ICT at key stage 3 (Year 8)

Unit 11: Data - use and misuse
Section 1: Activity 1 (1)

Objectives

Children should learn:

that data about us can be easily collected through data capture forms

that bar codes are used to identify products, ie the bar code holds a number sequence which is unique to the product, and is read by a bar code reader or scanner

Activities

Outcomes

Children:

Introduce to the class the scenario of 'going to the supermarket'. The scenario must include the use of loyalty cards and credit/debit cards. Pupils should listen to arguments, note the main points and consider their relevance.
Discuss with the pupils the benefits of loyalty cards to customers, eg points, money off, special sale prices, etc. Once several benefits are identified give out examples of loyalty card application forms.
Discuss with the class what information the supermarket gets from the application form. Expand the discussion, eg How will they store the data? What links this information to the card?
Once the idea that the card and its use is linked to a name and address in a database move onto the next discussion: the benefit of loyalty cards to supermarkets. The discussion should lead to the understanding that supermarkets can gain in-depth knowledge of our personal shopping habits without having to ask us. Extended discussion could emphasise possible dangers to the consumer.

Now discuss with the pupils the goods on the shelf, eg Are the goods priced? Where is the price? Lead on to: How does the supermarket know the price at the checkout?
Explain the link between bar codes and the products. If possible, either use the internet to apply bar codes to database queries or an automated library (see Points to note on ISBN).
Discuss with the pupils the benefit of bar codes to the supermarket; main points should include easy control of pricing, accuracy at the till and stock control.
Discuss future developments, eg personal bar code readers and internet shopping. Relate this discussion to loyalty cards and how the use of bar codes enables supermarkets to collate data on individual shopping habits. Discuss the implications this might have for advertising, special offers.

listen and be able to comment fully on the main points of what they have heard
understand that information can be readily gathered about people and used to help in decision making by large organisations

describe how the bar coding system operates and its links to data handling

Points to note

Homework could involve finding out which loyalty systems family members belong to and what reasons they have for using them.

www.isbn.nu is the ISBN database and can be used to show the significance of the bar code number. A number of bar code websites exist and some allow the six-digit US manufacturer's number to be searched.
Homework could involve speculation on how retailers might extend the data they collect to target shoppers more effectively, and discussion on the ethics of this sort of data collection.

Sections in this unit

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This unit is divided into sections. Each section contains a sequence of activities with related objectives and outcomes. You can view this unit by moving through the sections or print/download the whole unit.


	1. Activity 1 (1)
	2. Activity 1 (2)
	3. Activity 2 (1)
	4. Activity 2 (2)
	5. Activity 2 (3)
	6. Activity 3 (1)
	7. Activity 3 (2)
	8. Activity 3 (3)