Gr 11 Pages 140-144

My learners have been doing the chapter Working with paragraphs which includes tabs, columns and various paragraph features. They are completing the Computer Club Newsletter, Test-a-choc, Kliphuisie Holiday Resort and e-Game. They are doing so well!

How did we manage to do so well? They have methodically worked through Theme 2. I methodically spend my lessons walking the classroom giving advice where necessary. The learners work at their own speed on their own through the textbook, completing work each week. And the textbook has progressive activities which teach well.

Success in challenging aspects of Word! Learners feel successful.

Gr 10 Activity 6 on Page 200

The map of South Africa needed on page 200 Activity 6, when opened in Paint, only shows the colours of black and shades of grey.
In order to get colours save the image 16 ColorBitmap and you have the option of giving the provinces colour.

Eskom

Dear Eskom Boss
I have to set a 3 hour practical paper for CAT for grade 11. My school has made the timetable and will not change the days. I have to have 2 back to back sessions because I have so many learners.
I planned to have a 3 hour paper but your organisation is causing problems. Based on some reports, some days in the month of May have been designated as power outage days where we have no power between 12 and 2.30. My Grade 11 practical examination will be on one of those days. This means that 2 sessions have to written before 12 noon. We cannot split the sessions as the learners may not communicate with each other.
I can manage to write on that day only if the paper is cut to 2 hours, and we start my paper 30 minutes before school officially starts.
But now I have heard that power outage days are going to come to a stop.
I have set the paper but the paper and the organisation to write it, may have to change, as you change your mind. These are problems I do not need. Clarity is needed.
Sincerely
CAT teacher

Knowledge of input devices

In the Practical work for CAT in Gr 10 the LPG (page 28) indicates that the learner should have knowledge of input devices such as scanner and digital camera.
Well, we have just had a scanner installed and I will soon create lessons which will compel each learner to use a scanner.
With regard to the digital camera it was easier but not without problems. Each learner had to get photographs of themselves using technology. The pictures were all collected in a folder on the network and named accordingly. I organized a lesson where they will have to use pictures of themselves. Those learners who did not bring a photograph of themselves will have to select the EmptyCan or HotAirJustPromises files.
Learners took photographs using digital cameras and cell phones. They then transferred the pictures to the computer. One learner Bluetoothed his picture to my cell phone! I have also learned how to transfer files from my cell phone to my laptop!
In the Gr 11 Theoretical aspects the learners have to have operational knowledge of mobile technologies – I am learning how to use my cell phone and will soon create work which requires use of the cell phone.
Gr 11 also requires operational of networking – that still awaits investigation.

Gr 10 May examination

A number of people have indicated they wish to use my Grade 10 June exam papers.

The paper will be available on the blog, freely available after July, before that password protected. The work which will be covered are those from Theme 1 and Theme 2 up to middle May - have a look at the links. I hope to have the papers available in Afrikaans. The nice thing is that you can adapt them to your needs!

If you want to use the papers THIS term please send me the details below. I will then send you instructions for the preparatory work which needs to be done. You will receive the password later in May.
Teacher name, Cell number, School and Email address - send to docpam@gmail.com

SECURITY IS YOUR PROBLEM!

Searching for old material

To search for old material use the Search button at the top of the screen. Also look at a posting of 18 Feb 2008.

June Gr 12 Examination Paper

This is the form needed to complete for the June CAT Gr 12 Examination Paper from Study Opportunities.

Gr 12 PAT Phase 3

I had a brainwave for Phase 3.

The learners have all the information / evidence they have found in their LONG document arranged in a suitable order.

Have a table or list of all the questions at the BEGINNING of the document.

1. IN the long document repeat each question with its accompanying answer. LINK between the questions at the beginning and their questions/answers in the body using Bookmarks and Hyperlinks (Gr 12 textbook, page 118-119)
   
2. Add information in a small table under EACH question/answer in the body of the document with respect to the

• Evaluation of the trustworthiness of the websites or information
• Relevance of the information
• Indication of which information will be used
• Reasons why this information will help solve the problem

of EACH question.

Submit in digital AND print/hard copy format.

Gr 10 May examination

I have set a nice Grade 10 theory paper and will make it available on 22 May if anyone wishes to use it. It will also be available in Afrikaans.
There may also be other papers - Watch this space!

