Sunday, August 23, 2015

Business Quest Unit: Criterion A: Inquiring and Analysis

Criterion A: Inquiring and Analysis


At the end of the design cycle, you will produce an appropriate product that can address any business problem. You have the option of creating a game, designing a website, developing a video or documentary, create a commercial, create a tutorial,  animation, interactive online publication, etc
Capture; key concept- communities, related concept- markets and trends and global context-global economics, AK strand/s Economics for development, Ethics, Leaner profile; communicator, stewards, Caring



Challenge
Many businesses have problems that can be solved easily by introducing new or existing 

information technology solutions. The digital solutions can transform a business in terms 
of sales or enhance the organization's and the documentation of the business operations.


Your task is to identify a business related challenge that can be addressed or solved using 

an IT based solution. The problem should be clearly described and the client's current way 
of addressing the situation described. The problem description should include the current
 limitations the client is facing and detailed explanation of why you think an IT solution 
will be the best. 


Students may ask the following questions to identify a problem from the situation.

What is the nature of the problem?
Who is it a problem for?
Where is the problem occurring?
What is the cause of the problem?
What effect is the problem having?

Strategies to answer the above questions may include:

Sample Problem Justification yr 9

Criterion A: Inquiring and Analysing
Maximum: 8
Students identify the need for a solution to a problem. At the end of year 5, students should
 be able to:
         i. explain and justify the need for a solution to a problem for a specified client/target  audience: (clearly identify the client/target audience) 2 Pages
Have introduction to the unit by highlighting; Global Context, Key Concept, AK strand/s and Learner profile. 
Explain the background of the problem facing the client/target audience, discuss this problem and how long it has persisted,  show how it has affected the client and community, show how the client is in dire need for solution. Give examples of social challenges arising from this problem, show how an IT solution will be better placed to solve this problem and share the benefits to the client if the problem is solved.
-Two things to consider; 1) Detailed Background information on the business.
2) Clear and to the point problem Justification.


Make sure you identify and justify:
a) What is the problem?
b) Whose problem is it? ( identify the client/target audience)
c) Where is the problem occurring? ( identify the situation)
d) What is the cause of the problem? 
e) What effect is the problem?

score 7-8:
- A detailed explanation and justification of the problem, using atleast 3 aspectsof well
developed evidence/ supporting research (statistics, quotations, surveys, images, interviews...)
 which go beyond simply describing and explaining both the topic and audience, to explain and justify 
how they are connected.

- Use MLA formatting, spelling and grammar, with only a few errors.

     ii.   identify and prioritize primary and secondary research needed to develop a solution to the problem: 2 Pages
( clearly identify which sources are primary and secondary and demonstrate understanding of each)
- construct a detailed research plan which identifies and prioritizes the primary and secondary research needed to develop the solution to the problem. Show the what you need to research, how you will gather the info,(primary/secondary), when the task will be completed.
- follow the research plan to collect your detailed information from primary/secondary sources.
- Let your research question cover the business problem and the IT tools in detail.


- Independently generate 12+ detailed SMART and appropriate questions, which are clearly prioritized (Top 3 must be in a logical order) and identified as the specific type of primary and secondary research sources, to help develop the solution focused on:
-- Client
❏ ‐ Time
❏ ‐ Resources
❏ ‐ Function
❏ ‐ Aesthetics

❏ ‐ Technical Skills

             What?
            Task/Question                
                Priority
            Why is it important?
               Where to gather info?
                     (sources)
           When to be completed?








































   
TAKE A POLL ON PROGRESS:

iii.        analyse a range of existing products that inspire a solution to the problem: 4 Pages
(have a clear analysis of exixstingn products IT tools and finished products which can solve the same problem)
Discuss different IT tools and products; in each type show examples and how they  work plus their images;  ( software; websites, animations, games, apps,...) you intend to use, in each categories show examples and how they  work plus their images, advantages and disadvantages. Their rating/statistical performance of the existing products other companies have used....
Finally select one out of the list of tools e.g animation justify why it is the best solution than the rest for the problem, show the different types of your IT solution, e.g different animations software and select one animation software that you will use explaining how it work with supporting images  

- 4+ products are all analyzed in detail (using ACCESS FM and/or Parts, purposes, complexities thinking routines, etc..). Appropriate usage of subject specific vocabulary ‐ the elements of design ‐ Aesthetic and functional elements.
    iv.        develop a detailed design brief, which summarizes the analysis of relevant research. 2 Pages ( produce a design brief that summarizes their research and then links it to the client/target audience)
- write a detailed design brief that outlines, the client/target audience opinion, the experts opinion, and your personal opinion. discuss the IT tool you will use, discuss the key features of the tool, specifications  and its benefits to the client based on your research.
- Your design brief should cover all relevant areas of your research and explaining in detail why you do not use IT tools (these) plus justifications and why you will use this and justifications.

