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Command terms

Advice on Answering Command Terms​

Here is a guide to help you advise your students on answering Digital Society command terms, drawing on the provided sources and our conversation history:

AO1: Knowledge and Understanding​

These command terms primarily assess a student's grasp of the subject matter:

Define: Requires a clear and concise definition of a term, concept, or quantity.​

  • Advice: Focus on accuracy and precision. Use subject-specific vocabulary. Examples or explanations are usually not required.
  • Example question: Define 'spam'
  • Example answer: Unsolicited or unwanted electronic messages, often sent in bulk.

Identify: Asks for a selection from a range of possibilities.​

  • Advice: Be specific. Briefly name or list the required elements without extensive explanation.
  • Example: Identify autonomous technologies used in education.

Describe: Requires a detailed account of a concept, process, or event.​

  • Advice: Provide relevant characteristics and features. Include sufficient detail to paint a clear picture.
  • Example: Describe the role of digital media in your everyday life.

Outline: Calls for a brief summary or overview of a topic.​

  • Advice: Include the main points without going into great depth. Focus on clarity and conciseness.
  • Example: Outline the main stages of the design thinking process.

State: Requires a specific answer without any explanation or justification.​

  • Advice: Provide a direct and concise answer. Avoid elaborating or adding your opinion.
  • Example: State the number of bits in a byte.

AO2: Application and Analysis​

These command terms assess the ability to apply knowledge, break down information, and draw connections:

Analyse: Requires a breakdown of a concept, issue, or situation into its component parts to reveal its essential elements or structure.​

  • Advice: Go beyond description; identify key components and explain their relationship to the whole. Support your analysis with evidence.
  • Example: Analyse how social media algorithms influence what content users see.

Distinguish: Requires you to identify the differences between two or more things.​

  • Advice: Be clear about the specific points of difference. You may use a comparative format to highlight these distinctions.
  • Example: Distinguish between supervised and unsupervised machine learning.

Explain: Requires you to give a detailed account, including reasons or causes.​

  • Advice: Go beyond stating facts. Explain 'why' or 'how' something happens. Provide evidence and examples.
  • Example: Explain a negative impact on mental health related to the internet.

Suggest: Requires you to propose a solution, hypothesis, or a possible course of action.​

  • Advice: Your suggestion should be relevant to the context and logically sound. You may need to justify your proposition briefly.
  • Example: Suggest ways to protect personal data when using public Wi-Fi networks.

AO3: Evaluation and Synthesis​

These command terms assess the highest levels of thinking, requiring judgment, synthesis of information, and well-supported arguments:

Compare: Requires an account of the similarities between two or more things.​

  • Advice: Focus on the shared characteristics. You may use a comparative format to highlight the points of similarity.
  • Example: Compare cloud storage and local storage solutions for business data.

Compare and contrast: Requires a discussion of both similarities and differences between two or more things.​

  • Advice: Use a structured approach to highlight both shared and distinct features. Provide a balanced discussion.
  • Example: Compare and contrast the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare and education.

Contrast: Requires a discussion of only the differences between two or more things.​

  • Advice: Focus solely on the distinctions. Use a comparative format to emphasize the points of contrast.
  • Example: Contrast the impact of e-commerce on local businesses versus large corporations.

Discuss: Requires a considered and balanced review that explores a range of arguments, factors, or hypotheses.​

  • Advice: Present a multi-faceted perspective. Support your points with evidence and examples. Arrive at a clear and justified conclusion.
  • Example: Discuss whether Flynn School should introduce a facial recognition system that uses machine learning to analyze each student’s behaviour and give them a score that is automatically emailed to their parents.

Examine: Requires in-depth exploration or investigation of a topic or issue.​

  • Advice: Critically analyse the various facets of the topic, considering different perspectives and evidence. Offer a well-reasoned interpretation.
  • Example: Examine the ethical implications of using artificial intelligence in the recruitment process.

Evaluate: Requires an appraisal by weighing up the strengths and limitations of something.​

  • Advice: Present a balanced assessment, considering both positive and negative aspects. Justify your evaluation with evidence and reasoning.

Justify: Requires providing valid reasons or evidence to support a statement, action, or decision.​

  • Advice: Build a strong case based on logical arguments, facts, and examples. Aim for a persuasive and well-supported defense of your position.
  • Example: Justify the need for stricter regulations on data collection by social media companies.

To what extent: Requires a judgment about the degree or level to which something is true or valid.​

  • Advice: Consider varying viewpoints and perspectives. Weigh the evidence and present a nuanced judgment, acknowledging limitations and qualifications.
  • Example: To what extent has the internet democratized access to information?

Recommend: Requires you to advise a specific course of action, often with a justification for your choice.​

  • Advice: Clearly state your recommendation and explain the reasons behind it. Consider potential consequences and alternative options.
  • Example: Recommend a strategy for schools to address the issue of cyberbullying.