Computer Application Contest Changes with Technology Advances

By Linda Tarrant, State Contest Director | Wednesday, January 12, 2011 1:35 PM

Technology keeps changing, and the Computer Applications Contest continues to be pulled forward in the wake. With Microsoft Office 2010 now available, Computer Applications, in the spirit of using the "current or near current version of Microsoft Office,” will allow use of either Office 2007 or 2010 for all contests.

Currently, tests are written in Office 2007, and they are tested in both Office 2007 and 2010. Where the applications are not consistent, instructions are added for clarification. So far, most of the differences between the two versions seem again to be in the area of Access report output and are minimal.

For the official UIL tests for spring 2011, the Constitution clearly specifies the following parameters:

• Each contestant must provide his/her own laptop computer, printer and blank paper.
• Each contestant must have a saving device, such as a blank CD, a formatted floppy disk or a flash drive.
• Optionally, a keyboard or keypad may be added, and a mouse may be added.
• All coaches are required as graders.

On the subject of grading, the Constitution stipulates the following, "All coaches are required to serve as graders, unless excused by the contest director. The contest director may disqualify contestants if a grader is not provided."

If a coach has a significant reason to miss the grading of a test and is excused, he/she should provide a substitute to be available to grade. A substitute does not necessarily have to be familiar with the contest, but it helps.

I offer my personal thanks after 12 years as contest director to the coaches who have been so supportive and who have worked so hard helping their students develop new skills.