Computing Skills Assessment
at Year 10

Draft Competencies — Core and Extension

December 2001

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December 2001

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COMPUTING SKILLS ASSESSMENT AT YEAR 10

2nd DRAFT of COMPETENCIES

Core Competencies

Students can:

1.Operate effectively within the desktop environment

Indicators
a)Start up and shut down a computer safely
b)Use a computer control panel
c)Manage, organise and arrange files and directories/folders
d)Copy, delete, move and rename files and directories/folders
e)Move and resize windows – maximise and minimise windows
f)Use the operating system to find features to locate specific files

g)Demonstrate understanding of ergonomic and OH&S issues related to computer use

2.Perform basic operations within computer software packages

Indicators
a)Open a required software package
b)Create a new document
c)Work with an existing document template
d)Amend an existing document
e)Save a document in a specified location
f)Save a document in a specified format other than the default format (save as, read only)

g)Use an application’s ‘Help’ facility

3.Perform core application tasks common to all software applications

Indicators
a)Apply basic text formatting changes such as fonts, sizes and colours, and attributes such as bold, italic and underline
b)Cut, copy and paste information from one location to another
c)Print a selection/range of pages
d)Set print options such as paper size and orientation, and select a printer
e)Use the Australian version of editing/proofing tools such as Spellchecker, Thesaurus and Find/Replace
f)Insert a graphic image from a clipart collection
g)Insert a graphic image from an external file
h)Apply alignment properties to text

i)Use ‘wizards’/‘daemons’ within applications

4.Demonstrate basic word-processing skills as they create, work with and modify text documents

Indicators
a)Insert headers and footers
b)Create section and page breaks
c)Create multiple columns of text
d)Use tabs and indents
e)Use bullets and numbering
f)Create tables and format cell size

5.Demonstrate basic spreadsheets skills as they create, work with and modify files

Indicators
a)Use cell addresses to locate a cell
b)Understand the concepts of text, numbers and formulae in a cell
c)Understand the concept of a range of cells
d)Use basic mathematical operations (+, -, *, /, ^) to construct simple formulae
e)Construct formulae using absolute and relative references
f)Use basic functions (sum, average, max, min, count)
g)Sort information according to desired criteria
h)Fill cell contents using commands (Fill down, Fill right)
i)Create appropriate charts based on spreadsheet data
j)Set a print area of a spreadsheet

6.Demonstrate basic database skills to create, work with and modify files

Indicators
a)Understand basic database terminology (fields, records, files)
b)Use basic search techniques to find information in an existing database
c)Create a simple (flat file) database
d)Sort information according to desired criteria
e)Add and delete records to an existing database
f)Discriminate between form and list views

7.Demonstrate basic multimedia skills to create, work with and modify multimedia-based files

Indicators
a)Identify the components of a multimedia presentation
b)Design and plan a multimedia presentation, eg storyboarding
c)Demonstrate an awareness of screen design principles
d)Insert media elements in a digital form (photograph, sound, video, scanning etc)
e)Create and present a linear multimedia presentation

8.Demonstrate basic graphics skills in creating, working with and modifying images

Indicators

a)Choose an appropriate image file format and size for a given purpose
b)Create, move, resize, reshape and crop objects
c)Change the layer order of multiple objects, eg move to back
d)Align and group multiple objects
e)Include and edit text

9.Conduct research using information and communication technologies

Indicators
a)Access data stored on CD-ROMs, private computer networks and the Internet
b)Use a search engine to find desired information
c)Demonstrate compliance with legal and ethical issues related to plagiarism, copyright and intellectual property

d)Download and save a document as text

e)Select an appropriate search engine when using the Internet

f)Download and save a file from the Internet

10.Demonstrate Internet / Intranet communication skills, including use of email

Indicators
a)Check, create, send and reply to email
b)Send an attachment with an email
c)Demonstrate an understanding of accepted online ‘netiquette’
d)Understand safe working practices relating to potential virus threats

Extension Competencies

Students can:

1.Demonstrate advanced word-processing skills as they create, work with and modify text documents

Indicators

a)Set margins
b)Line spacing

c)Use the ‘merge’ feature in appropriate situations

d)Use the customising feature

e)Use footnotes

f)Use styles

g)Create a form letter

2.Demonstrate advanced spreadsheets skills as they create, work with and modify files

Indicators
a)Use the ‘paste special’ functions
b)Select non-continuous ranges of cells in creating and organising charts
c)Apply filters on data
d)Use multiple sheets

3.Demonstrate advanced database skills to create, work with and modify files

Indicators
a)Create a report according to desired criteria

b)Create a data input form

c)Distinguish between numeric and text fields

d)Use searches and queries to find desired information

e)Create relational databases

4.Demonstrate advanced multimedia skills to create, work with and modify multimedia-based files

Indicators
a)Create and present a non-linear multimedia presentation
b)Discriminate between different file formats and their respective uses and limitations (eg tiff, gif, mpeg, jpeg)

c)Demonstrate interface principles

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December 2001