Applied Computing Unit 4: Software Development

Prerequisites

Applied Computing Unit 3: Software Development.

Course Description

In this unit students focus on how the information needs of individuals and organisations are met through the creation of software solutions used in a networked environment. They continue to study the programming language used in Unit 3.

Areas of Study

Software Development: Development and Evaluation

Students further develop their computational thinking skills by using the programming language studied in Unit 3 to transform the design they prepared in Unit 3, Outcome 2 into a software solution.

Students prepare a usability test that addresses the core features of their solution. The test must be undertaken by at least two other users and the results recorded. Students can make any necessary adjustments to their solution based on these results.

During the project students apply techniques to record their progress on their plan, achievement of milestones, modifications to the plan to show adjustments and annotations to explain these modifications. Students evaluate the quality of their solution using criteria developed in Unit 3 and they assess the effectiveness of their project plan in managing their project.

Cybersecurity: Software Security

Organisations are increasingly dependent on the use of software to achieve their goals and objectives. In this area of study students focus on the security risks to software and data during the software development process and throughout the use of the software solution by an organisation. Students analyse and evaluate the security of current software development practices, examine the risks to software and data, and consider the consequences of implementing software with ineffective security strategies. Physical and software controls, security vulnerabilities, web application and third-party software risks are investigated. Students recommend risk management strategies to improve current practices, taking into account the key legal requirements and ethical issues faced by an organisation.

Software Tools

Students study the following tools in this unit:

Software Development.
Development and Evaluation.
Python (continuing from Unit 3).

Assessment

Outcomes	Assessment Tasks	Marks Allocated
Outcomes	(school-assessed coursework)	Marks Allocated
SAT - Develop and evaluate a software solution that meets requirements, evaluate the effectiveness of the development model and assess the effectiveness of the project plan.	A software solution that meets the software requirements specification AND Preparation and conduction of usability tests AND • an evaluation of the efficiency and effectiveness of the software solution. • an evaluation of the effectiveness of the selected development model. • an assessment of the effectiveness of the project plan (Gantt chart) in monitoring project progress. in one of the following: • a written report. • an annotated visual plan.	100
SAC - Respond to a teacher-provided case study to examine the current software development security strategies of an organisation, identify the risks and the consequences of ineffective strategies and recommend a risk management plan to improve current security practices.	The student’s performance will be assessed using one of the following: • a case study with structured questions. • a report in written format. • a report in multimedia format.	100

Overall Final Assessment

Graded Assessment	Title	Assessment	Exam Duration	Contribution to Study Score (%)
1	Unit 3 Coursework	School-assessed coursework		10
	Unit 3 Task (Part 1)	School-assessed task		15
2	Unit 4 Coursework	School-assessed coursework		10
	Unit 4 Task (Part 2)	School-assessed task		15
3	Written Examination	November	2 hours	50