ICT
AS-Level
This Lower Sixth AS Level course (OCR) is a progression from GCSE Information and Communication Technology and therefore a pass at GCSE grade B or above will be an essential requirement. As with GCSE, a major part of the course is assessed internally by means of coursework projects, and it is necessary to be fully committed to a self-disciplined working regime so that assignments are fully complete by the deadlines set.
The course will be assessed in three units: units 1 and 2 account for 60% of the award and are based on theory tested by a written exam paper, while the third will be based on a project worth 40% of the award.
The content of the course changes each year, as might be expected with such a rapidly accelerating issue, but in general outline it consists of:
Knowledge and Understanding
Unit 1: Information: Nature, role, and context.
Unit 2: Information: Management and manipulation.
Candidates should be able to:
- describe a wide range of uses of ICT in the home and in the work place;
- comment critically on the impact of ICT with respect to legal, moral, social, health and safety and environmental issues;
- describe the components of a networked management information system (MIS) and explain how it is managed;
- describe the factors influencing user interface design and comment critically on the necessity to meet the needs of the user specifically;
- describe the features of standard generic application software and explain how to select and use them for tasks, configuring/tailoring them to meet users needs;
- describe and explain the need for, and the use of, various forms of data organisation and processing to support the information requirements of a particular application;
- describe and explain the systematic development of effective solutions to problems, and the techniques appropriate for implementing such solutions;
- describe and explain the management of change, organisational functions and how integrated office systems software supports MIS in organisations;
- communicate in writing and:
- select and use a form and style of writing appropriate to purpose and complex subject matter;
- organise relevant information clearly and coherently using specialist vocabulary where appropriate;
- ensure text is legible, and spelling, punctuation and grammar are accurate, so that meaning is clear.
Unit 3: Use of generic software for task solution
Candidates should be able to:
- define, investigate and analyse a problem situation, identifying user requirements and preparing a specification;
- design a solution to meet a specification;
- select and tailor appropriate application software necessary to carry out successful implementation of the design;
- specify procedures for security, maintenance and installation of the system;
- prepare detailed user documentation and evaluate a system.