Digital Information Technology (Tech)

Taster Lesson

For this taster session, we will look at the different types of user interfaces available to us.

Key Details

Official Course Title: BTEC Level 1/2 Tech Award in Digital Information Technology (2022)

Exam Board: Edexcel (Pearson)

Further details can be obtained from: Mr Lucas

Aims and Content of the Course

Digital Information Technology is all around us and you would do well to find a job or career that doesn't require some understanding of IT systems.

This course has been designed to give you an experience in two of the main areas of IT; plus a basic understanding of IT so that you can go on to study it at Level 3 and beyond.

It should not be confused with Computer Science. IT is more geared to USING the computer to make something - whereas Computer Science is more about learning how to code and find out what goes on inside the computer itself!

So whether you want to be a web-designer, database manager, IT technician or help desk engineeer... this is for you. In fact, it would help with all kinds of career routes.

BTEC DIT goes quite nicely with Computer Science, Graphics and Business Studies; and definitely supports numeracy and literacy.

This is a very practical qualification - with much of the work completed using a PC. You will need to be able to explain your work clearly; and you wll also need to be quite an organised person (or at least be prepared to learn to be).

Assessment and Examinations

There are three 'Components' with this qualification.

Components 1 and 2 are assessed using coursework assignments where you are given a six hour window to complete the assignment. Each one is worth 30% of the final grade - so 60% of what you end up with is completed in the classroom.

Component 3 is a written exam and is worth 40% of the final grade.

The outcomes for BTEC courses are a little bit different to GCSE.

This is a rough 'guide':

Level 1 Pass, Merit and Distinction - these grades are the same as GCSE grades 1, 2 and 3.
Level 2 Pass is around about a Grade 4/5
Level 2 Merit is Grade 5/6
Level 2 Distinction is the same as a Grade 7/8

If you perform well in all three components, you can get a Level 2 Distinction* and that's the same as a Grade 8/9.

Component 1

30%

Google Docs

Google Slides

Google Sheets

Exploring User Interface Design Principles and Project Planning Techniques

COmponent 2

30%

Google Docs

Google Sheets

Collecting, Presenting and Interpreting Data

Component 3

40%

One written exam

Effective Digital Working Practices

Further Progression

On completion of this qualification, many students go on to study Level 3 IT - which is also a BTEC and operates in much the same way - just at a higher level.