IT

This course gives students an excellent base of knowledge and skills to work in a variety of digital industries, which is a growth sector in the North East of England. Students will gain a broad understanding of how data and information is used in business, learning about topics including hardware and software, computer systems, communication systems, number systems, ethical and environmental considerations, computer legislation, how data is analysed and used in computer systems.

Qualification: Cambridge Technicals Introductory Diploma in Information Technology

Awarding body OCR

Course content:

Year 12

Games Design and Prototyping

Students will learn about the key features of computer games and the importance of producing protypes before games are made. Students will then design and code a prototype of their own game which will be presented to key stakeholders. This unit allows students to be very creative and learn valuable industry skills.

Social Media and Digital Marketing

This unit looks at digital marketing as a concept and then offers the opportunity to explore the possible impacts, both positive and negative, that may be generated by the use of social media as a digital marketing tool. Students will plan the social media content of a digital marketing campaign to meet identified business objectives.

Year 13

Fundamentals of IT

This examined unit provides students with a broad understanding of how Information technology is used in a range of business settings. It will provide students with a base knowledge of different types of information systems, how to troubleshoot problems, communication protocols and number systems, and how to be an effective IT practitioner.

Global Information

Information is now an extremely valuable commodity. This unit explains how data is acquired, stored, analysed and used. It provides a detailed understanding of legislation regarding the use of information in the United Kingdom and beyond. Students then learn the principles and applications of data security so that information can be protected.

Application Design

In this unit students will explore potential ideas for a new application and develop the fundamental design for it. They will then develop the designs for an application and decide how users will interact with it.

Assessment:

The course comprises two written examinations and three coursework units:

Unit	Assessment Type	Weighting
Fundamentals of IT	Examination - 1hr 30 mins	25%
Global Information	Examination - 1hr 30 mins	25%
Games Design and Prototyping	Internally assessed and externally moderated coursework	16.67%
Social Media and Digital Marketing	Internally assessed and externally moderated coursework	16.67%
Application Design	Internally assessed and externally moderated coursework	16.67%

Why study this subject

This course offers routes into a variety of higher education courses and careers. It is a good progression pathway for students who have studied either Computer Science or ICT at GCSE level. Possible future careers include systems analyst, games developer, app developer, cyber security analyst, IT project manager, IT consultant, UX designer, network technician, social media analyst and ICT teacher.