From the IB:
The student must identify and describe a problem set in a social context, and the person(s) who will be the client/end-user of the IT solution. The client is the person(s) who needs the IT solution or product to be developed. The end-user is the person(s) who will actually be using the product. For some projects the client is also the end-user. The client would be involved in all stages of the process.
The following key questions should be considered.
- What is the present system? How does it work? What are the limitations of the current system?
- What is the problem?
- Who will benefit from an IT solution? A specific IT solution must not be identified at this stage.
- Has the need been determined through discussions with relevant people, including client(s), end-user(s) and other stakeholders?
Points to highlight from the IB:
- The problem must affect society (be set in a social context)
- Need one client who needs a technology solution to a social problem
- You and your client are going to be very close and in constant communications
One of the biggest problems students face with Criterion G is mentioning the possible solution. Criterion G is only about the problem. Do not mention the solution.
Feedback from IB from last year:
Under criterion G, when explaining the problem to be solved, only one candidate properly described the inadequacies of the present system. Other candidates only described the existing problem more in depth or did not even attempt to describe inadequacies for the present system.
Regarding the award of three marks, attention must be paid to the fact that many candidates, when dealing with the inadequacies of the present system, describe the existing problem more in depth and not the system presently used to deal with this problem. In order to get the three marks, the inadequacies to be described must be the ones presently existing in the current system.
The Rubric - this is THE guide on how to write this. If your paragraph does what this says you will get full credit, it is as simple as that.
So, get to it, write your first draft of Criterion G and post it to the Blog.
Thanks to Mr. Zac Gordon and Ms. Molnar for their contributions!