Adaption of Software for the management of data [80h]
The apprentices ... Technical knowledge Process knowledge Reflective knowledge

.. inform themselves about the representation of information by using data within a project.

They analyze data with regard to origin, type, availability, data protection, data security and storage requirements and consider data formats and storage solutions.

Project design (especially for software work): Project models, phases, descriptions and forms of work)
Team and group work

Difference between data and information Illustrations

Data sources

Types of data

Data formats

Data protection

Data security (backup programmes and -strategies)

Data protection and backup

Storage options

Selection of an appropriate project design Interpretation of data and information:

  • Determining the origin and checking the the availability and preparation of data
  • Determining the storage requirements of the required data
  • Presentation of data Selection of storage facilities
  • Evaluation of
    selection criteria for storage

Conflicts in groups or teams during projects

Communication rules for projects decision making and implementation

Systemic description of projects (expert estimation, Delphi method)

Calculation methods for project phases, milestones, software usage)

Position of information in the context of data and knowledge

Information theory according to Shannon: main theorems of data processing technology
... plan the adaptation of an application for the management of data resources and develop test cases. In doing so, they decide how to proceed. 

Distinction between hardware and Software 

IPO model, input, processing, output, data types such as lists and fields Programming concepts:

  • Variables 
  • Modules 
  • Comments and statements 
  • Control structures, loops, case distinctions 
  • Structured programming 
  • Object-oriented programming, e.g. classes, objects, inheritance, methods
  • Processes, methods, keywords, libraries

Documentation and visualisation of programmes:

  • Flowcharts
  • UML
  • Nassi-Shneiderman diagrams
  • (Runtime) environment: compiler, linker other elements of the development process:
  • Error messages
  • Software generators Source code Requirements and specifications Test models and cases

Determination for software adaptation Specification of:

  • Test model
  • Acceptance criteria
  • Test expectations
  • Use of software generator

Operational and customer-specific Possibilities and necessities

History of the software

interpretative processing 

compiling processing

Complex data structures

Algorithms and numerics
... students implement the adaptation of the application, also in a team and create software documentation. 

Adaptation (incl. error propagation)

Software documentation

Software documentation tools

Distributed programming

Execution of the adaptations, also at the customer

Preparation of the documentation

Evaluation of the documentation (criteria and standards)
... test the function of the application and assess its suitability for coping with the requirements. 

Test design (test data, procedure and philosophy)

Test models and cases Test-driven development

Determination of test results

Evaluation of tests, explanation to the client and documentation

Evaluation and explanation of the relevance of the testing

limited validity of tests
... evaluate the software development process.

Evaluation Process steps

Consideration of the evaluation criteria and the evaluation process

Conclusions for further developments

Continuous improvement process (CIP)


Source: Handout vocational school - Occupation: IT specialist   (15.05.2023)