LO1: Students will describe theadvantages and disadvantages ofencoding data

LO2: Students will describe and giveexamples of a range of validationmethods and their purpose

We collect data for a purpose.

If the data that has been collectedcannot be organised in such a waythat it can be used for the originalpurpose then it is worthless.

There needs to be some methodof standardising the informationso that it is fulfils its purpose andis organised.• One method is known as encoding data

…

Download the lesson here: Encoding + Validation (PDF)

LO1: Students will compare the use of staticinformation sources with dynamic sources

LO2: Students will describe the effects of quality ofinformation produced: accuracy, relevance, age,completeness, presentation, level of detail

An information source is arepository of data that can beaccessed when required.

There are two main types of information source:

static and dynamic

Download the lesson here: Information Sources (PDF)

An adjustment or rather a paradigm shift to the normal constructed view of how we use everyday computers.

The focus of the Chromebook is not the platform or the hardware itself, but the in the infrastructure the Chromebook delivers, not a wondrous new device that will revolutionise the way we use technology in our everyday lives.

The infrastructure in question is the Internet. The tools are Google. Online storage of files, online use of office applications, socialising, researching – online, online, online.

No desktop, no hard drive. These are the first ‘constructed’ barriers to be overcome. I say constructed, because this way of using a computer has been created by the likes of Microsoft and Apple.

Back to the device: Well built, thin, sturdy, instant turn on. All things that I immediately like. Before I used the device, I did begin to ponder about how much I actually use the Web – and, well, it startled me.

My computing life resembles something like this:

1) – Turn on computer
2) – Wait for it load (or wake from ‘sleep’)
3) – Wait for all the software to load (taskbar, toolbar, wi-fi etc)
4) – Immediately click on a Web browser.
5) – Check email.
6) – Check news (online).
7) – Continue to do what it was that I intended to do (perhaps office or something similar)

Don’t get me wrong, I like the Internet, but I also like my comfortable and safe way of using a computer (usually Windows) – and this Chromebook has removed my safety net (no pun intended).

After trying to get over a missing desktop, no hard drive and no-where to play my extensive music-library (I may have to put some albums on an SD card and play them from there). I begin my ‘cloud’ journey – but it isn’t just the cloud that is the main ingredient here. There is a much bigger picture yet to be uncovered.

I must also try to remember that I am using the Chromebook after being generously handed a rather large budget to elevate technology in my current place of work, (a school) in order for every child to be ‘enabled’ through a digital device. As you have probably guessed, it’s a large budget!

There are other implications than just the best device. Toughness and durability. Battery life. The device going wrong. Technical support. Using the device in the classroom. And of course, will it actually be of any use or value to students and staff alike.

I mentioned that Chromebook brings with it an ‘infrastructure’, and with that (if anyone has a Google account) you begin to realise what I mean. A Google account unlocks Google’s version of the Web. That is, a version of the ‘cloud’ (Google Docs, YouTube, Gmail, Picassa, Google+, Google Maps, Google Earth, Google Calendar, Blogs, Google Books and of course, the Chrome Store (an app store)).

What Google has done, is tethered these services through a Google account username@GOOGLE.com or thereabouts. What Google have surprised many by, is that they introduced Google Apps for Education and Business. This means that you can purchase a domain E.g. www.YOUR-DOMAIN.com and create users from this domain: user@YOUR-DOMAIN.com …

Once a user has a ‘Google’ log in (under your-domain), they have access to all of Google’s services – I.e. the ‘infrastructure’ becoming clearer. Narrowing this experience through their ‘narrow’ device means users are being channelled into a simplistic, tied-together online experience.

This means that the infrastructure at your organisations ‘technical head-quarters’ (the scary broom-cupboard where all of the socially inept technical-support-gods spend their time) is being sub-contracted out to Google.

Now, by using a Chromebook, you allow user@YOUR-DOMAIN.com to log into Google infrastructure. You are channelling them to this infrastructure – thus making your existing computing infrastructure obsolete. Or are you?

‘Usually’, an organisation will have a ‘server’ that manages your users. (Microsoft Exhange?). This handles all log-ins, and restricts access to certain features of a client-computer (E.g. changing the desktop wallpaper or being able to right-click).

This becomes negated now, as the log-ins are handled by Google and your Google Apps. Not to mention the Chromebook doesn’t actually need restrictions (just a Web browser!???).

‘Usually’, an organisation will have a ‘server’ that manages the software for the users. (Microsoft Office et al). Now, because Google Apps includes Google Docs, the office software (equivalent) is now on the ‘cloud’, running straight from the Web-browser (I’m not here to argue the quality or merit of the online-office version), but to highlight that ‘the’ software is now cloud-based, not software-hardware based.

No more sever for the software then?

‘Usually’, an organisation will have a ‘server’ that manages the email of the users (Microsoft Exchange, Outlook). The email is now handled through Google’s Gmail service.

No more email server then?

It goes on and on like this, and the questions that are asked are very real. Google claim it saves on average $4,000+ per user, per year. Based on licensing costs of software and costs of the back-end server (now not-needed), I struggle to mount an argument.

What about quality? What are you really getting? This remains to be seen. The quality of the ‘cloud-software’ and services are not as good as the software-hardware based versions (at least in my opinion).

