IT*
| IT is a popular vocational qualification offered at Churchill Sixth Form. IT is at the heart of everyday life - at home, work and in our leisure time. From computer graphics and control systems to communications and problem-solving, IT has an ever-increasing role to play in our lives. For the duration of this course you will cover many different and interesting aspects of the IT industry – you will be required to undertake a range of tasks aimed at developing your knowledge of this industry as well as developing your practical skills and ability across a range of interesting and informative projects. |
| Subject specific entry requirement: | Grade 5 in GCSE or equivalent ICT or Computer Science |
| Qualification: | Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma |
| Topics and areas covered: |
Unit 1: Fundamentals of IT (Examined) A sound understanding of IT technologies and practices is essential for IT professionals. Information learnt in this unit will provide a solid foundation in the fundamentals of hardware, networks, software, the ethical use of computers and how a business uses IT. After completing this unit, the knowledge, skills and understanding you have developed will underpin your study for the units that follow. Knowledge gained in the study of this unit will also help prepare you for IT industry qualifications in the future. Unit 2: Global Information (Examined) The purpose of this unit is to demonstrate the uses of information in the public domain, globally, in the cloud and across the internet. You will discover that good management of both data and information is essential, and that it can give any organisation a competitive edge. This unit will provide you with a greater understanding of how organisations use information sources both internally and externally, focusing on the types of information you will encounter. The skills gained will give knowledge of the functionality of information, how data is stored and processed by organisations. You will also learn how individuals use information of various types and categories and the relationship between data and information, understanding the regulations governing them. Unit 6: Application Design In this unit you will explore potential ideas for a new application and develop the fundamental design for it. You will then develop the designs for an application and how users will interact with it. The application that you design can be for any sector and for any purpose. You will have the opportunity to present your ideas, prototype them, and gain feedback before refining your design. Besides the technical knowledge that you will gain about designing an application, you will also learn key transferable skills such as liaising with clients, questioning people effectively to gain the information you need to develop successful designs, and presenting your ideas to an audience and getting feedback from them. Unit 9: Product Development You will learn about different product design methodologies and the role of the product development life cycle. In addition, you will discover the factors that influence product developments. The key to any product development being a success is the analysis, client review, design, testing and final acceptance that takes place. The skills that you will learn can be applied to the development of any product, large or small. You will use product development skills and work through the product development life cycle. Whether you are building a network, developing a website, developing a system for data analytics or creating an augmented or virtual reality resource, they are all products. It is therefore important that you understand the processes required for the development of products and that you can apply them to a variety of situations. Unit 21: Web Design and Prototyping In this unit you will research, design and produce an interactive, responsive website that is specific to a client’s needs, culminating in presenting the concept of the website using the prototype to the client. You will learn about the security risks in website design and how to minimise these threats. This unit will also allow you to incorporate existing interactive elements, as well as prototyping your own website. As technology develops, so does the scope of functionality of websites and the importance of an effective design that meets the needs of the organisation. |
| Future career path: |
The Technical Level 3 IT Diploma qualifies for the same UCAS points as the traditional A Level. Past students who have completed this qualification alongside other A Levels have been able to move on to work, Degrees/HNDs and Higher Apprenticeships in related subjects such as:
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| Examination information: |
50% of the final grade is based on the 2 examined units (Units 1 and 2) The other 50% of the final grades is based on the 3 coursework units. |
| Additional information: | Cannot be studied as an AS Level (4th choice). |