Table of contents
Sample question responses
"Discuss the characteristics of a search engine (e.g. Google) front-end with regard to human-computer interface (HCI) issues."
These are descriptions of typical answers provided by students. How would you grade them?
Answer 1
The student
- included a list of three or four key characteristics of human-computer interfaces.
- Referred briefly to a search engine in relation to these characteristics.
Answer 2
The student
- presented points about search engines in an unorganised manner.
- referred briefly to the user interface, or
- presented a disorganised list of rote-learned points relating to HCI.
Answer 3
The student
- thoroughly examined five or six HCI issues.
- mapped those terms against a search engine interface.
- discussed the significance of the HCI matters for users.
Answer 4
The student
- raised a set of four or five main HCI issues.
- included examples from a search engine interface.
- commented on each example.
Answer 5
The student
- addressed the key issues of HCI as they relate to the web in particular.
- included strong reference to a specific search engine.
- explored the impact of good or bad HCI design on the core functions of search engines (i.e. their ability to let users find material on the web, and display ranked sets of material).
- referred to more than one search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
High Distinction
No, the answer would probably be given a PASS. For a grade of High Distinction, a more complete examination and analysis of HCI issues (five or six) relevant to the web would be required. The answer would also need to include stronger reference to a specific search engine. It would discuss the impact of good or bad HCI design on core functions of search engines. It would also include some reference to at least one other search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
Distinction
No, the answer would probably be given a PASS. For a grade of Distinction, a more complete examination and analysis of HCI issues (five or six) relevant to the web would be required. The answer would demonstrate clearly the relationship of each HCI issue to a search engine interface, and would include discussion of the HCI matters for users. A top-scoring answer would include stronger reference to a specific search engine. It would discuss the impact of good or bad HCI design on core functions of search engines. It would also refer briefly to at least one other search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
Credit
No, the answer would probably be given a PASS. For a grade of Credit, a more complete and detailed discussion of key HCI issues (four or five) would be required. This would include examples from a search engine interface and comments on each example. A top-scoring answer would include a more complete examination and analysis of HCI issues (five or six) relevant to the web. It would include stronger reference to a specific search engine. It would discuss the impact of good or bad HCI design on core functions of search engines. It would also refer briefly to at least one other search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
Pass
Yes, this type of answer would probably be given a PASS if the characteristics of human-computer interfaces were key characteristics and if the relationship of these characteristics to a search engine was demonstrated. A top-scoring answer would include a more complete examination and analysis of HCI issues (five or six) relevant to the web. It would include stronger reference to a specific search engine. It would discuss the impact of good or bad HCI design on core functions of search engines. It would also refer briefly to at least one other search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
Fail
No, the answer would probably be given a PASS if the characteristics of human computer interfaces were key characteristics and if the relationship of these characteristics to a search engine was clearly demonstrated. A top-scoring answer would include a more complete examination and analysis of HCI issues (five or six) relevant to the web. It would include stronger reference to a specific search engine. It would discuss the impact of good or bad HCI design on core functions of search engines. It would also refer briefly to at least one other search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
High Distinction
No, the answer would probably be given a FAIL. For a grade of High Distinction, a more complete examination and analysis of HCI issues (five or six) relevant to the web would be required. The answer would also need to include stronger reference to a specific search engine. It would discuss the impact of good or bad HCI design on core functions of search engines. It would also include some reference to at least one other search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
Distinction
No, the answer would probably be given a FAIL. For a grade of Distinction, a more complete examination and analysis of HCI issues (five or six) relevant to the web would be required. The answer would demonstrate clearly the relationship of each HCI issue to a search engine interface, and would include discussion of the HCI matters for users. A top-scoring answer would include stronger reference to a specific search engine. It would discuss the impact of good or bad HCI design on core functions of search engines. It would also refer briefly to at least one other search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
Credit
No, the answer would probably be given a FAIL. For a grade of Credit, a more complete and detailed discussion of key HCI issues (four or five) would be required. This would include examples from a search engine interface and comments on each example. A top-scoring answer would include a more complete examination and analysis of HCI issues (five or six) relevant to the web. It would include stronger reference to a specific search engine. It would discuss the impact of good or bad HCI design on core functions of search engines. It would also refer briefly to at least one other search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
Pass
No, the answer would probably be given a FAIL. For a grade of Pass, a list of three or four key characteristics of Human Computer Interfaces would be required. In addition, the relationship of these characteristics to a search engine would need to be clearly demonstrated. A top-scoring answer would include a more complete examination and analysis of HCI issues (five or six) relevant to the web. It would include stronger reference to a specific search engine. It would discuss the impact of good or bad HCI design on core functions of search engines. It would also refer briefly to at least one other search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
Fail
Yes, the answer would probably be given a FAIL if unstructured information was presented rather than a relevant response to the exam question. A top-scoring answer would include a more complete examination and analysis of HCI issues (five or six) relevant to the web. It would include stronger reference to a specific search engine. It would discuss the impact of good or bad HCI design on core functions of search engines. It would also refer briefly to at least one other search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
High Distinction
No, the answer would probably be given a DISTINCTION. For a grade of High Distinction, the answer would need to include stronger reference to a specific search engine. It would discuss the impact of good or bad HCI design on core functions of search engines. It would also include some reference to at least one other search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