Gr 12 PAT Phase 2

Here is a copy of my best Phase 2 of the PAT, not full marks but the best in the class. She lost marks in her Search words / strategies and in Using advanced techniques / functions. She obtained 26/30, see the Phase 2 rubric
Here is her Phase 1 and the rubric where she obtained 30/35.

I marked it as I interpreted the rubrics!

Gr 12 Exam Papers from Study Opportunities

Study Opportunities has drawn up Grade 12 question papers (Paper 1 and 2) and memoranda for the June exams. While it is aimed at schools who use the Computers, part of your life series, the Content Framework in the LPG and Sample Papers were studied and compared and taken into account when drawing up the papers. The papers are set, checked and translated by a team of experienced teachers currently teaching the subject.

Note that the papers and memorandums will be available in English and Afrikaans but the papers need to be duplicated by the school.

The cost will be R125 per paper per school, irrespective of the number of learners.

The papers must be written on Wednesday 4 June (Paper 1) and Friday 6 June (Paper 2).

Study Opportunities also plan to do the same with the Prelims/Trial Exams. The June Paper will be used as a trial run to sort out potential logistical problems.

An entry form and more information will be available from Study Opportunities next week.

Gr 12 Februarie toets

My Februarie toets is vertaal. Hier is the vraestel en die Appendix Dankie Judy Louw wat al die vertaal werk gedoen het.

Gr 12 PAT - Phase 2

I have almost finished marking Phase 2 of the PAT.

1. I would say 3/4 of my learners have not shown or indicated how they can use Word, Access or Excel to solve the problem in their PAT. In future I think the rubric needs a special feature, similar to the Internet search feature, on retrieving information from processing data in Word, Access and Excel.
   
2. Many learners will not be able to get the answers to their questions in the sources/places they listed as they are not aligned.
   
3. A few of the learners had nice Survey features. In future I think the rubric needs a special feature, similar to the Internet search feature, on retrieving information from a Survey.
   

So much teaching is still required!

Gr 11 Projects - Activity 1 on page 309

- The Gr 10 learners used the program Inspiration to create mindmaps to assist the Gr 8 learners in doing their projects in steps. I intend printing and laminating them to put in a visible area for the Gr 8 learners. Here is the work of

• Savanah Johnston
• Stuart Bardin
• Brandon Luttig
• Adrian le Roux

Front covers of textbook

In the past photographs of my learners were used on the front covers of the CAT textbooks. They were so thrilled and even now they ‘look’ at themselves on the front. Other kids ‘look’ at their friend’s pictures! It was so cool!
I am looking forward to seeing what pictures have been sent for the new front covers! Details of how to take them and submit them are on the web site. The date for submission has been extended to 18 April.
Look at some of my entries! A grade 10 learner at home, and her brother.

Gr 11 Integrated task 1

The learners need to be taught the difference between an Agenda and Minutes! In the Paired Reading task they cannot seem to get the difference!
I do recommned that learners are taught how to prepare an agenda so that they are able to realise that not all templates are correct and that they must evaluate them.
The templates and wizards in Word are much too involved and not of the level required.

Gr 12 February test

Have a look at my Gr 12 February written test on Hardware, software and networks including trouble shooting with the Appendix. I set the test within a school environment. Many learners lost marks as they did not answer their questions within that environment!

Judy Louw kindly translated the tests! Hier is die vraestel and die bylaag!

(This test is based on the order of work from my education department melded with the textbook.)

Appropriate dress for teaching CAT

When we teach CAT we have to be so careful with respect to our dress. We teach young men and women with bouncing hormones!
I have noticed short skirts and low dress lines (I cannot think of correct words). When we crawl around computer boxes and lean over learners to assist them, we must wear suitable clothes.
And our breath …

Gr 10 Theme 1 test

Here is the test I did this week where I focused on Theme 1. I tried to set it within a scenario and where ICT skills are applied. Use if you wish.
There is a question where learners have to compare things. This feature has repeatedly been done poorly in all grades I have tested. I must really teach them that tables compare like things.
If someone translates the test I do hope they will let me share it with others via the blog

Gr 11 February test

Here is the test I did this week where I focused on Networking. I tried to set it within a scenario and where ICT skills are applied. Use if you wish.

