The ICT Project Submitted Without a Demo
Sadia is an ICT student whose continuous assessment includes a small project: a spreadsheet-based result calculator for her college. She submitted the file online before the deadline but was absent on the day of the in-class demonstration because of illness, with a medical certificate. Her teacher must decide her project mark. The project file opens and works, but the teacher cannot confirm Sadia built it herself; two classmates' files look similar in layout. The college's internal assessment policy requires both submission and demonstration, but allows the teacher discretion in documented absence cases. The deadline for submitting internal marks to the board is in five days.
1. Identify the competing considerations the teacher must weigh.
Read the worked answer
On one side: the policy requires submission and demonstration, and similarity with classmates' files raises a genuine authorship question that must not be ignored. On the other: Sadia has a documented medical reason for absence, the file works, and the board deadline is close, so a fair decision must be made quickly. The teacher must protect assessment integrity without punishing a student for a legitimate illness. The key is to separate the absence issue (which has a valid excuse) from the authorship issue (which needs verification).
2. Design a fair, quick procedure to resolve both the absence and the authorship question within five days.
Read the worked answer
Hold a short make-up demonstration as soon as Sadia returns or remotely if permitted, within the five days. In it, ask her to explain and modify her own formulas live - for example, change a grading rule and show the effect. This verifies authorship far better than comparing layouts. Compare the similar files for actual formula-level copying; shared layout alone is weak evidence. If she explains her work convincingly, award the mark for the demonstration under the documented-absence discretion. If she cannot, record a reduced mark with reasons. Document the process and the medical certificate so the decision is defensible.
3. If no make-up slot is possible before the deadline, what is the defensible fallback?
Read the worked answer
Award marks for the submitted file on its demonstrated quality, but record in writing that the demonstration component could not be verified and why, attaching the medical certificate. Do not automatically award full demonstration marks without verification, and do not zero the project for a documented illness. The defensible position is partial credit based on verified evidence plus a documented note. This protects integrity, treats the student fairly, and gives the board a clear record if the mark is later questioned.