Criteria
| Achieved | Merit | Excellence |
|---|---|---|
| Use Advanced processes to develop a Digital Outcome | Use Advanced processes to develop an informed Digital Outcome | Use Advanced processes to develop a refined Digital Outcome |
| Using appropriate Project management tools and techniques to plan the development of a digital technologies Outcome | Effectively using Project management and version Control tools and techniques to manage the development of a digital technologies Outcome | Discussing how the information from planning, Testing, and Trialling of components assisted in the development of a high-quality digital technologies Outcome. |
| Decomposing the Outcome into smaller components | Trialling multiple components and/or techniques and selecting those which are most suitable | |
| Trialling components of the Outcome | Using information appropriately from Testing and Trialling to improve the functionality of the digital technologies Outcome | |
| Testing that the digital technologies Outcome functions as intended | Addressing relevant implications | |
| Explaining relevant implications |
Relevant Implications
Project Management and Version Control Tools and Techniques:
- saving backup copies with a logical file naming System
- using collaboration tools
- using simple version Control software applications
- using tools or systems to plan tasks and milestones
- adjusting key actions and tasks where appropriate
Step-By-Step Guide
Development Process (Sprints)
Sprint 1 – Planning and Setup
Website Example
- Identified client and end-user requirements.
- Created a Trello board with Backlog, To Do, Doing, Testing and Done columns.
- Created GitHub Repository and connected GitHub Desktop.
- Produced wireframes and site structure.
- Created initial homepage.
Evidence
- Screenshot of Trello board showing initial tasks.
- Screenshot of GitHub Repository creation.
- First commits such as:
- Initial Repository setup
- Added homepage
- Added Project structure
Sprint 2 – Core Functionality
Video Game Example
- Created player movement System.
- Added collision detection.
- Tested keyboard controls.
- Logged issues discovered during Testing.
Evidence
- Trello cards moved through workflow.
- GitHub commits showing movement scripts being developed.
- Screenshots of game running.
Sprint 3 – Additional Features
Database Example
- Created database schema.
- Added relationships between tables.
- Built Data entry forms.
- Trialled different database structures.
Evidence
- ERD diagrams.
- GitHub commits.
- Trello cards completed.
Sprint 4 – Testing and Refinement
Students should talk about:
- Functional Testing.
- Bug fixing.
- User Feedback.
- Changes made after Testing.
Example:
Testing showed users had difficulty finding the navigation menu. I added a fixed navigation bar and retested with users. The updated Design improved Usability.
Sprint 5 – Advanced Features
Examples:
Website
- Search functionality
- User login
- Form validation
Database
- Advanced queries
- Reports
- Data validation
Video Game
- Score System
- Enemy AI
- Multiple levels
Students should Explain:
The feature was developed using iterative Testing. Several GitHub commits show improvements made after bugs were identified.
Sprint 6 – Final Refinement
Discuss:
- Final Testing
- Performance improvements
- Bug fixes
- User Feedback implementation
Example:
I reviewed all Trello tasks and completed remaining issues before moving them to Done. Final Testing confirmed all requirements were met.
Final Submission
A good response:
Before submission I reviewed my Trello board and GitHub commit history to Ensure all planned tasks were completed. Final Testing confirmed the Outcome functioned as intended and met Stakeholder requirements. Documentation was updated and the final version was pushed to GitHub.
Version Control (GitHub Log)
Students should screenshot:
- Commit history
- Clear commit messages
Good commits:
- Created homepage layout
- Added player movement System
- Implemented database search Query
- Fixed navigation Bug
- Added validation to login form
- Refined user interface
Avoid:
- update
- stuff
- fixed things
- version 2
Kanban Board (Trello)
Suggested columns:
- Backlog
- To Do
- In Progress
- Testing
- Done
Example tasks:
Website
- Create homepage
- Build navigation
- Add contact form
- Test responsiveness
Video Game
- Player controls
- Enemy AI
- Scoring System
- Pause menu
Database
- Create tables
- Build relationships
- Create forms
- Write queries
Students should screenshot the board several times across development.
How have you used Project Management tools and techniques?
Strong Merit-level answer:
I used Trello as a Kanban board to break the Project into smaller tasks and organise them into sprints. This allowed me to prioritise work and monitor progress. GitHub Desktop and GitHub were used for version Control. Each time I completed a feature, I committed my changes with meaningful commit messages. This allowed me to track progress, revert mistakes, and maintain backup copies of my work. Together these tools supported an Agile development process where I planned, developed and tested features during each sprint.
How has your use of Project Management and version Control tools and techniques been effective?
This is where students often miss Merit.
Strong response:
Trello helped me Identify tasks that were taking longer than expected and allowed me to adjust priorities. For example, the user authentication System required more development time than planned, so I moved lower-priority tasks into a later sprint. GitHub version Control was effective because every feature was committed separately. When a Bug was introduced during development I was able to compare versions and Identify the cause quickly. This improved efficiency and reduced the Risk of losing work.
How did you trial more than one way of doing something and then select the most suitable method?
This is a key Merit requirement.
Website Example
I trialled two navigation systems: a horizontal navigation bar and a hamburger menu. User Feedback showed the navigation bar was easier to use on desktop devices while the hamburger menu worked better on mobile devices. I selected a responsive Design that used both approaches depending on screen size.
Game Example
I trialled two movement systems: direct position changes and physics-based movement. Testing showed physics-based movement created smoother gameplay and more realistic interactions, so I selected that approach.
Database Example
I trialled dropdown menus and free-text input fields for Data entry. Testing showed dropdown menus reduced user input errors, so I implemented dropdown selections where appropriate.
How did you use information from Testing and Trialling to improve functionality?
Strong answer:
Testing identified several issues including broken links, incorrect validation and layout problems. User Feedback also showed some features were difficult to use. Based on this information I improved navigation, simplified Data entry and fixed validation errors. Each improvement was committed to GitHub and tracked through Trello. This increased the functionality and Reliability of the final Outcome.
How did planning, Testing and Trialling assist in the development of a high-quality Outcome?
This is the Excellence question.
Strong example:
Planning through Trello allowed me to organise development into manageable sprints and Ensure all requirements were addressed. Trialling different solutions helped me select the most effective approach for several key features. Regular Testing identified bugs and Usability issues throughout development rather than at the end of the Project. Using information from planning, Trialling and Testing enabled continuous improvement through each Iteration. As a result, the final Outcome is reliable, functional, user-friendly and fit for purpose, which demonstrates a high-quality Digital Outcome.
Relevant Implications
For most projects I would recommend:
Website
- Privacy
- Accessibility
- Usability
Privacy
User information is protected by validating input and only collecting necessary Data. Passwords are not stored in plain text and personal information is handled responsibly.
Accessibility
Colour contrast, readable fonts and clear navigation were implemented to Ensure users with different needs could access the website.
Usability
Testing with users informed improvements to navigation, layout and consistency, making the site easier to use.
Video Game
- Accessibility
- End User Considerations
- Functionality
Database
- Privacy
- Functionality
- End User Considerations
What markers should students aim for?
Achieved
- Trello board used.
- GitHub commits shown.
- Testing evidence provided.
- Explain implications.
Merit
- Show adjustments were made during development.
- Trial multiple solutions and Justify selection.
- Explain how Feedback and Testing improved outcomes.
Excellence
- Clearly Discuss how planning, Testing and Trialling worked together to produce a high-quality Outcome. [AS 91897 -…e Document | Word]
The highest-performing students typically treat each sprint as a mini cycle of Plan → Develop → Test → Reflect → Commit → Update Trello and explicitly Describe that cycle throughout the document.
