IT Advanced Diploma

IT (Advanced Diploma)

Advanced Diploma

Principle Learning

Business

Unit 1: Potential Technology
This unit looks at the relationship between business and technology and considers how technology has impacted on organizations. You will find out more about emerging technologies and investigate how technology can help an organization achieve its objectives.

Unit 2: Understanding Organisations
This unit is all about understanding organizations and their structures, and employee roles and responsibilities with an ICT focus. The impact of ICT systems on organisational performance can increase the efficiency and profitability of an organization.
However, changing or upgrading existing systems to facilitate these improvements is not without risk.

People

Unit 3: Professional Development
This unit will supply you with the knowledge and some of the sills needed to communicate effectively in a business environment. You will study the me used to communicate within a business environment and the legal and ethical protocols that organisations have to practise. You will be given the chance to work in a team and improve your interpersonal skills, including how to give and respond to critical feedback.

Unit 7: Making Projects Successful
This unit takes you into the complexities of larger projects. A well-run project that brings in a result within budget is of great value. Project management is becoming one of the most important functions in the business world and a good project manager can be literally worth their weight in gold. This unit will equip you with some of the skills needed to become a good project manager.

Technology

Unit 4: Creating Technology Systems
In this unit you will learn about the role and interaction of key components of technology systems and how to apply industry standard approaches to design, develop and test small-scale technology-enabled solutions. You will extend your understanding of database software and learn how to use a programming language such as Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to customise and enhance the functionality of the database systems you produce.

Unit 5: Managing Technology Systems
This unit looks at understanding the core techniques for managing the availability and security of technology systems. You will learn how to manage small-scale live technology system operations, how to ensure system availability and find out how to troubleshoot system problems involving viruses and user errors. You will also learn how to configure a small-scale technology system suitable for business use, including fixed line and mobile communications, networking and security.

Unit 6: Multimedia and Digital Projects
How many websites do you access? Do you stop to think how easy they are to use and how effective they are at providing you with the information you want?
In this unit, you will develop an informational website for a particular audience after researching the types of multimedia components in use. There are many types of multimedia product such as computer games, digital brochures, simulations, virtual reality, advertisements and virtual tours. In this unit, you will also design and develop your own multimedia product.

How will I be assessed?
Units 2 and 7 are externally assessed whilst the remaining units are internally assessed.

Why should I study this subject?
The UK IT industry is a fast-growing and dynamic sector. More than a million people already work in it, and with growth rates of up to eight times the national average, there are plenty of exciting and rewarding career opportunities. In fact, the UK needs more than 150,000 people every year just to fill new positions. IT is vital in just about every industry you can think of, from retail to sport and from music to banking. Thats why understanding technology is an important part of today's education. For a successful career in IT you'll need to work well with people, understand the way business and technology work together, and to be able to bring all these skills together to run effective projects.

What can this subject lead to?
If you are keen to take your learning into a work -based environment, there are local training providers who specialise in IT, technical engineering and business administration. There are jobs you can start to apply for at 16 but you may wish to consider whether you want to combine work and learning or continue your learning full-time. Technology is a rapidly developing, innovative and creative work sector that requires workers keen to up-skill and who continue to learn in the work environment as new technology comes along. The Diploma in IT is a valuable course and can give you useful skills for a variety of jobs. These might include careers in such fields as software development, web support, technical and user support, systems analysts, computer graphics and games design. However the diploma also gives a firm foundation that will enable you to progress into higher education.