Level 3 Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma in IT OCR

MODULAR (YEAR 13)
This course complements the certificate that can be studied in Year 12, but is a separate qualification. Together they are the equivalent of an A Level.

Year 2 Topics studied
Unit 12
– Website Production
Nearly all businesses and organisations realise the importance of having a web presence in the 21st century. It provides an opportunity to reach an international audience with their product or brand. Websites need to be well designed to keep visitors returning and avoid excluding user groups by being inaccessible. Companies need to analyse the technical considerations to ensure they do not hinder the user experience. This unit will prepare you to design, create and test a fully functioning website, while also providing essential grounding knowledge on the architecture, design and security issues that need to be considered.

Unit 28 – Networked Systems Security
On completion of this unit you will know the range of network attacks, where they originate and why. You will be able to use this information to develop an understanding of the ways in which networks can be protected, how organisations can avoid or reduce their risk of attack and plan security procedures to protect the network. You will also have the necessary practical skills to configure hardware and software to improve security against attack and carry out tests on systems to confirm that the network system is secure from potential attacks and threats.

Unit 32 – Computer Game Design
This unit allows you to explore the nature of the games industry and which elements make up a game concept. You will understand the history of computer games from the early versions through to the massive multiplayer games and the high end graphical games that currently exist. This will allow you to think about what the future may hold in terms of gaming. You will understand the concept of expansion packs and why these are so vital within the gaming industry in terms of additional revenue. You will understand the concepts of storyboarding which will include characters, motivations, objectives, game play and gaming environment. You will need to be taught about gaming documentation and be able to develop and use project planning methodologies. You will be able to present a game concept to stakeholders and understand the importance of a well planned presentation to a client. You will gain feedback from stakeholders and then use this feedback to improve your game concept.

Assessment details
The assessment for the qualifications is task-based, so you won’t need to take exams to achieve Cambridge Technicals qualifications. All units are assessed and moderated within the school and then an external assessor will moderate the complete units twice a year, in February and June.

Entry Requirements
As a minimum requirement we ask that applicants for this course achieve 5 grade Bs in their GCSE subjects. Note: It is not necessary to have studied Computing or ICT at GCSE.

Expectations
With this course consisting of 3 practical projects which students will be working on throughout the year, it is expected that students will continue to develop the higher Distinction level criteria through self-guided work outside of guided learning hours and to meet all deadlines.

Outside of the Classroom
Outside of the classroom students will have the opportunity to involve themselves in a variety of extra-curricular activities which support, further developer and broaden their knowledge from lessons.

Reasons to Study this
The great thing about the Cambridge Technicals is that they still give you a choice of opportunities once you’ve completed them.

The three choices open to you are:
a. Employment, where you can put your new practical skills towards generating an income.
b. Further education, such as a higher-level qualification at school or college.
c. Higher education, such as a degree course at university.

Access to higher education is possible as the Cambridge Technical have the same amount of UCAS points as traditional A Levels.

Find Out More
For more information, please see the Exam Board specification for the course at http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/by-subject/ict/