- Write a summary of the collected research, with appropriate images, which tie together the findings from the student’s research and how it will affect their project. Include a coherent design brief
(in paragraph form) that connects the clients’ needs, and how the student’s product intends to solve the problem and any potential constraints (such as time, materials, etc.). Guidance: 400 + words.
The design brief must highlight the following aspects of the students research
❏ ‐ Time
❏ ‐ Resources
❏ ‐ Environmental considerations
❏ ‐ Safety
❏ ‐ Function/Usability
❏ ‐ Aesthetics/Visual Communication
❏ ‐ Technical Skills
Using APA Formatting, spelling, and grammar, with only a few errors

DIFFERENT IT PRODUCTS CREATED TO SOLVE A BUSINESS PROBLEM
1. VIRTUAL TOUR
2. ANIMATION
3. ANIMATION



Achievement level
Level descriptor
0
The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors below.
1–2
The student:
      i.        states the need for a solution to a problem for a specified client/target audience
     ii.        develops a basic design brief, which states the findings of relevant research.
3–4
The student:
      i.        outlines the need for a solution to a problem for a specified client/target audience
     ii.        outlines a research plan, which identifies primary and secondary research needed to develop a solution to the problem, with some guidance
   iii.        analyses one existing product that inspires a solution to the problem
    iv.        develops a design brief, which outlines the analysis of relevant research.
5–6
 The student:
     ii.        explains the need for a solution to a problem for a specified client/target audience
   iii.        constructs a research plan, which identifies and prioritizes primary and secondary research needed to develop a solution to the problem, with some guidance
    iv.        analyses a range of existing products that inspire a solution to the problem
     v.        develops a design brief, which explains the analysis of relevant research.
7–8
The student:
      i.        explains and justifies the need for a solution to a problem for a client/ target audience
     ii.        constructs a detailed research plan, which identifies and prioritizes the primary and secondary research needed to develop a solution to the problem independently
   iii.        analyses a range of existing products that inspire a solution to the problem in detail
    iv.        develops a detailed design brief, which summarizes the analysis of relevant research.

Product Design Sample
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8VAiXCgqIIbXzd4THd4MUFkc2c/edit?usp=sharing

Explaining and justifying the need for a solution
Examples of products developed to address particular problem. Checkout the solutions in the links below;

  • What is the product and what was the problem solved by the solution developed?

Research 

Design Brief

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Research Activities - Common Business Problems



1. Find links on some of the common problems facing business in Kenya

https://www.kenyaplex.com/resources/5705-major-challenges-facing-small-scale-businesses-in-kenya.aspx

2. Five big challenges facing your business today

http://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/12/small-business-challenges.asp

3. Five  Tech Solutions For Common Small-Business Problems

http://www.forbes.com/sites/capitalonespark/2013/01/30/5-innovative-tech-solutions-for-common-small-business-problems/






Faiba

This is an example of an IT solution to Faiba Business. 

  1.  What do you think was the problem in the business?
  2. What IT solution was employed?
  3. How effective was this solution to the problem?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN63Y64p61U


Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Research Activities

Business Quest Investigation Activities


1. In-Text Citation.
In - Text Citation allows the reader to know what ideas, opinion and facts are the author's and what came from the source. The citation also refers the reader/ examiner to the reference page at the end for full citation.
In APA style, in-text citation are composed of author's last name, date/year of publication and the page number. (Truner, 2003,p.34).
If you include a page range, use two ps followed by a period (Wafula,2015,pp.34-35). The sentence period comes at the end of closing parenthesis.

 Additional information
 1. one author stated "..................",(Tally, 2003, p.6).
2. Two authors said, "...................",(Tally,& Deifan,2003, p.7).
3. Three to five authors ".............", (Tally, Daifan,&Mohamed, 2003, pp. 45-46).
4. Six or more authors, ".............",(Tally et al,2003, p. 17).
5. Unknown author use short title (" hip hop art", 2006, p. 7).
6. No date no page  (" hip hop art", n.d, para.1).
N/B:
When using APA format, follow the author-date method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the year of publication for the source should appear in the text, for example, (Jones, 1998) said...., and a complete reference should appear in the reference list at the end of the paper.
 Read more on this link In-Text citation


2. Appendix/appendices.
An appendix (one item) OR appendices (more than one item) is information that is NOT ESSENTIAL to explain your findings in the essay or report that you have written. However, this information may support your analysis and justification of your conclusions. For example the interview questions and answers.

 Therefore, you will need to know that: 
● Appendices are used when the incorporation of material in the body of the work would make it poorly structured or too long and detailed.( Interviews, questionnaires, surveys and their answers can be placed in appendix)

● Appendices may be used for helpful, supporting or essential material that would otherwise clutter, break up or be distracting to the text. ( images, photocopies, drawings, sketches,...)