Gr 10 Theory

Some of the Gr 10 learners had time for extension in the hardware section. These are a few of the videos they created on Storage devices. Here is work by Lloyd de Kock and Gareth Jones.
I did not ‘teach’ them Windows Movie Maker. I told them to make a video on Storage devices using photos which we took in class, using Windows Movie Maker. They learned to explore and read the screen. The videos did not count for marks and there was no stress, just (learning) fun.

Tests and exam papers

We must be sure to set tests and exam paper in a scenario where the learners apply their knowledge. For many teachers this is quite a jump from their old method but this is what makes CAT so useful – all knowledge must be applied and not just lose facts.

Excel - Vlookup

This Vlookup function may be of use. Download it and save to your network. To open it, right click on the file and open it with Internet Explorer. Turn the sound up.

PAT

Have a look at all postings from last year on the PAT. In the place where it says Search type in the words PAT. Click SEARCH BLOG and see what happens.

Gr 12 PAT

Please read this message aloud!
How do we do a PAT? First we read the instructions aloud to ourselves, once, twice, three and even four times. We underline problematic words. We talk to ourselves – what could it mean? We phone / visit and talk to other CAT teachers. All the words in the PAT are important and clear – perhaps we just need to learn to read.
We ignore the words in the English PAT of ‘problem’. (Ek weet nie wat in die Afrikaans staan nie.) Where ever we see the word ‘problem’ in the PAT we change it to plain English (plat Engels) of ‘what must we show or do’. We are going to show the management of the school how the Office suite can be used to organise / administer something!
To help the learners, look in the Gr 12 textbook, Pages 185-189. Let the learners do Activity 1 and 2. Activity 1 wants the learners to Read and rewrite the PAT instructions, and then add questions. You have a look at Activity 2. It should be better now.
Hope you read this message aloud! You did? Okay, now read it again! Now go and read the PAT instructions and rubric again. Phase 1 is simple if you read it aloud again and again and again.

Understanding and connecting

We adults are so distanced from young people. I was teaching adult Computer Literacy teachers this week about creating movies with Windows Movie Maker. After creating the movies I suggested that they sign up at YouTube so they could upload their videos. I said ‘YouTube’ and did not write the words on the board. At least 25% of the class of adults went online to http://www.utube.com/ and then to http://www.utubeonline.com/ (Have a look.) They had never been to YouTube and did not even know how to spell it.
We have to understand our learners’ worlds if we hope to engage them in the learning process, and YouTube is part of their world. At least these teachers are trying to keep up - good for them!

They know so much!

The Grade 11s do a section on networking. I know that this weekend many of my Grade 11 males are to be found at a LAN party in Milnerton. Look at http://www.oc.co.za/. Look at some of the Photos. Those learners know more about networking than I do! Next weekend some of them will also be at another LAN party at Bothasig at http://carnagesa.net/ I have never seen so many computers in one room!
The Grade 11 book has a section on mobile learning so I told my learners to bring their phones to school so we could practically learn about sending files via Bluetooth, creating audio clips, taking videos and pictures, etc. They brought them to school but I was laughed at when I discussed ‘teaching’ it. They taught me! As Sive said, he has been using Bluetooth for 2 years, so … Well, using MMS and Bluetooth, they sent me music and video clips and I learned.

Second and third time

I am doing Gr 10 with these textbooks for the 3rd time and Gr 11 for the 2nd time. I am seeing things in activities I had not noticed before. Second and third time around I am really getting to grips with the subject and the textbooks!
I am becoming more and more aware of the value and importance of the subject.

Test creation

At this time of the year we are starting to create tests.
I suggest that we look very closely at the work done in class and set the tests accordingly. We must assess what has been taught!
I note that the Programme of Assessment in the Subject Assessment Guidelines gives ‘examples’ of tests that must be done. Some subject advisors/learning facilitators expect teachers to follow the examples exactly, although they are ‘examples’. We teachers are then stuck between the demands of the subject advisors/learning facilitators and the path of the textbook we are using. Textbooks usually have very good reasons for the order of their work.
Solution – something has to give. Bottom line – test what has been taught. Think of the learners.

Gr 10

I am so glad we are doing easy work at the beginning of Grade 10. It gives me a chance to teach the learners how I want their work managed.

