Requirements Home Page

Linkside's Requirements

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Subject scores

  bullet What subjects do you need to take CAT?
  bullet The only subject you really need to have a good knowledge of is ICDL.
  bullet We will build on your basic knowledge of Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
  bullet For CAT you do not need Mathematics,
  bullet BUT if you want to take IT you DEFINITELY need Maths (and must love it!)

 

  bullet What scores do you need?
  bullet Again, ICDL is the decider here.  If you did badly in ICDL you can expect to struggle in CAT.
  bullet You should have got above 70% for most of your tests and practical assignments.
  bullet Your theory marks should have been good - a lot of CAT is theory!
  bullet You should have enjoyed the practical assignments and worksheets.

 

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Equipment

  bullet It's really silly to take CAT if you don't have access to a computer.
  bullet It's more convenient to have one at home, but if you don't, there is a solution:
  bullet You would have to utilize the computers after school at least 3 times a week.
  bullet Class computer time will not be enough for all the tasks you need to complete.
  bullet You will also need access to the Internet
  bullet This is not so that you can search for motorbike pics or download music!
  bullet It is so that you can access computer-technical sites like howstuffworks.com
  bullet You will have to do quite a bit of research on some of the topics you are given.
  bullet You need the CAT text book - duh!

 

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Study hours

  bullet This varies from pupil to Pupil

 
    The Want-to-do-well-and-I'll-work-for-it Pupil
  bullet If this is you, you will probably spend about an hour day on CAT.
  bullet You will surf the net for your own favourite technical sites - about an hour a week. You will add their URLs to your Favourites List.
  bullet You will spend about two hours just researching every task, and another two / three hours doing each task.
  bullet You will take notes in class and listen for any exam tips the teacher may drop ...
  bullet You will spend at least 15 minutes a day going over all the theory you have learnt that week.

 

  bullet The Would-quite-like-to-do-well Pupil
  bullet If this is you, you will probably spend about half an hour a day on CAT.
  bullet You will find ONE favourite technical site and look at it maybe once a week.
  bullet You will spend about two hours just researching every task, and another one hour doing it.
  bullet You will spend at least 15 minutes a week going over all the theory you have learnt that week.

 

  bullet The Want-to-do-as-little-as-possible-and-just-pass Pupil
  bullet If this is you, you will probably spend about half an hour a day on CAT.
  bullet You will find a technical sites one day by accident, be mildly interested, and then forget the web address.  When you have to do a task you will spend about three hours trying to find the site again ... you won't find it, but you'll accidentally discover another one while you are searching.
  bullet You will spend about an hour researching every task, and another half- hour doing it.
  bullet You will not spend any minutes a week going over all the theory you have learnt that week. Just before the exams you will try and cram a crash course of theory into your head.  You will remember half of what you cram.

 

  bullet The Thought-I-didnt-have-to-do-much-and-its-just-too-much-trouble Pupil
bullet   If this is you, you will probably spend only enough time on CAT to finish your homework - and then you will only do half the homework because you're too lazy to look up the answers.
bullet   What's a technical website? I thought they only had Britney Spears websites!
bullet   Were we supposed to hand in a task  today ...?
bullet   Afternoons are for relaxing, not homework.......

 

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What do we expect from you?

  bullet You will get one warning - THIS ONE!
  bullet No downloading of music or movies.
  bullet No downloading of screen savers or backgrounds.
  bullet No surfing the net when your teacher is teaching.
  bullet No net-sending.
  bullet I expect you to do the following:
  bullet take notes when I'm teaching;
  bullet pay attention during class;
  bullet go to the sites I direct you to.

 

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What is CAT NOT?

  bullet CAT is NOT playing Computer games!
  bullet CAT is NOT surfing the Internet!

 

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What is CAT?

  bullet CAT is exploring the way a computer works.
  bullet It is learning to use the basic software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access).
  bullet It is learning how to manipulate data.
  bullet It is learning how to apply your knowledge to the world you live in.