AS/A Level Applied ICT

AS/A LEVEL APPLIED ICT

WHAT IS APPLIED ICT?
This GCE vocational course in Applied ICT is aimed at students who may be considering a future career in ICT or a related area. This is a more coursework oriented route than a single A Level in Computing or ICT. Applied ICT comes in a Single (Using and Business use of ICT) and Double award (single plus technical, practical computing, networking and programming).

WHY SHOULD I STUDY APPLIED ICT?
The course will encourage students to:

• use ICT for the presentation and manipulation of information
• gain knowledge and understanding of the main features of ICT and its use in industry, commerce and the service sectors
• understand and apply the basic skills for manipulating spreadsheets and databases to an advanced level
• develop skills of analysis and design
• develop networking and web based skills
• get their hands on systems and upgrade and build systems
• develop their programming skills

COURSE STRUCTURE & CONTENT

Units in Year 1:
Units in Year 2:
a) Using ICT to communicate
g) Working to a brief
b) How organisations use ICT
h) Publishing
c) ICT solutions for individuals and society
i) Interactive multimedia products
d) System specification and configuration
j) Networking solutions
e) Communicating using computers
k) Database design
f) Introduction to programming
l) ICT solutions for people with individual needs

Single Award Double Award

Duration 2 years 2 years

Equivalent to: 1 A level 2 A Levels

Vocational Units 3(units: a, b, c)Year One followed 6(units: a f)in Year One followed by by 3(units: g, h, i)in Year Two 6(units: g l)in Year Two Tests External tests and Assignments External tests and Assignments
Key Skills

You will achieve Level 3 Key Skills in IT.
You will also be attending Level 3 Communication classes.

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?
The course is assessed by the OCR examination board and is a combination of external examinations and portfolio work. For the single award five of the units will be assessed through portfolio work and one through external examinations. For the double award you will produce portfolio work for eight of the units and complete external examinations in the remaining four. Grades for the AS and A level award will be awarded on a scale from A to E. Grades for the double awards will be from AA to EE.

USEFUL SKILLS & INTERESTS
In addition to the academic qualifications students who will benefit from this course are likely to have one or more of the following:

• an interest in the application of ICT and Computing
• good presentation skills and confidence in the use of ICT
• enjoy building, upgrading their computer at home

COURSE COMMITMENT
All students at Prior Pursglove College are expected to use their Private Study Periods to complete work set. Within this course there will be several intensive periods where you will need to be prepared to commit a large amount of time and effort in order to produce work of a high standard. It is very important that you allow for this within your commitments outside of college. You must also have good organisational skills and be selfmotivated.
COURSE COSTS
The purchase of further print credits may be required.

PROGRESSION ROUTES
The course aims to prepare you for employment in business or industry where you would use advanced ICT skills; it would also enable you to apply to study Computing, Games Programming, Networking or ICT in Higher Education. This course is also suitable if you wish to pursue a career in networking and want to achieve this by training whilst working e.g. network technicians.