1. All work needs to be printed and the learners need to know how to work with my printer – that needs special teaching!
2. Managing the printed and digital work needs attention. The printed work must be put into files in a logical way with dividers between sections. Each activity that is printed needs a footer with the learner’s name and a disclaimer, and a header with the activity name. Each learner also has to learn how to save their work on the network in a logical way with correct file names. In other words their printed work must be saved in a clear way in the same way as their digital work.
3. All work must be completed by a particular date – even now, 4th week of term, some learners are still learning what work means!
4. It also gives me time to orientate new learners coming late in the term to our school, who decide to take CAT.
5. And most important, some learners are still learning how to read instructions!

Gr 11 Activity 10 on page 32

The learners are asked to compare two online retail stores. This means that they must put the information into a table with three columns.
My learners did not do it correctly, just writing one page on doing one store and then a second page on the other store. This table may make things clearer.

Gr 11 Activity 15 on page 36

My learners are really enjoying the quizzes on page 36!

Gr 12 PAT

The formatting of the PAT document caused me problems when photocopying it for my learners. The shading in the formatting of the tables helps the understanding of the tables BUT when it is photocopied it is difficult to read. I tried to take the formatting out but the document was in PDF format (as it is an official document) which means it cannot be changed. So I asked for a Word copy of the document.
I managed to get a Draft copy of the document and then took the shading out. I printed it and gave it to my learners. I told them it was a Draft document – I put the official document on the data projector and the network and the learners shaded the important areas with a highlighter themselves. I told them it was a draft document and it is their responsibility to compare it with the official document. Use this Draft document with care – the shading has been removed. Here is the Official document.

Gr 12 Activities 1 and 2 on pages 12 and 15 - Solution and data update

Module 1.2, Activity 1 - new possible solution
Module 1.2, Activity 2 – data update.
Click the link to access the possible solution and data update.

Gr 12 Activity 6 on page 171 - Access Tables Test

To use this PowerPoint, when it opens you must enable the macro.
If you are not asked about ‘enabling’ you must do something first.
In this PowerPoint go to Tools, Macro, Security and set the level to Medium.
Save, Close and Open again.
View it.

Gr 12 Theory on Networks

RSS feeds and blogging are in the 2008 LPG for CAT under the section on the Network environment (p 36) for Gr 12. You may have noticed my RSS feed from the Mail and Guardian on this blog! Have a look at the slide shows from the Technology Information Center for Administrative Leadership (TICAL) on Blogs in a four-minute slideshow and Real simple syndication (RSS) is covered in a seven-minute slideshow. Many other resources are available as well.

Look at this collection of links.
Blogging
How to create - http://www.compmat.wcape.school.za/PHS/blogging/Blogging/BloggingForBeginners.html
How to create - http://www.compmat.wcape.school.za/PHS/blogging/BloggingForBeginners.pdf
In plain English - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NN2I1pWXjXI&feature=user
Tips for blogging - http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2007/04/09/twenty-usability-tips-for-your-blog-%e2%80%94-condensed-from-dozens-of-bloggers-experiences/
RSS
In plain English - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0klgLsSxGsU&feature=related
Quiz - http://www.compmat.wcape.school.za/PHS/blogging/RSSquiz.htm
Google Reader
Adding Atom feeds - http://www.bloggerbuster.com/2007/10/what-is-atomrss.html
RSS feeds: Using Google Reader with RSS, Atom, & XML Feeds - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=LQUsnjcxnDY
Introduction - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VXE5HN0DDRs&feature=related
How to use - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Ltttw5yORv8&feature=related

Gr 10 Theory

Have a look at these Gr 10 quizzes on Name the Device and Hardware created by a teacher at CBC Parklands. The self marking quizzes are made using Excel – see the tip sheets to make your own.

Gr 12 Hardware Upgrade

I made this PowerPoint presentation/quiz for the section on Upgrading for Gr 12. Have a look and use it with your classes, if you wish. You must follow the instructions on the first slide.

Gr 12 Activity 4 on page 104 - Word labels

In the Grade 12 textbook page 104 you have to create labels using Word. This guide may be of help. Also have a look at the other tip sheets on that page.

Value of CAT

I have just had such a nice response from a person at HESA. I will report on that soon on the blog.

