Level 2 Digital Technology
Course Description
Teacher in Charge: Mr I. Karota.
This course requires students to undertake technological practice to create ‘fit for purpose’ digital outcomes, and use a range of tools and enhancements.
As a part of this practice, students engage in developing, testing, and evaluating functional models to generate and test their own design ideas and outcomes. These outcomes are then assessed against the specified requirements.
Students will acquire the necessary skills to write code in a suitable programming language for creating computer programs that perform specific tasks.
1. Computer Program (Internal Assessment)
This achievement standard involves using advanced programming techniques to develop a computer program.
The assessment activity requires that the students develop a computer program in an appropriate programming language that is well-structured and tested.
Examples might include a fast-food ordering system, a quiz program or an interactive game.
Any programming language is acceptable as long as it allows student’s programs to include:
- Variables storing at least two types of data (e.g. numeric, text, Boolean)
- Sequence, selection and iteration control structures
- Input from a user, sensor(s), or another external source(s)
- Output of some description.
The step-up from Level 1 is the requirement for students to program using advanced programming techniques which are clearly specified in the Standard, and to test and debug the program effectively.
Student programs must demonstrate two or more advanced programming techniques may include:
- Modifying data stored in collections (e.g. lists, arrays, dictionaries).
- Defining and manipulating multidimensional data in collections.
- Creating methods, functions, or procedures that use parameters and/or return values.
- Responding to events generated by a graphical user interface (GUI).
- Non-basic string manipulation.
2. Use advanced process to develop a Digital Media outcome (Internal Assessment)
The assessment activity requires that the students use an advanced process to develop a digital media outcome.
Students are required to:-
- Using appropriate project management tools and techniques to plan the development of a digital technologies outcome.
- Decomposing the outcome into smaller components.
- Trialling the components of the digital technologies outcome.
- Testing that the digital technologies outcome functions as intended.
- Explaining relevant implications.
- Using advanced processes to develop a refined digital technologies outcome involves how the information from planning, testing and trialling of components assisted in the development of high quality outcome.
3. Use advanced techniques to develop a digital media outcome such as a Website with frontend and backend connectivity (Internal Assessment)
Use advanced techniques to develop a digital media outcome involves:
- Using appropriate tools and techniques for the purpose and end users.
- Applying appropriate data integrity and testing procedures
- Using relevant conventions for the media type.
- Explaining relevant implications.
Use advanced techniques to develop an informed digital media outcome involves:
- Using information from testing procedures to improve the quality of the outcome.
- Applying relevant conventions to improve the quality of the outcome.
- Addressing relevant implications.
Use advanced techniques to develop a refined digital media outcome involves:
- Iterative improvement throughout the design, development and testing process to produce a high-quality outcome
- Using efficient tools and techniques in the outcome’s production.
4. Computer Science Concept (External Assessment)
The specific concepts of computer science will be selected from:
- Computer Security
- Encryption
- Error Control
- Complexity and Tractability
- Artificial Intelligence.
Course Overview
Term 1
Constructing a software program focuses on constructing a computer program for a specified task including testing and debugging the program to ensure the program works correctly.
Initially, students learn to construct basic computer programs in any programming language (drag-and-drop language, specialised programming language, or a general-purpose programming language) that includes:
Variables, assignment, predefined actions, expressions, and sequence, selection, and iteration control structures; and obtains and uses input from a user, sensors, or other external source.
Students progress to constructing complex computer programs using a text-based programming language
Term 2
Akonga learn to:
• Independently implement a plan to construct an advanced program, in a suitable programming language, where the modules (including their procedural structures) constitute a well-structured logical decomposition of the task.
• Use variables, constants, and derived values effectively to increase the flexibility and robustness of a program.
• Set out a program's code clearly and document the program with variable and module names and comments that explain and justify code function and behaviour.
• Comprehensively test and debug the program in an organised and time‑effective way to ensure that it is correct on expected, boundary and invalid inputs.
Term 3
Initially students learn to perform a set of techniques, as instructed, to produce a digital media outcome. Students should progress to integrating digital media types using complex tools and techniques (eg, Web design: HTML/CSS, scripting dynamic data handling, interaction between user and content, multiple device outputs.
Akonga learn to :
• Select software based on the features of the program(s) that enable media types to be created, edited and integrated.
• Use advanced tools and techniques to edit and integrate digital media types to create a digital media outcome.
• Apply advanced formatting techniques, design elements, and data integrity and testing procedures, to ensure a digital media outcome meets the specifications.
• Follow legal, ethical, and moral responsibilities as appropriate to a digital media outcome.
