Chapter 8, Project 3

Why does Mr. Bailey give us these assignments? Just to bother us? I can't work on this now it isn't due until next week.

I can hear it now. The sound of nothing getting done. If you want to do well and understand networking you will give your latest assignment some thought. If you just copy something you find on the www then you probably won't gain any knowledge.

In order to come up with a network proposal you have to take into account what is needed by all concerned. This includes hardware, software, data, people and procedures. The same things we began talking about all the way back in Chapter 1. There are four of you sharing the network and the Internet connection, how will you avoid bottlenecks and downtime? Is it really possible for four students to all be downloading movies at the same time and still have enough bandwidth left over for surfing football sites? How are you going to keep those viruses out? If you go with wireless how can you stop people from squatting on your connection?

This assignment involves a little more than listing some devices. If you want to get full marks that is. It might be helpful for you to consider something from one of your exam markschemes about how writing is evaluated:

Level 0 0 marks
Inappropriate answer.

Level 1 1-2 marks
A brief and general answer.
Very limited knowledge of IT theory.
Very little or no reference to social implications.
Significant omissions of important information.

Level 2 3-5 marks
A limited, descriptive answer.
Some knowledge of basic IT theory.
Some reference to social issues.
Some relevant terms explained.
Some understanding of the ways facts or ideas may be related at the top of the band.

Level 3 6-7 marks
An understanding of the specific demands of the question.

A coherent and logically structured answer.
A sound knowledge of IT theory.
Appropriate reference to social issues.
An attempt to show underlying assumptions and important relationships at the top of the band.

Level 4 8-10 marks
Clear understanding of the specific demands of the question.
A detailed, coherent and logically structured answer.
Good knowledge of IT theory.
Appropriate reference to social issues.
Where appropriate, examples have been used.
Evidence of appropriate evaluation, although it may be unbalanced at the lower end of the band.
An appraisal is made at the top end of the band.
No major errors.

Your assignment is worth ten marks isn't it? So I guess if you want the full mark you have to do those things that are listed for Level 4. Think about what this might mean and I will give you some more advice in a couple of days.

Minutes spent on planning can avoid hours spent on fixing.