OCR Level 2 Cambridge Technical Diploma in IT

Course outline

Level 2 Cambridge Technicals are vocational qualifications that are designed to give a work-focused alternative to GCSEs. They’ve been designed to give students opportunities to demonstrate and develop the practical application of knowledge and understanding in the areas of work that appeal to them. This will enable students to develop research skills whilst studying, both independently and with colleagues, to progress through the qualifications.

Assessment

The assessment for the qualifications is task-based, so you won’t need to take exams to achieve Cambridge Technicals qualifications. You will complete 7 units and be assessed on the assignment work you produce.

2 Mandatory Units:

Unit 1: Communicating in the IT Industry

Communication is a vital skill for any individual. The effective use of communication and flexibility of styles within the workplace is essential to maintain good working practice. This unit identifies the different IT tools available for safe and secure communication and exchange of information within an organisation. Learners will consider approaches and adapt the way they communicate, depending on their audience. This unit will prepare learners to effectively use various communication channels, within a working environment.

Unit 2: Working in the IT Industry

The IT industry is evolving and changing by the year as new technologies are discovered. This unit will allow learners to investigate the types of job roles available in the IT industry and what the industry are looking for in a prospective employee. This unit will prepare learners with the knowledge of their realistic career prospects.

The learner will have a greater understanding of the qualifications required for a selected IT job role. The unit will allow the learners to focus on what jobs are available and what characteristics they will need to secure that job.

The 5 Optional Units could include;

Unit 9: Website Development

The Internet is an essential part of everyday life used for shopping, communication, leisure, gaming and finding information to name just a few. Websites are mostly aimed at a specific target audience, while others aim to be inclusive to a wide range of people and can comprise of a range of images, animation, video and sound to add to the user experience. Although including multimedia in websites can be eye-catching, it is important for these websites to be accessible for a variety of users and consider restrictive factors such as the speed of the user’s Internet connection or version of browser they are using.

This unit will prepare learners to design, create and test a fully functioning website to meet a client’s specification, while also providing the basic knowledge of the components that aid web accessibility.

Unit 10: Computer Graphics

Graphics come in a variety of formats, sizes and purposes. Everywhere you look you are likely to see images that have been created or edited using a computer and graphics software e.g. on websites, leaflets, posters, product packaging to name a few. Graphics can be made using a variety of methods such as through hand drawing, using a graphics tablet, a digital camera, video camera, or creating them from scratch on the computer. Businesses need to give themselves a professional image when they use graphics on their documents or products and in a rapidly moving industry, it is important for their graphics to be of a high quality or else a poor image can be given of the company.

This unit will provide learners with the knowledge of hardware and software required to work with computer graphics. It will also guide them in the skills needed to create and use appropriately their own graphics.

The aim of the unit is to give learners experience and understanding of the hardware and software needed to create and edit computer graphics for a range of purposes.

Unit 12: Presenting Information using IT

Using IT is an essential skill in most work environments, and it is essential that when working in the IT sector that learners are able to understand and use the software tools effectively to present a range of information. Learners should develop the ability to correctly choose the most appropriate applications for presenting a range of data to a range of customers and should be able to transfer these skills to other units and other situations where they need to present and communicate information to others.

This unit allows learners to understand what software is available to produce different documents and what different documents are used for. They will be able to produce appropriate documents for differing audiences and be able to review them. This unit will allow learners to understand how documents are used in business and how these documents change depending on the audience they are aimed at.

Unit 16: Fundamentals of Computer Applications

This unit allows the learner to explore the development and use of computer applications. The learner will understand how computer applications are designed, the need for a consistent approach and be able to explain the tools used. This involves creating a design for a computer application for which they have been given a suitable specification. Learners will be able to produce a simple level of technical documentation for development and testing.

Unit 19: Mobile Communications Technology

Learners will understand the features and uses of mobile communication devices and be able to compare different devices. Learners will understand how businesses use mobile communication and the benefits and drawbacks of this. Learners will understand the social and legal implications of using mobile technologies. They will also learn how to set up and test mobile communication devices and how to make improvements to the set-up of these devices.

Unit 24: Animation Techniques

From this unit the learners will understand the animation process and the different types of animation that are used to present an idea or story. They will understand the hardware and the software that is used to create different animations. The unit will enable learners to produce an animation and understand the techniques that are used by animators to create an animation and how these can be used to achieve a client’s brief. Learners will be able to understand how products are reviewed and tested and how to use feedback as a means of improving their work. This unit could be used as a foundation by people wishing to work in the animation industry.

Teaching styles:

The course is taught using lectures, demonstrations, practical work, group activities and individual study. Teachers are well-qualified and experienced in their field of expertise, and they provide students with a high level of professional support.

Resources and facilities:

Students will study in well-equipped classrooms. Each student will have access to a PC – all of which are of high specification, and are loaded with up-to-date appropriate software.

Access to PCs outside of class time will be possible at lunchtime and sometimes at the end of the college day.

Key features:

This course aims to build on the progress made by the students following the BTEC Level 1 Certificate for I.T Users.

The Certificate seeks to provide students with the skills they may need in the world of work, and also introduce them to the subjects they may study if they decide to continue their education with a Level 3 ICT course.

Progression:

The BTEC qualification is offered as a progression route to BTEC Level 3. It can equally provide progression into employment in an ICT-related field. The skills and knowledge developed would support a number of career opportunities in the ICT sector.

Provisional entry requirements:

Five grade Ds or 3s at GCSE, or equivalent, including Grade D or 3 in English and Mathematics.

Students will benefit from having developed some ICT skills and awareness prior to the course, but this is not essential.