General feedback
Students should:
- develop an understanding of a wide range of emerging technologies and their impacts
- utilise examples to support their response, ensuring that each example is relevant to the question
- continue to develop their understanding of the key words ‘explain’ and ‘analyse’ to provide greater depth and breadth to their responses
- give ample time to better plan and structure both short answer and extended responses.
Section II
Question 11
In better responses, students were able to:
- refer to Figures 1 and 4 only (a)
- outline a different ergonomic benefit based on the provided stimulus for Figures 1 and 4 (a)
- specify an example of a design feature of a workstation (b)
- reference appropriate and relevant technological changes (b)
- relate technological changes to the design features in workstations (b).
Areas for students to improve include:
- reading the question carefully to avoid unnecessary reference to all stimulus material (a)
- providing reference to the specific ergonomic benefit of the appropriate figures (Figures 1 and 4) (a)
- identifying relevant technological changes or changes in technology (b)
- outlining specific examples related to the workstation (b).
Question 12
In better responses, students were able to:
- provide a comparative description of the differences between the processes of designing a new product and redesigning an existing product
- use relevant examples to highlight the points of difference.
Areas for students to improve include:
- identifying the different features of individual processes for designing a new product and redesigning an existing product
- providing relevant examples of the features of processes for designing a new product and redesigning an existing product that emphasise the points of difference.
Question 13
In better responses, students were able to:
- provide relevant examples of how emerging technologies used in the workplace have negative effects on security for the individual
- relate the relevant examples to the negative impacts and resultant effects on the individual’s security in the workplace – for example, personal data, privacy, robotics and automation.
Areas for students to improve include:
- understanding terminology – for example, not confusing security with safety or ethics
- specifically relating the use of appropriate new and emerging technologies to security for the individual in the workplace
- providing greater depth and breadth to their response.
Section III
Question 14
In better responses, students were able to:
- demonstrate a detailed understanding of how improvements to communication methods have occurred as a direct consequence of new and emerging technologies
- provide relevant examples of communication technologies that have influenced the way individuals in society currently communicate socially and within commercial settings
- logically and coherently provide cause-and-effect statements linked to new and emerging technologies and provide analysis by articulating the resultant implications on communication.
Areas for students to improve include:
- using appropriate and relevant examples to support the arguments formulated in the response
- developing a better understanding of a wider range of current and emerging technologies (other than just smartphones), including the relevant impacts they have on the individual and society
- demonstrating more cohesive and sustained responses by planning prior to commencing each response
- developing a better understanding of the key word ‘analyse’ by drawing out statements and relating their implications to demonstrate a deep understanding of the issues being examined.
