BTEC Introductory Diploma in IT@Work Level 1 Qualification – equivalent to 4 GCSE grade ‘D’ Curriculum Leader: Andrew Hossack

Tutor: Andrew Hossack

Core units
Starting Work in the IT Industry

In this unit learners will be able to explore a variety of jobs that are available in the IT sector. The learners will soon realise that a number of these jobs cover work in technical support ,software design, website design, network support, selling and marketing. The learners will be able to see how different jobs are needed to run IT systems, design websites and support IT users. The learners will also begin to understand what skills are needed for particular jobs and what training is needed to get those skills.

Working in the IT industry

In this unit learners look at what it means to be at work in the IT sector. Learners will find out more about what it’s like being at work. This will include looking at what the job terms and conditions are usually like. It is important that learners know what these are before they start work.

Learners will also find out about the set of procedures that are used to monitor employees in any job. These will help learners during their period of employment. When learners start work they will usually go through a period of training and introduction to the job called induction. This unit will help them find out what this involves.

Developing Skills in IT

In this unit learners will learn to use the basic functions of a computer and to understand its operating system in a business context. Learners will develop an understanding of the IT desktop environment and will have the opportunity to learn how to work with a computer and printer, how to organise files and how to manipulate windows.

Personal skills units

Personal Effectiveness

This unit offers learners the opportunity to explore their own potential by carrying out an audit of their skills related to the job market of the IT sector. Learners will put together a curriculum vitae (CV) to show to employers.

Social Responsibility at Work

This unit helps learners to look at what they can contribute to their working environment.Learners will look at:

• their place of work
• the environment they work in
• why it is important to have laws to protect them and the people that they work with
• how they might have an influence on society by exploring environmental issues at work.

Financial Management

This unit is designed to provide learners with the knowledge and confidence to manage their money by looking at how money is earned and developing personal budgeting skills. It is envisaged that the use of a suitable software application, such as a spreadsheet, would be the most appropriate means to show evidence for this unit.

Vocational option units

PC Systems

In this unit learners will learn how a PC system works. They will learn about the purpose of each piece of equipment and how to connect the various pieces together and ensure that they are in working order. Learners will investigate a range of equipment and review prices and suitability for purpose. Once they have chosen a system they will write a simple guide for users.

Using the Internet

In this unit, learners will learn how to use the internet. They will practise using email to send, receive and forward mail. An essential part of this unit is the ability to navigate the worldwide web safely using standard procedures and search methods. Being able to make successful searches and saving information will be useful skills to support their work in other units.Learners will also explore the moral and ethical issues surrounding the use of the internet.

IT Applications

In this unit learners will learn how to use IT applications including word processing, spreadsheets and presentation software. They will use these skills to produce documents, reports and presentation packs targeted at specific audiences. Learners will learn about conventional layout procedures, and how to integrate images, charts and graphs into documents.

Digital Devices

In this unit learners will learn how to use a range of current digital devices. These devices are being used in business and industry to record sound, take images and store them. The advantage of these devices is that they improve quality and increase speed. For most users it is useful to be able to publish or print an image soon after it has been taken. For example sports photographers use digital cameras to record key images from sporting events (eg football matches) and those images can be sent electronically to the photographer’s newspaper very soon after they are taken, enabling the newspaper to be published more quickly.