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Date	May 2019	Marks available	6	Reference code	19M.2.SL.TZ0.9
Level	SL	Paper	2	Time zone	no time zone
Command term	To what extent	Question number	9	Adapted from	N/A

Question

Brownsville Council run several public libraries in different areas of the city. The libraries use an Integrated Library Management System (ILMS) to manage all items (for example books, DVDs, etc.) held by the libraries. Details of the items are stored in a database on a central server.

Below is part of the extensible markup language (XML) code used to describe an item.

<item id = "97812">
  <category>Book</category>
  <author>Stark, Elizabeth</author>
  <title>Handheld Device Usability</title>
  <genre>Computer Science</genre>
  <publisher>Taylor & Orams Inc.</publisher>
</item>

XML is based on open standards.

Library users interact with the ILMS through a web page that includes a form to search for items stored on the database.

The library managers have decided to extend their web pages to include a blog and a forum, maintained by the head librarian, in order to increase engagement with library users.

Define the term extensibility.

[1]

Outline one advantage of XML for sharing data on the web.

[2]

Distinguish between open standards and interoperability.

[2]

Describe the role of the common gateway interface (CGI) in processing search requests made via the web form.

[2]

Distinguish between a blog and a forum.

[2]

To what extent has the use of social media, blogs and forums enabled the head librarian to be a more effective decision maker?

[6]

Markscheme

Award [1 max].
The ability of something to be extended or expanded from its initial state, e.g. software / file Formats / programming languages;
The ability to add custom / user-defined elements (e.g. XML tags, plug-ins, add-ons);

Award [2 max].
In the real world, computer systems and databases contain data in incompatible formats;
XML data is stored in plain text format. This provides a software- and hardware-independent way of storing data / makes it much easier to create data that can be shared by different applications;
XML makes it easier to expand or upgrade to new operating systems / applications / browsers;

Award [2 max].
Interoperability is the ability of different computer systems (including operating systems and applications) to work cooperatively / share data;
Open standards are standards that are publicly available and (normally) free to use;
Open standards are one factor aiding interoperability;

Award [2 max].
The Common Gateway Interface (GGI) is part of the Web's Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP);
CGI is a method or convention for passing data back and forth between the server and the application;
A programmer can write a CGI application in a number of different languages. CGI provides a more efficient mechanism for data to be passed from the user's request to the application program (and back to the user);
CGI is not dependent on the operating system used by the server. The methods / conventions remain the same;

Award [2 max].
In a blog, only the owner can post an article / open a thread of discussion / start a theme;
In a forum all registered participants can post an article / open a thread;

In a blog, registered visitors may be allowed to comment but the blog owner may moderate the comments before displaying them;
in a forum all registered users are allowed to comment (without moderation);

In a blog users cannot edit or delete posts;
in a forum there may be moderators who can edit or delete posts after they have been made;

Award [6 max].
Note: do not award a tick for each idea, use the markband and use best-fit to determine the level of the response.

Blog

allows the head librarian to post articles/entries that give readers a better idea of the issues/decisions affecting the library/the background context that affect decisions / may result in better informed and focused comments from readers;
may foster a greater sense of participation / spirit of community / allow the head librarian to aggregate majority views;
the ability of the head librarian to moderate posts may allow off-topic/ unhelpful/offensive comments to be filtered-out / however this might also allow the head librarian to censor/modify comments that are legitimate but critical of library services/contrary to decisions that the library want to push-forward;

Forum

allow library users to raise issues that they find important rather than only commenting on issues raised by the head librarian / may allow greater head librarian to develop a greater awareness of issues affecting/affected by decisions;
lack of moderation may allow users to raise controversial issues / however may also reduce ability of head librarian to filter-out off-topic/unhelpful/ offensive posts;
may oblige head librarian to engage in greater discussion / justification of actions / however excessive time might be spent clarifying issues / dispelling myths;

Both blog and forum

the comments/posts may not be reflective of the general/majority view / may be restricted to a biased/self-selecting sub-set of library users. This may influence the head librarian to make decisions that cater for the "vocal" minority;

[1–2 marks]
A limited response that indicates very little understanding of the topic or the reason is not clear. Uses little or no appropriate subject specific terminology. No reference is made to the scenario in the stimulus material. The response is theoretical and descriptive.

[3–4 marks]
A superficial analysis of why the increased engagement with library users through the blog and forum will assist the head librarian with decision making. There is some use of appropriate subject specific terminology in the response.

[5–6 marks]
A discussion of why the increased engagement with library users through the blog and forum will assist the head librarian with decision making. Explicit and relevant references are made to the scenario in the stimulus material. There is appropriate use of subject specific terminology throughout the response.

Examiners report

Most answers were incorrect as the candidates were of the course in addressing ‘extensibility’ in this context.

Most candidates did not answer this correctly as the sharing data on the web using XML was not addressed specifically.

Most answers were generic in nature though candidates were able to distinguish between open standards and interoperability.

Though this was a straightforward question, many candidates had difficulty in answering this.

Most candidates were able to write at least one difference between a blog and a forum.

Though most of the responses lacked the details about how using blogs and forums could make the librarian more effective decision maker. The part where most candidates lost in this question was because they failed to address why the increased engagement with library users through the blog and forum will assist the head librarian in decision making. Explicit and relevant references had to be made to the given scenario that most candidates missed doing.

Syllabus sections

Option C: Web science » C.1 Creating the web

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17N.2.SL.TZ0.8d:

A fragment of a script and a web form are provided below.
In the script some functions are not implemented, and only their specification is provided.

<?php
  //include a database of urls
  include('url_db.php');
  $url = $short = "";

  if ($_SERVER["REQUEST_METHOD"] == "POST")
  { $url = $_POST['url'];
    $short = make_short($url);
    function make_short($u)
    { $x = make_alpha_string($u);
      $y = first4_last4($x);
      $z = limits($x);
      $v = $y. ".".$z;   //string concatenation
      return $v;
  }

  function make_alpha_string($u)
  { // It removes, in this order: substrings corresponding to
    // protocol names, the substring www, and all characters
    // except for letters
  }

  function first4_last4($u)
  { // It returns the string made of the first 4 characters
    // followed by the last 4 characters of $u
  }

  function limits($u)
  { // It returns the string made of the first character and
    // last character of $u
  }

  mysql_query("
    INSERT INTO url_db(orig_url, short_url, url_ip) VALUES
    ( '".$_POST['url']."',
      '".$short."',
      '".$_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR']."'
    )
  ");
 }
?>

<form method="post" action="">
URL:
<input type="text" name="url" />
<br><br>
<input type="submit" name="Submit" value="Submit" />
</form>

Describe the processing that occurs when the form is filled with the URL https://www.the2nd.org/bin.php?id=70 that the server discovers is associated with the IP address 172.16.254.1.

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Option C: Web science

Question

Markscheme

Examiners report

Syllabus sections

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