A Level Applied Information and Communications Technology

 

To study this course you should also have an interest in developing the knowledge and skills you need to be a competent and informed ICT user and practitioner. You will enjoy A Level ICT if you would like to be able to select and use appropriate ICT tools and techniques to help you carry out investigations, solve problems, make decisions, and present and communicate information. The skills that you learn in A Level ICT will support your study in all other subject areas.

 

AS Units

 

Unit 1 - The Information Age

In this unit you will learn about the information & communication technologies that enable people to access and exchange information. You will also look at the impact that the internet has had on the way people conduct their personal and professional lives, explore the services it offers and gain ‘hands-on’ experience of using some of them.

 

Unit 2 - The Digital Economy

Paperless transactions are hallmarks of the digital economy. In this unit, you will investigate how organisations are responding to the pressures of the e-marketplace by using transactional websites to:

• present their products and services

• gather information

• provide a personalised service.

You will also use database software to understand the use of databases in organisations.

 

Unit 3 - The Knowledge Worker

In this unit you will learn about making informed decisions using the knowledge available to you (in the form of a spreadsheet model). You will learn to use spreadsheet software and some of the advanced tools and techniques.

A2 Units

 

Unit 7 - Using Database Software

In this unit you will develop your knowledge of, and skills in using, databases further. You will learn the principles of data modelling and sound database design, and will use relational database software to build working database systems. Your work for this unit will culminate in the design, development, testing and evaluation of a database for a specific purpose within a given scenario.

 

Unit 8 - Managing ICT Projects

This unit will introduce you to some formal

project management tools and methods and give you an opportunity to use specialist software to plan and monitor projects. You will be able to put into practice what you have learnt by setting up and running a small-scale software project.

 

Unit 10 - Using Multimedia Software

In this unit you will increase your understanding of the features and possibilities of the ICT tools needed to produce a multimedia product. You will use these and other tools to produce a well-designed multimedia product that communicate your ideas effectively. Your work for this unit will culminate in the design, development and testing of an interactive multimedia product for a specified target audience.

 

Assessment details

 

Unit 1

E-portfolio

Internally assessed coursework

Unit 2

E-portfolio

Internally assessed coursework

Unit 3

Practical task

Externally assessed in exam conditions

Assessment details

 

Unit 7

Practical task

Externally assessed in exam conditions

Unit 8

E-portfolio

Internally assessed coursework

Unit 10

E-portfolio

Internally assessed coursework

 

Progression

 

The GCE in Applied ICT qualifies for UCAS points so if you complete it successfully you could move on to study for a degree or BTEC Higher National Diploma in related subjects such as ICT, Computer Science, Information Systems, Multimedia, Software Engineering, Computer Networking, e-Business and Information Management. You could also go on to work based training such as IT User/Practitioner NVQs, vendor-specific qualifications or IT apprenticeships.

 

Exam board

 

Edexcel