KS4 Information Technology

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

WHAT ARE OCR NATIONALS?

The OCR Nationals suite of qualifications provides candidates with high quality, industry-relevant qualifications geared to the specific requirements of key sectors. They are vocationally-related qualifications that provide valuable opportunities for individuals to develop skills and gain underpinning knowledge and understanding which will support entry into work or progression to further studies through Further Education or Higher Education. The OCR Nationals are attractive, practically-based qualifications intended to stimulate and interest candidates. They support achievement of Key Skills and relate to national occupational standards thereby providing an ideal progression to National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) once individuals are in suitable employment.

BAYSGARTH OPTIONS

Single Award (Mandatory)

The DfES says that all pupils at Key Stage Four should follow an ICT program.

Baysgarth has decided that during Year 10 pupils will study for the OCR First Award in ICT, which is the equivalent to 1 full GCSE qualification. They must complete two units.

September to February Half Term - Unit 1 (ICT Skills for Business)

End of February to June - Unit 21 (Creating Computer Graphics)

Double or Triple Award Option

Pupils may choose to extend their single award qualification, by selecting ICT as one of their options at GCSE.

If they decide to do this, then they will partake in two more units, which will mean that they have achieved an OCR Full Award in ICT, which is the equivalent to 2 full GCSEs.

For pupils who have decided on this option, there may be an opportunity (dependent on time, some work may need to be completed after school) to increase the award even further to the First Certificate in ICT, which is the equivalent to 3 full GCSEs.

Assessment

Key features of the assessment of these qualifications are:

• Assessment of all units can take place at a time to suit candidates and centres. There are no timetabled exams required.
• Tutors and assessors can draw on real work-based opportunities for candidates to generate evidence. This approach has been found to motivate candidates and increase the likelihood of them staying on the programme. Even where work-based activities are limited; these qualifications are designed to enable candidates to generate assessment evidence in a vocationally-relevant context.
• Performance at unit level is graded holistically, as Pass, Merit or Distinction, recognising that candidates may perform better in meeting the requirements of some objectives more than others.
• All units are centre-assessed and externally moderated by an OCR Visiting Moderator.

Curriculum Content

Baysgarth has a number of units to choose from:

Mandatory unit

Unit 1 ICT skills for business

Optional units

Unit 2 Webpage creation
Unit 3 Digital imaging - plan and produce computer graphics
Unit 4 Design and produce multimedia products
Unit 5 Desktop publishing
Unit 6 Spreadsheets - design and use
Unit 7 Databases - design and use
Unit 8 Technological innovation and e-commerce
Unit 9 Customer support
Unit 10 Planning and supporting telecommunications
Unit 11 Career planning for IT
Unit 12 Work experience in IT
Unit 13 IT systems and user needs
Unit 14 Installation of applications
Unit 15 System testing and maintenance
Unit 16 Repair and decommission of IT equipment
Unit 17 CAD and CAM
Unit 18 Application of computer control
Unit 19 Application of data logging
Unit 20 Creating animation for the WWW using ICT
Unit 21 Creating computer graphics
Unit 22 Creating sound using ICT
Unit 23 Creating video

Skills and Knowledge

The OCR Level 2 Nationals in ICT have been developed to recognise candidates' skills, knowledge and understanding of Information and Communication Technology functions, environments and operations. They have been designed to accredit candidates' achievements in a modern and practical way that is relevant to the workplace. They do not certificate competence on the job but are work-related qualifications which will support progression to an NVQ once a candidate is in the workplace.

These qualifications specifically aim to:

• develop candidates' knowledge and understanding of the Information and Communication Technology sector
• develop candidates' skills, knowledge and understanding in contexts that are directly relevant
• to employment situations, thereby enhancing their employability within the Information and Communication Technology sector
• develop candidates' ability to work autonomously and effectively in an Information and Communication Technology context
• enable candidates to develop knowledge and understanding in specialist areas of Information and Communication Technology, and demonstrate the skills needed to participate in the operation and development of ICT specific or ICT non-specific business organisations
• encourage progression by assisting in the development of skills, knowledge and understanding that candidates will need to access further or higher education programmes or occupational training on a full-time or part-time basis
• encourage progression by assisting in the development of skills, knowledge and understanding that candidates will need to enter employment or enhance their current employment status
• promote interaction between employers, centres and candidates by relating teaching and assessment to real organisations.

WORK BASED LEARNING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

WHAT IS THE OCR ICT ENTRY CERTIFCATE?

The OCR Entry Level Certificate in Using ICT (Entry 3) has been designed to recognise candidates' practical skills in using information technology to carry out straightforward tasks in a range of vocational contexts. It has been designed to encourage an active learning approach that will be appropriate for both pre- and post-16 learners. It will also provide a practical introduction for those who are new to using ICT.

AIMS OF THE ENRTY CERTIFICATE

• To develop candidates' practical skills in using common software applications for a purpose
• To develop candidates' ability to operate ICT equipment correctly and safely
• To develop candidates' confidence in the use of ICT
• To encourage progression to qualifications at Level 1 of the National Qualifications

BAYSGARTH OPTIONS

This course will be offered by Baysgarth to all pupils who follow the work related learning option group, and therefore will not partake in the OCR National ICT qualifications.

Assessment

All units are centre-assessed and externally moderated by OCR. In order to achieve the units, candidates are required to demonstrate that they have achieved all of the assessment objectives. Centres are therefore required to devise activities/tasks that enable candidates to meet all of the assessment objectives specified in each unit.

Curriculum Content

The qualification contains four units:

Unit 1 - Displaying Information Using ICT
Unit 2 - Using ICT to Find Information
Unit 3 - Communicating Information Using ICT
Unit 4 - Producing Charts Using ICT

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