O/A/IGCSE Computer Science Blog

A strange happening has been reported from a member's source in a south east Asian country. A CIE center's candidate after appearing in 9691 exam and within 24 hours for no wicked reason naively uploaded CIE paper's questions at online discussion group. As 24 hours is CIE's security time period and centers do not convey proper rules and regulations to their candidates. This student was caught, through his profile at the online discussion group, by CIE's security monitoring department. Center was advised for such illegal online activity and later student was graded "X" overall. It was not enough as CIE awarded "U" to all 9691 projects in that center. Even those students who appeared in last CIE exam and scored "A" in projects and lesser grade in paper and reappeared this exam for grade improvement came under axe. Their already "A" marked projects from last exam were resubmitted but scored "U" this go. So centers, PLEA...

Today one of my fellow teachers informed me about happenings in underworld CIE paper leakages. It could be wrong and a hype BUT a warning sign. He was contacted by one of his students, who was asking for his time two hours before CIE exam. He naively committed and later he had a wind chimed through his mind and when contacted again at 11:30AM, he asked if it is a matter of CIE paper solution. What happened next is that he refused. Anyways, story unfolds and and it is known that CIE papers with the difference of two hours or so before CIE exam time is being faxed from abroad, probably from Malaysia. Underworld people here are doing as follows. *They charge 5000 per student *Inform a night before about the dynamic rendezvous *And time is an hour or hour and half before CIE exam *At rat hole students are not allowed to bring any stationary *Students are provided stationary and a copy of forthcoming paper *Students solve it and leave for exam leaving everything behind them, i.e. com...

Computing 9691 subject requires major practical work during its two years course. Its P2 and P4 are practical heavy. Changing patterns in teaching styles, teachers availability and  growing students interests & demands have made the computer laboratory assistants a key player in students success. Ironically, the lab assistant --where they are available-- is more of a HW/SW troubleshooter for his organization then a computer lab assistant. Majorly lab assistants are hired to serve and help everyone having a PC in the organisation. His help ranges from "how-tos" to "not working" issues. Result? For management; they saved money by hitting two birds with one stone. For teachers and students; merely a presence that if available then gives time otherwise do it yourself or beg him and/or management his time and lose precious academic teachings hours. My personal experience is no different then what is described above, i.e. out of four institutions I teach at, two don...

Never in my teaching tenure students have done any project assignment on time. Their lenient attitude towards subject, generally taking Computing for granted and parents misconception that they are studying while they are sitting in front of their computers is declining specially the  overall Computer project progress and theory in general. During PTMs parent argue that projects eat up all study time and for the length of projects. I make them realize that just sitting at computer sites does not mean that they are studying or doing projects but  mostly it is a shy away from studies and indulgence in chatting, time killing while surfing and Internet socialising. Computing projects' delays are also a reason of teachers' ignorance and inability of dictating terms and assignment completion followup. Mostly students expect at A-Level that their teacher here will also hand them his own work or they acquire it from other sources and teacher will just accept and mark it. I recently le...