• Show accuracy and independence in the application of advanced tools, techniques and testing procedures.
• Apply tools, techniques and testing procedures in a manner that economises the use of resources in a digital media outcome's production and usability.
Term 4
Akonga learn to:
• Compare and contrast different ways in which different types of data can be represented using bits and discuss the implications.
• Discuss how a widely used technology is enabled by one or more compression coding, error control coding, and encryption to enable suggest improvements to a given human-computer interface based on an evaluation in terms of simple usability heuristics.
• About computer security, spam emails, two-factor authentication, reCAPTCHA, common issues, steps individuals should take to protect their data, data privacy, ways to protect individual computers and computers managed by an organisation, policies or practices of a multi-national corporation.
• About encryption, which covers: passwords, HTTP(S), any major development in encryption (e.g. private/public key), policies, or practices of a
multi-national technology corporation.
• About artificial intelligence, which covers: online chat, common issues, self-driving cars, evaluating, adoption, policies, or practices of a multi-national technology corporation*.
Recommended Prior Learning
Level 1 Digital Technology course is a requirement.
Experience in other Level 1 Technology courses may be considered.
- If you are selecting this subject without the recommended prior learning, your acceptance is subject to HoD approval.
Pathway
Credit Information
You will be assessed in this course through all or a selection of the standards listed below.
External
NZQA Info
Digital Technologies and Hangarau Matihiko 2.4 - Use advanced techniques to develop a digital media outcome
NZQA Info
Digital Technologies and Hangarau Matihiko 2.7 - Use advanced programming techniques to develop a computer program
NZQA Info
Digital Technologies and Hangarau Matihiko 2.8 - Use advanced processes to develop a digital technologies outcome
NZQA Info
Digital Technologies and Hangarau Matihiko 2.9 - Demonstrate understanding of a computer science concept
Pathway Possibilities
Animator/Digital Artist, Administration Officer, Advertising Specialist, Copywriter, Air Force Airman/Airwoman, Air Force Officer, Product Assembler, Building Surveyor, Architect, Architectural Technician, Archivist, Army Officer, Army Soldier, Artist, Film and Video Editor, Medical Physicist, Sound Technician, Tailor/Dressmaker, Biomedical Technician, Naval Architect, Mechanical Engineer, Film/Television Camera Operator, Delivery Driver, Insurance Claims Officer, Cutter, Sewing Machinist, Trainer, Journalist, Graphic Designer, Communications Professional, Telecommunications Engineer, Conservator, Quantity Surveyor, Technical Writer, Dairy Farmer, Editor, Data Entry Operator/Transcriptionist, Personal Assistant, Records Adviser, Energy and Chemical Plant Operator, Information Technology Architect, Media Producer, Production Assistant (Film, Television, Radio or Stage), Landscape Architect, Joiner, Librarian, Library Assistant, Security Officer/Guard, Refrigeration/Air-conditioning Technician, Navy Sailor, Navy Officer, Office Manager, Pulp and Paper Mill Operator, Parking Officer, Payroll Officer, Photographer, Printer, Real Estate Agent, Wood Processing Worker, Signmaker, Travel Agent/Adviser, User Experience Designer, Security Consultant, Data Analyst, Scrum Master, Dairy, Epidemiologist, Receptionist, Patternmaker, Civil Engineer, Clinical Coder, Intelligence Officer, Mining Engineer, Auditor, Business Analyst, Software Developer, Chemist, Electronics Engineer, Automotive Electrician, Biomedical Engineer, Meteorologist, Fashion Designer, Industrial Designer, Information Technology Helpdesk/Support Technician, Information Technology Manager, Systems Administrator, Graphic Pre-press Worker, Engineering Machinist, Game Developer, Glass Processor, Recycler/Dismantler, Test Analyst, Network Administrator, Geospatial Specialist, Security Analyst, Penetration Tester, Accounts Officer, Office Administrator, Sales and Marketing Manager, Air Force Aviator, Radio Presenter, Production Assistant (Film, Television, Radio or Stage), Dairy Farm Manager, Locksmith,
Disclaimer
Availability of teaching staff and the final decision is at the discretion of the Head of Department.
Minimum class sizes.
Course structure and activities are subject to change.
Availability of teaching staff and the final decision is at the discretion of the Head of Department.
Meeting any course entry requirements
Minimum class sizes.
Course structure and activities are subject to change.
Availability of teaching staff and the final decision is at the discretion of the Head of Department.
Course structure and activities are subject to change.
Availability of teaching staff and the final decision is at the discretion of the Head of Department.