IT (BTEC Level 2 Diploma)

Specific Entry Criteria

Standard college requirements for an intermediate level programme.

About the Subject

Information technology is a popular subject at all levels. This course is at intermediate level, and successful students will achieve the equivalent of 4 GCSE passes at grades C or above.

The course covers a wide range of information technology skills and acts as a very good preparation for the BTEC Level 3 Extended National Diploma in IT course that we offer in the department. The BTEC Level 3 Extended National Diploma is a good preparation for University study or employment within the IT industry.

The BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Information Technology will appeal to you if you have a lively and enquiring mind, an interest in Information Technology, a willingness to explore new ideas and an ability to communicate those ideas effectively. Over the course of the year, you will develop your problem solving and written communication skills through the more practical parts of the course.

Over the past five years students on intermediate information technology courses have consistently performed at a higher level compared to students in the rest of the country.

Course Content

This course lasts for one year, and is composed of 7 units of study. The first two units are about working and communicating in the IT industry where you will learn valuable interview skills and techniques. It continues with the third unit on Computer Systems. This unit lets you install and configure software on to a virtual computer as well as building necessary knowledge about the different hardware within a computer. You will be given the opportunity to take apart a computer and then reassemble it.

These three units form the basis of the course, focusing on the hardware and software in modern computer systems and Working in IT.

There are two more units in Website Development and Multimedia Design that help you to learn the skills required to create interactive applications and websites. In both cases you will learn specialist software used in graphic design, web site design and animation. Again, you will apply your new theoretical and practical work to create suitable solutions based on a given scenario and produce professional interactive applications and a website.

The final units, Database systems and Spreadsheet Modelling look at a range of useful business applications. You will be expected to produce spreadsheet and database applications that someone else can use. Spreadsheet and database applications are used throughout businesses regardless of the products and service these business use (e.g. banking, marketing, multimedia industries, engineering, science, etc).

The skills you learn are very important skills when formatting and presenting data as well as producing an analysis of your findings. Again, real life examples are used to ensure the usefulness of these units.

The skills you learn are very important skills when formatting and presenting data as well as producing an analysis of your findings. Again, real life examples are used to ensure the usefulness of these units.

Assessment

All units are assessed by assignments that are set and marked in the college. The marked assignments are finally verified by the examination board BTEC. There are no external examinations.