The hardware of the Chromebook is certainly a match for any Netbook, but if it isn’t delivering the same software-hardware, what is the point? I feel that the hardware in the Chromebook is excellent, resulting in a super-quick experience, driven by the fact that there is nothing to run. I mean, no operating system (OS) as such (it’s a Web browser). No running-blocked applications to multi-task and no OS to ensure they all work with each other.

The OS spends much of it’s time ensuring the ‘kids’ (various software) play well together and don’t fight. This ‘fighting’ is what causes conflicts (crashes) and system failures.

I have been spending as much time as possible on the Chromebook – and I really love the fact it is so simple. It is a similar feeling when one spends time on or with a Mac. Everything is simplified (albeit even more greatly so on the Chromebook), but everything works – and as an Open Source advocate, I get a warm feeling inside knowing that I contributing to open-ness, perhaps through a veil of clouded Google obscurity heading towards globalisation – but that’s another trail of thought …

Sometimes I get a nervous feeling that I can’t do something – perhaps using a photo-editing software, or something that needs a bit more oomph or gusto on the behalf of the device. This is where I need to remind myself who will be using this devicee. As much as I am addicted to Photoshop, this device is not going to be designing magazine-edited front covers. They aren’t going to be designing flyers or posters on this thing (although an app in the Chromestore says I am mistaken). It will be used by people on the go, who will pull out their device – want it instantly on, and to do what they do on their phone, only quicker. I have a computer with all of my favourite software – I must remember this an extension to my office, not a replacement. Even now, sitting in a coffee shop. The battery has another 8 hours left, so I don’t need to wolf-down my muffin before the device stops. I do the basic tasks I need, then anything more demanding, I go home, boot-up my computer, pull down from the ‘cloud’ whatever it was I needed the ‘main’ computer for, and continue.

The infrastructure, of which I have already touched upon, is fantastic. If I were to start up a medium to small business, I would have one server, perhaps running a networked printer, the manager of the Internet connection (router + Wi Fi), and perhaps some software that needed a high-spec machine to run it (Photoshop), then all of the ‘office’ employees would have a Chromebook with a Google Apps account. No doubt. What do ‘office’ employees really need? The Web to check their Facebook during office hours, YouTube to watch a cat playing a piano in their breaks, and the homogenised office software that enables them to fulful mundane administrative duties.

The Chromestore should keep their interest involved in the device, and the cross-platform ability of linking your mobile device (which-ever operating system), and syncing everything together – brilliant. Love it. How much? Genuinely a fraction of the cost of running this ‘in-house’.

As you can probably tell, my enthusiasm (as the more I write and spend time with the device) grows. I have just spent some time installing ‘apps’ from the Chromestore (not to be confused with Android Market). It’s essentially Android Market, but for the Web browser. And I am not only impressed by the quality (and improvements) in Web based functionality, but also the fact that I log onto my ‘normal’ computer, run Google Chrome (Web browser) on my Windows machine, and everything is there – just like running a Chromebook. All of my apps, settings, favourites. It feels like an OS within an OS (which technically it is – before anyone points out the obviousness of that!).

I haven’t been this excited since ‘tinkering’ with WordPress.org

–
Mathew Brown

After escalation to our senior technicians it appears that there was a block initiated on the domain in November 2011 when the site was archived after it had been used to send large amounts of spam (ticket ref XXXXXXXXX). This bock is the reason you’ve been experiencing issues.

Our senior staff have removed this blockage and you should now be able to send mail as normal. Please accept our apologies for the delay in resolving this issue. If you have any further questions please get back in touch.

 

So, contact form is back to normal.

Sorry for the delay.

This is a short video I used to help students to understand filtering and sorting data.

The video also includes VLOOKUP. I used this spreadsheet for the practical part.

Purple Spiders – Excel

I’m having contact form issues.

Something do with the hosting / server.

Hoping to fix this ASAP.

–

27/01/2012

Just updated the contact form.
I’m using Google Docs for my contact form, until the server issues are resolved.

Contact me here.

Apologies for the delay in adding new ‘stuff’ here.

I’m hoping to get all of my A Level ICT (OCR) presentations and resources on here during January 2012.

The next plan is to put all of my GCSE ICT (EdExcel) presentations and resources on here during February 2012.

That is the plan at least …

I’m struggling to find time to put everything I have, up here.

A2 Level ICT

01 – The systems cycle > Lesson 01

LO1: Students will acquire the knowledge ofdifferent methods that can be used to gatherthe information during the investigation andanalysis stage

LO2: Students will evaluate & improve softwaredevelopment methodologies: prototyping andrapid application development (RAD)

Download the lesson plan Different approaches.pdf

AS Level ICT

01 – Data information knowledge and processing > Lesson 03

LO1: Students will acquire the knowledge and be able to describe different data types(Boolean, real, integer, string, date/time)

LO2: Students will describe different sourcesfrom which data can be derived and explainthe advantages and disadvantages

Download the lesson - Data Types.pdf

AS Level ICT

01 – Data information knowledge and processing > Lesson 02

LO1: Students will acquire the knowledgeand be able to discuss representationmethods to convey meaning

LO2: Students will describe what is meantby the term knowledge and distinguishbetween information and knowledge

Download the lesson - Knowledge + Meaning PDF