Value of CAT

Learners doing CAT are at such an advantage. The Department of Education and universities have made such a mistake in not making CAT one of the subjects which count for university entrance. In the same way that English or another language counts for university entrance so should CAT. CAT is the language of the 21st century and of academia. I have no idea how they came to regard CAT as not valuable enough for university! I have just started teaching the new Grade 12 work from the Study Opportunities book – wow! I have looked at the exercises in the textbook. That is not university work? Someone has made a major mistake! My learners are angry that a subject where they work at such a high level of thinking is not designated as good enough.
I believe there is a movement among the learners and their parents at my school to petition the HESA http://www.hesa.org.za/hesa/ Link to the Matriculation Board web site at http://www.hesa.org.za/hesa/content.asp?id=420 Have a look at the list of designated subjects on http://www.hesa-enrol.ac.za/nishe/faqs.htm According to the web site the list was finalised in 2005! Did the committee read the NCS? Did they know what they were evaluating? That date was very early to make such a huge decision and I believe it is now time to reconsider. May I propose that the HESA get a selection of textbooks that are being used in the subject and consider them, look at which textbook has market share as that probably has a large influence on the level of the subject; and look at the exemplars and first Gr 12 paper to be written this year. Then re-evaluate the subject.

Gr 12

The Gr 12 textbook is so good! My learners are doing the first chapters about Upgrading and Buying a computer. I like the way they have to ‘work’ with the theory and learn by doing so. The questions in the activities are so well written and help with the learning! (Thank goodness the answers/solutions are on the CD.)

And all the PowerPoint presentations – wonderful! When I have finished ‘teaching’ with them I have added automatic transitions and in Slideshow, Setup Show put them onto Loop continuously. They then play continuously on the data projector as I work assisting learners individually in the lab.

Power or lack of it

I think we should all keep a log of power outages showing the time and the class/grades missing lessons. We must make sure that when we have power we WORK. Somehow we must have a supply of suitable paper based exercises that the learners can do in class when we have no power. I have told mine that if they are considering buying a computer for home, it should be a laptop which can be charged and always have 2 hours of available power. We will have to plan how we are going to run tests, and the power goes down. And exams when we have two sessions! Oh dear, I had not thought of this!
Luckily we have our textbooks and the learners can use them, especially the Gr 12 book which has many many good written exercises.
We must also make sure that work is saved on the network AND on a flash drive/removable hard drive so that we can work on it at another place or on a laptop which has power.

Gr 12 PAT Introduction

I introduced the Gr 12 PAT to my learners this week. I used the PowerPoint available here to illustrate my introduction. The learners found the presentation most useful. They now have this weekend to think of their topic and then we will start on Phase 1 due in February. They discussed topics in class. I told them that the topics had to be ones which I understood, i.e. they could not do anything about organising the irrigation system to the sports fields. The topics they will probably select are about dances, tours, elections, managing discipline and detention, field trips, etc. They are most excited and after Omewa really feel confident about doing it.

PAT

I have been creating the PowerPoint for the Gr 12 PAT. I based my information on the documentation for the 2008 PAT from the documents at National Education. I am so impressed with the clarity of that document. I now really understand the PAT and will be able to explain it to my learners. (The writer of the PAT document must have seen my problems last year.) I must take my hat off to the person who developed the document – they really know how to write! I am reminded again and again that CAT is a developing subject and things will only get better!
My PowerPoint is available here.

Documentation

All the important documents for CAT and IT are available on the Department of Education's web site, i.e the NCS, LPG, SAG, PAT and Gr 12 Exemplar.

Gr 12 work schedule

In die nuwe SAG wat vanaf 2008 geimplementeer moet word, is 'n paar klein
veranderinge aangebring. Let op dat daar in die derde kwartaal (behalwe die
rekordeksamen) net een toets voorgeskryf word (en nie 'n taak ook nie.)

In the new SAG which must be implemented from 2008, there is a small change from previous SAGs. In the 3rd term apart from the mock exams, just one test and no task is written. The adapted work schedule is available here.

