what was expected. My essay started from the term digital divide, the effectiveness on others as indivuals etc, populations around the world which then lead to graphs, data from the internet and then using my own back up from data that I had been given from my teacher. The essay was making a lot of sense. I showed my teacher my work to see if I was on the right track, and he said, “Your doing fine Arun well done” I was pleased that all my hard work, and effort had paid of and my teacher was impressed with my work so far. In my spreadsheets I was asked to put all the data and graphs in one workbook and then from there I was asked to create macros. Macros are basically buttons that link you to other pages. My weaknesses were that I didn’t know much about the data that was given to me, so I had to be with my teacher at times and asked for his help meaning I couldn’t do much work at home around the data and graphs which lead me behind my work. I didn’t really understand the database overall, I didn’t understand how it was going to help me and the essay itself, but I asked one of my friends in the class to explain it carefully in more detail and she did. From then on I started working very well in my own time, but I still took it slow as I wasn’t sure if I was doing the correct thing. Sometimes my formulas were quite annoying because I came out with usual results which I thought were wrong but I finally understood they were because the two searches I was trying to combine didn’t really match together. Explaining in more detail the reports and queries that I created were strength because I had already used data bases, leading to create reports and queries, so this helped me quite a lot. It was also helpful because I knew how to produce them and how I could make the quality output more professional. I did about 6 queries and reports and then added them into my essay, if I added and created more queries into the essay I would of gained a better mark as it was backing up my point more than it is now, but I didn’t want to waste to much time so I carried on. I explained in detail each and every query I had and worked out the percentages also by the amount of records that were given in the data. I expanded on everything in the digital divide, making sure it was at high quality standard so that I can gain a good mark. Overall I think that my performance in this Unit of work went quite well, I worked to time consuming limit, and handed all my work in on time, not missing a deadline. I put a substantial amount of effort and I learnt new techniques which can help me in future, as I’m more open and confidential in using databases. I feel that this Unit of work has helped me improve my database skills, using graphs and analysing data. I came across a few problems when I was doing my work but they were solved with the help of my teacher discussing to the class on what was expected and also the help of my friends in the class. Whilst working on this project I have fully understood what the Digital Divide is and how fortunate people like me have access to the internet and will hopefully benefit me in the future and in any career job I take, considering ICT. More time would of bin a greater advantage for me, as I could of improved on my work in many ways, I could have made better and accurate graphs, I could have made more queries showing the data and all the reports and then I could of analysed them in more detail so that I would of gained a lot more marks than what I got. At start I didn’t enjoy this project at all, infact I wanted any excuse to get out of doing the work; however I knew I had to complete it so I concentrated very hard on what needed to be done and then got all my work done. I’m very pleased with my work as I did 17 pages of the essay and gained a mark for each and every page I did. After I got the hang of what I was doing and the purpose of this unit I was beginning to enjoy it, even though it was hard work gathering and analysing data I knew I had to stop being lasy and get my act together. So therefore I did and worked very hard one day and completed all the work which done me proud. I’ve never liked working with spreadsheets but in the end I enjoyed all the work for ICT, I don’t however think I put as much effort in this Unit of work as I didn’t in Unit 1, this was because I enjoyed that unit more than this one, but I still did all the work that was excepted in this Unit.