Any last questions?

[billz1508]

Hey all, it is just around the corner, which scares me considering i havn't done much study on i.t. lately, but getting stuck into it. Just created this post, to quickly discuss any questions which have puzzled u in some prac exams, and/or you were quite suprised with the actual answer.

Anyone got dotpoints on type of viruses and stuff.
Worms -
Trojan Horse -
A Worm -

ETC.. Would be greatful.. Goodluck everyone and hope you all get that A-A+'s.

[codykm]

Trojan Horse: is malware that appears to perform a desirable function but in fact, facilitates unauthorized access to the user's computer.
Worms: its a self replicating application which uses a network to send copies of itself to other computers, and it does it without any users having to do anything

[ell]

I've uploaded my old (a bit incomplete) Software Development notes:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57727/ITSD-StudyDesignNotes.pdf

It has a whole table on threats to data integrity (e.g. viruses, worms, Trojans + others) which you might find useful. There's also notes on other topics that you might find useful too, just ignore the Software Development ones.

I'll also upload this to the main VCENotes database, but that sometimes takes a while to show up so I figured I'd upload it externally first.

[billz1508]

thankyou alot .. appreciate it muchly.

[Vadnal]

As long as you have a basic knowledge of the differences between the different viruses, that's all you need as they are generally multiple choice questions and don't require you to define them.

EDIT: What are the advantages of a spreadsheet/database and disadvantages of each.
Also what is the extent we need to know about databases/spreadsheets, basic formulas and validation rules?

[billz1508]

true true. i should had studied bit earlier. why am i finding some of the 2009 prac exams, alot harder than previous years ^o).. bit odd i donno, but im still getting them pretty right which i guess is ok.

[codykm]

As long as you have a basic knowledge of the differences between the different viruses, that's all you need as they are generally multiple choice questions and don't require you to define them.

EDIT: What are the advantages of a spreadsheet/database and disadvantages of each.
Also what is the extent we need to know about databases/spreadsheets, basic formulas and validation rules?

Advantages of spreadsheet:
 - Format cells
 - Formulae
 - More efficient at copying and duplicating blocks of information

Advantages of databases:
 - Unique fields
 - Queries
 - Relationships
 - Formulae

Disadvantages of spreadsheets:
 - Specific software knowledge needed
 - Requires time to prepare

Disadvantages of databases:
 - Systems are complex, difficult, and time-consuming to design
 - Initial training required for all programmers and users

Couldn't really think of many, I hope we don't get asked that question in the exam

[RainerWolfram]

For the advantages of the spreadsheet in contrast to databases, it can handle much more complex and 'number crunching' calculations. With databases, you can only use basic maths functions.

-A database can produce record-by-record output (e.g. invoices, certificates) which spreadsheets are hopeless at
-A database can be used by numerous people over a network
-However, you need some foundation or understanding in order to use the functions of a database and make queries fpr example

[methodsboy]

For the advantages of the spreadsheet in contrast to databases, it can handle much more complex and 'number crunching' calculations. With databases, you can only use basic maths functions.

-A database can produce record-by-record output (e.g. invoices, certificates) which spreadsheets are hopeless at
-A database can be used by numerous people over a network
-However, you need some foundation or understanding in order to use the functions of a database and make queries fpr example

-end users require training
-DBMS can reduce the duplication of data through related tables
- Data can be filtered/sorted through queries/reports
etc.

[codykm]

Okay I just tried to do a few practise exams from VITTA and i found myself struggling quite a bit.
Anyone got a quick way of learning about the legal and ethical bullshit that we need to know? I found that most of my errors were in those sections, also whats a good way to understand effectiveness? efficiency i know well because its just; cost, time and effort, however effectiveness seems to be really broad.

Cheers

[kempa]

Okay I just tried to do a few practise exams from VITTA and i found myself struggling quite a bit.
Anyone got a quick way of learning about the legal and ethical bullshit that we need to know? I found that most of my errors were in those sections, also whats a good way to understand effectiveness? efficiency i know well because its just; cost, time and effort, however effectiveness seems to be really broad.

Cheers

Print this out and stick it everywhere has all necessary information regarding
http://www.mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au/vceit/revision-ita.htm#u4o2

[RainerWolfram]

Okay I just tried to do a few practise exams from VITTA and i found myself struggling quite a bit.
Anyone got a quick way of learning about the legal and ethical bullshit that we need to know? I found that most of my errors were in those sections, also whats a good way to understand effectiveness? efficiency i know well because its just; cost, time and effort, however effectiveness seems to be really broad.

Cheers

I normally refer to effectiveness as completeness, accuracy, presentation, relevance and overall quality of the information product.



Do you think examiners will read answers that are not in the writing lines? Sometimes I run out of space and I need to write a few words outside the lines.

[codykm]

thanks

and yeah, i have the same question as daniel, as sometimes i run out of space :S

[ell]

Okay I just tried to do a few practise exams from VITTA and i found myself struggling quite a bit.
Anyone got a quick way of learning about the legal and ethical bullshit that we need to know? I found that most of my errors were in those sections, also whats a good way to understand effectiveness? efficiency i know well because its just; cost, time and effort, however effectiveness seems to be really broad.

Cheers

The legal and ethical questions are largely based on common sense, so there isn't really a quick method to get better at these. That being said, when I did ITA I found that knowing the 11 Privacy Principles (or however many there were) really helped when answering these questions, since I was able to relate every scenario I encountered with at least one of those principles.

As for effectiveness, the easiest way I remembered it was: it's not efficiency i.e. if it mentions any time, cost or effort related terms I'd know immediately it was efficiency.

If you want to get more technical, effectiveness is how well the solution achieves the original goals (excluding those goals concerning time, cost and effort).

An example - if the goal was to make some sort of 'help' application:
- The user benefits from the help given from the help application (effective)
- The user can find help from the application easier (efficient).   

[ell]

Do you think examiners will read answers that are not in the writing lines? Sometimes I run out of space and I need to write a few words outside the lines.

Yeah, they will, as long as it's not too much. I had to write outside the lines because I'd crossed something out and had less space to work with.

Normally, though, you shouldn't be going over the lines. If you go over, you're writing too much (unless you have big handwriting).