Distinction
Yes, the answer would probably be given a DISTINCTION. For a grade of Distinction, a thorough examination and analysis of HCI issues (five or six) relevant to the web would be required. The answer would demonstrate clearly the relationship of each HCI issue to a search engine interface, and would include discussion of the HCI matters for users. A top-scoring answer would include stronger reference to a specific search engine. It would discuss the impact of good or bad HCI design on core functions of search engines. It would also refer briefly to at least one other search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
Credit
No, the answer would probably be given a DISTINCTION if a thorough level of examination and analysis of the topic was provided, i.e., one which: discusses all the key HCI issues (five or six) relevant to the web, clearly demonstrates the relationship of each HCI issue to a search engine interface, and nalyses the significance of HCI issues for users. A top-scoring answer would include stronger reference to a specific search engine. It would discuss the impact of good or bad HCI design on core functions of search engines. It would also refer briefly to at least one other search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
Pass
No, the answer would probably be given a DISTINCTION, if a thorough level of examination and analysis of the topic was provided, i.e., one which: discusses all of the key HCI issues (five or six) relevant to the web, clearly demonstrates the relationship of each HCI issue to a search engine interface, and analyses the significance of HCI issues for all users. A top-scoring answer would include stronger reference to a specific search engine. It would discuss the impact of good or bad HCI design on core functions of search engines. It would also refer briefly to at least one other search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
Fail
No, the answer would probably be given a DISTINCTION, if a thorough level of examination and analysis of the topic was provided, i.e., one which: discusses all of the key HCI issues (five or six) relevant to the web, clearly demonstrates the relationship of each HCI issue to a search engine interface, and analyses the significance of HCI issues for all users. A top-scoring answer would include stronger reference to a specific search engine. It would discuss the impact of good or bad HCI design on core functions of search engines. It would also refer briefly to at least one other search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
High Distinction
No, the answer would probably be given a CREDIT. For a grade of High Distinction, the answer would need to include a more complete examination and analysis of HCI issues (five or six) relevant to the web. It would include stronger reference to a specific search engine. It would discuss the impact of good or bad HCI design on core functions of search engines. It would also include some reference to at least one other search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
Distinction
No, the answer would probably be given a CREDIT. For a grade of Distinction, a thorough examination and analysis of HCI issues (five or six) relevant to the web would be required. The answer would demonstrate clearly the relationship of each HCI issue to a search engine interface, and would include discussion of the HCI matters for users. A top-scoring answer would include stronger reference to a specific search engine. It would discuss the impact of good or bad HCI design on core functions of search engines. It would also refer briefly to at least one other search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
Credit
Yes, the answer would probably be given a CREDIT if the discussion of key HCI issues (four or five) also contained examples from a search engine interface and comments on each example. A top-scoring answer would include a more complete examination and analysis of HCI issues (five or six) relevant to the web. It would include stronger reference to a specific search engine. It would discuss the impact of good or bad HCI design on core functions of search engines. It would also refer briefly to at least one other search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
Pass
No, the answer would probably be given a CREDIT if the discussion of key HCI issues (four or five) also contained examples from a search engine interface and comments on each example. A top-scoring answer would include a more complete examination and analysis of HCI issues (five or six) relevant to the web. It would include stronger reference to a specific search engine. It would discuss the impact of good or bad HCI design on core functions of search engines. It would also refer briefly to at least one other search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
Fail
No, the answer would probably be given a CREDIT if the discussion of key HCI issues (four or five) also contained examples from a search engine interface and comments on each example. A top-scoring answer would include a more complete examination and analysis of HCI issues (five or six) relevant to the web. It would include stronger reference to a specific search engine. It would discuss the impact of good or bad HCI design on core functions of search engines. It would also refer briefly to at least one other search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
High Distinction
Yes, the answer would probably be given a HIGH DISTINCTION if it included: a complete examination and analysis of HCI issues (five or six) relevant to the web, strong reference to a specific search engine; disucssion of the impact of good or bad HCI design on core functions of search engines; and some reference to at least one other search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
Distinction
No, the answer would probably be given a HIGH DISTINCTION if it included: a complete examination and analysis of HCI issues (five or six) relevant to the web, strong reference to a specific search engine; disucssion of the impact of good or bad HCI design on core functions of search engines; and some reference to at least one other search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
Credit
No, the answer would probably be given a HIGH DISTINCTION if it included: a complete examination and analysis of HCI issues (five or six) relevant to the web, strong reference to a specific search engine; disucssion of the impact of good or bad HCI design on core functions of search engines; and some reference to at least one other search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
Pass
No, the answer would probably be given a HIGH DISTINCTION if it included: a complete examination and analysis of HCI issues (five or six) relevant to the web, strong reference to a specific search engine; disucssion of the impact of good or bad HCI design on core functions of search engines; and some reference to at least one other search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
Fail
No, the answer would probably be given a HIGH DISTINCTION if it included: a complete examination and analysis of HCI issues (five or six) relevant to the web, strong reference to a specific search engine; disucssion of the impact of good or bad HCI design on core functions of search engines; and some reference to at least one other search engine for purposes of comparison/contrast.
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