computer application
Computer Applications focuses on word processing speed and accuracy, skill in the use of database and spreadsheet applications, and the integration of all of these. Contestants will have the opportunity to produce two printouts and the mandatory tie breaker. Each printout will be assigned a weighted point value, based on difficulty, which will be so indicated on the contest paper.
This is a technology based contest, and the goal is for students to have a thorough, working knowledge of these three applications and be able to complete substantial tasks in all of them and to direct data from one application to another. The difficulty of the elements on tests will increase as we get to higher levels of competition. Being a contest based on Microsoft Office, Computer Applications will continue to make incremental changes to keep abreast of the changing technology. Again this year, competitors will be using Office 2007 or Office 2010, and in addition, Office 2013. The format of these versions is fairly consistent.
Since 2012, we have created an Access database with multiple tables annually that we post on the UIL website to be used with a practice exercise (also posted) and subsequently with the Region and State tests. The consensus of using this type of downloaded data has been consistently positive. Using downloaded files has minimized typographical errors on these tests and has been closer to what is common in the business world usage of Microsoft Office. If a student has to enter all the data for a test and makes an error on one or more values, then every field that is calculated based on the fields with the typos are also incorrect, and this complicates grading.
An Access database is posted on the website, and it is entitled 2014 Starter File.accdb. Please download this file and the associated file, 2014 Download Exercise.pdf which has the following elements.
General Information for the UIL Exercise Using Downloaded Files. This simply gives
This is a technology based contest, and the goal is for students to have a thorough, working knowledge of these three applications and be able to complete substantial tasks in all of them and to direct data from one application to another. The difficulty of the elements on tests will increase as we get to higher levels of competition. Being a contest based on Microsoft Office, Computer Applications will continue to make incremental changes to keep abreast of the changing technology. Again this year, competitors will be using Office 2007 or Office 2010, and in addition, Office 2013. The format of these versions is fairly consistent.
Since 2012, we have created an Access database with multiple tables annually that we post on the UIL website to be used with a practice exercise (also posted) and subsequently with the Region and State tests. The consensus of using this type of downloaded data has been consistently positive. Using downloaded files has minimized typographical errors on these tests and has been closer to what is common in the business world usage of Microsoft Office. If a student has to enter all the data for a test and makes an error on one or more values, then every field that is calculated based on the fields with the typos are also incorrect, and this complicates grading.
An Access database is posted on the website, and it is entitled 2014 Starter File.accdb. Please download this file and the associated file, 2014 Download Exercise.pdf which has the following elements.
General Information for the UIL Exercise Using Downloaded Files. This simply gives