PATs in 2008

Grades 10 and 11
I am looking forward to doing the PAT in Grades 10 and 11 this year. I have had experience in doing it and now know a few things.
I know that the focus of the PAT is solving a problem.
The learners must solve the problem with the WHOLE problem / BIG picture in mind.
The learners need to have tools to solve that problem.
The learners need to know the possibilities of the computer packages they have to use so that they can use them for solving the problem.
Therefore I must wait until the learners have learned to use the packages they are meant to use, until I start the PAT.
Therefore I will only start the Gr 10 PAT when I have taught Word AND Excel. I will start the Gr 11 PAT when I have taught Word AND Excel AND Access.
Grade 12
For the Gr 12 the guide provided by the Department is well written and clear. The learners who did the Omewa PAT will be at a wonderful advantage. I will start doing the Gr 12 PAT in the first term. (I am working on a PowerPoint I will be using with my learners and will upload it later this week.)

Reflections on the CAT practical exam

This year I was a good girl and set my practical examination papers out the number of marks as indicated in the Subject Assessment Guidelines, 180 for Grade 10 and 200 for Grade 11. I wanted to do the right thing! I did this without thinking of the consequences. Grade 11 was fine. However my Grade 10s wrote the Written and Practical papers on Thursday and the marks had to be ready to submit on Monday. I was not able to complete marking the papers in the allocated time on my own and had to get assistance in marking all 60 learners Written and Practical work. I do not know if I was slow but …

I do hope that those who do the planning for matric marking realise that the Practical papers are now out of twice as many marks as before, and may require more markers and a longer norm time.

Some thing else I will implement in future practical examinations. At our school cell phones are not allowed in the exam venues. I will also ban calculators as so many of the weak learners try to use them in their spreadsheet questions, forgetting that we mark on the computer checking the formulas!

I am looking forward to a rest from school work in the holidays and being able to catch up on relationships and domestic matters.

PAT - Value of

Seeing these final OMEWA PATs made me again realise how valuable the PAT is. A while ago a teacher posted a message on the CompStudies mailing list and one of her comments about the PAT were that she felt that there are too much emphasis on finding and gathering information and that it was unnecessary since most CAT learners do not go to university.

Whether you go to university (and many CAT learners will go), or not, LO3 is a very valuable LO. This is where everything we do in CAT 'comes together'.

Most of the tasks we all do every day life, irrespective of our career and job function deal with 'problems' to solve - problems where we need the right information before we can solve it / come to a conclusion, etc. The PAT gives the learner the opportunity to show if he/she can solve a problem and also use a computer to help him/her find and gather information, to organise and manipulate it as well as present the result/solution to the problem effectively.

Examples
I wrote the following on the CompStudies list: I saw the value of the PAT when a guy came to school yesterday to use my computers to book an airline ticket. Firstly he faffed and fiddled about the date, the time and then how to pay. If he had asked the right questions before he began looking - what, when, how - he would not have wasted so much time. He looked at 5 airlines, did some calculations, and eventually bought the ticket. The process took ages because he was not clear where he was going. If this had been a PAT we would have needed a Conclusion indicating we had a ticket, and had checked prices on 5 airlines and decided on SAA because …
This airline booking incident showed me how all learners whether they do to university or not, need the thinking and planning skills of a PAT (LO3).

A secretary must organise and plan for a visit of an overseas delegation from Japan to visit their city and look at their company for investment purposes.
* Where and how can one book/get their flight information?
* Will there be any special dietary needs for this group?
* What food should (or should not) be served at the welcoming function?
* What information needs to be given to the delegation the form of an information brochure?
* Where can one get welcoming words in Japanese for the CEO of the company?
* Where will they stay – for how long?
* Do they need transport?
* What budget is available for their stay and functions?
* Will they need transport arranged? Will an interpreter be needed or be helpful?
* Will they have time to take in local tourist attractions - which ones?
* Which staff will be invited or required to attend the function? Do they need formal invitations or will an inter-office e-mail/memo suffice?
* Is there money available to purchase each member of the delegation a small memento of the city?

An administrative assistant has to facilitate the process where different provinces send their teachers for teacher training. What details about these teachers must she keep and save?, whom must she contact in the provinces?, when and how will she communicate with the teachers? - and many more…. The 'boss' does not have time to spell out EVERYTHING and the assistant is expected to be able TO THINK FOR HERSELF!!!! OK - she will use the Office Packages in the process - and it IS very important to be able to do it efficiently and effectively (LO2) - BUT that is not where the focus should be anymore. The packages are a tool or a means to an end or a solution, not the end itself.

The PAT does also provide an opportunity to revise the use of the packages, especially concepts that might have last been worked with in prior terms. (Working through exemplar papers and exam type questions will also naturally help!)