● Other people’s work in the appendix will be referred to (e.g. see Appendix 3), not quoted (e.g. using short or long quotes) from the appendix.

 ● Appendices must be referred to in the body of the text, for example, ‘details of the questionnaire are given in Appendix B (on page 23)’

- Appendices are put at the end of  references 

Examples of students’ understandings about using appendices Student 1 (reflective writing) 
This example is about a two-page questionnaire that I designed and placed in the appendices. My understanding is that an appendix can be information that you used to inform your writing that you don't want to put directly into the essay; however, you MUST refer to this appendix in the body of the essay Therefore, in my Education essay, I included an appendix that was the actual questionnaire that I gave to my students when I was on teaching practice. In my essay, I wrote for the marker to ‘see Appendix 1’ when I had mentioned the results of the questionnaire I was required to write and use with my class.

 Student 2 (reflective writing)
 In my nursing assignment, my appendices were used to supplement the information in my essay. Firstly, we had to demonstrate our knowledge of the human skeletal system. The photocopied diagrams covered a number of pages, so Appendix 1 was a set of photocopied, labelled diagrams of the skeletal system discussed and referred to in the essay. Because the photocopied diagrams were copied from a book, I placed an in-text reference to this source in my writing. Secondly, we had to summarize the results of interviews with five patients at the local hospital about their recovery from bone breakages in car accidents, so Appendix 2 was a transcript of these interviews. Using appendices like this meant that I could show my lecturer that I had completed the set task and collected the data for the issues that were discussed in the essay

More information on appendix click on this link  How to use Appendix




Read the following business software tools.


http://www.pcworld.com/article/150091/best_business_software.html

Which solution can you use from the list for your solution?  

http://africamentor.com/6-african-technology-innovations-that-are-changing-lives/

Business apps
http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-2013-best-designed-apps-2013-6?op=1

http://www.inc.com/ss/10-tech-innovations-help-your-business#1







Task 1:
You are required to brainstorm and come up with a list of the different problems facing businesses locally and internationally.


Task2 : 

Based on the differeent problems addressed in task 1, identify the possible IT solutions to those problems.


Task3. 

How can we use IT solution to enhance great performance in the Zawadi Bazaar?

Business Quest

Business Quest

Introduction to MYP Design

Please click on the Design Guides' link below;

Digital Design Guide

Task 1 (Conceptual Understanding) Read page 20-26 and write your 
responses in your note book for the following questions;

a) What is conceptual understanding or learning? What is a concept?

b) List the key concepts contributed by the study of Design.

c) What are related concepts? Are they similar or different in different 
subject areas?

d) What are global contexts? Are global contexts similar or different 
across the subject areas?

e) What is a statement of inquiry? 

f)  In your own understanding of the Business Quest unit, write examples of inquiry questions

i)  Factual
ii)  Conceptual
iii) Debatable

g) Outline the five MYP ATL skills.




Business Quest Unit Summary.

Mr. Victor/Mr. Robert
Subject group and discipline
Digital Design
Unit title
Business Quest
MYP year
4
Unit duration (hrs)
30 hrs
Inquiry: Establishing the purpose of the unit

Key concept
Related concept(s)
Global context
Communities
Market Trends
Global Economics
Statement of inquiry
Technical innovation are both a function and product of trends in communities that lead to global economics.
Inquiry questions
Factual      — What are the limitations of current marketing and advertising sector?
Conceptual— Do consumers buy what they need or what they see?
Debatable  —How reliable are results of market data in decision making?
Objectives
Summative assessment
Objective A: Inquiring and analysing
Objective B: Developing ideas
Objective C: Creating a solution
Objective D: Evaluating
Outline of summative assessment task(s) including assessment criteria:
There are many business problems facing entrepreneurs in the very competitive markets today. Students will develop a digital solution aimed at enhancing effectiveness and efficiency in growth of busineses. The practicality of the solution will be determined by the different actions taken by the business clients students will engage with.
Relationship between summative assessment task(s) and statement of inquiry:
Students will have deeper understanding and use software that allows them to improve the management and performance of different businesses.
Approaches to learning (ATL)

Communication: Give and receive meaningful feedback during presentations; Share ideas with multiple audiences using a variety of digital environments and media; Organize and depict information logically; Understand and use mathematical notation

Information Literacy Skills: Collect and analyse data to identify solutions and make informed decisions; Process data and report results.
Critical Thinking: Practice observing carefully in order to recognize problems; Gather and organize relevant information to formulate an argument; Recognize unstated assumptions and bias;  Interpret data; Evaluate evidence and arguments;  Draw reasonable conclusions and generalizations
Creative Thinking: Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products or processes.

 Leaner Profile and AK Strands
Click this link