BTEC Digital Information Technology scheme of work

Lessons

1. Types of user interface
2. Uses and devices
3. Choosing an interface
4. Audience needs
5. Colour, fonts and language
6. Layout and user perception
7. Attention and intuitive design
8. Designing an efficient interface

By the end, pupils can

• Describe the five main types of user interface and give an example of each
• Explain how interfaces are used on handheld devices, appliances, controlling devices and embedded systems
• Explain the factors and the hardware and software influences that affect the choice of interface
• Describe how accessibility needs, skill level and demographics affect interface design
• Apply design principles for colour, fonts, language, information and layout to a screen

Lessons

1. Planning tools
2. Gantt charts
3. Project methodologies
4. The project proposal
5. Accessibility and constraints
6. The project plan
7. Creating an initial design
8. Developing the user interface

By the end, pupils can

• Choose and use planning tools such as task lists, mind maps and mood boards
• Read and draw a Gantt chart with durations, dependencies and milestones
• Compare waterfall, agile and scrum and justify a methodology for a brief
• Write a project proposal with user, input, output and accessibility requirements
• Identify project constraints and explain how to manage them

Lessons

1. How to review a user interface
2. Gathering feedback as evidence
3. Strengths and weaknesses of the interface
4. Suggesting improvements
5. Reviewing project planning techniques

By the end, pupils can

• Use a criteria, evidence, judgement and improvement method to review a user interface
• Write well-developed review sentences instead of superficial ones
• Gather feedback using user testing, questionnaires and observation
• Judge how well user requirements, purpose and audience have been met
• Review ease of use, accessibility features and the design principles

Lessons

1. Data and information
2. Representing information
3. Making data suitable for processing
4. Primary and secondary data
5. Reliable data collection
6. Quality of information
7. How sectors use data
8. Threats to individuals

By the end, pupils can

• Describe the difference between data and information
• Choose and justify suitable ways to represent information
• Explain how validation and verification make data suitable for processing
• Compare primary and secondary data and their sources
• Assess how collection features affect reliability and suggest improvements

Lessons

1. Importing data and simple formulae
2. Sorting, filtering and text to columns
3. Decision-making functions and what-if analysis
4. Conditional totals, counts and lookups
5. Cell referencing and linked worksheets
6. Subtotals, outlines and alternative views
7. Conditional formatting and presentation features
8. Data summaries and pivot tables
9. Charts, form controls and macros

By the end, pupils can

• Import data from files and the internet and process it with formulae and functions
• Sort and filter data and split it with text to columns
• Use IF, AND, OR, NOT and what-if analysis to make decisions with data
• Use SUMIF, count functions and VLOOKUP/HLOOKUP to total, count and find data
• Use absolute references, named cells and linked worksheets to build a reliable dashboard

Lessons

1. Trends, patterns and errors
2. Using a dashboard to present findings
3. Drawing justified conclusions
4. Misleading charts
5. Presentation features and justifying choices

By the end, pupils can

• Identify trends, patterns and possible errors in a dataset
• Describe findings using evidence: numbers, dates and comparisons
• Use a dashboard’s summary figures, charts and pivot tables to present findings
• Draw justified conclusions linked to a scenario, with a recommendation
• Explain how truncated axes, cherry-picking, 3D effects and missing labels mislead readers

Lessons

1. Ad hoc networks
2. Network availability
3. Cloud storage
4. Features and uses of cloud computing
5. Selecting platforms and services – Part A
6. Selecting platforms and services – Part B
7. Cloud and ‘traditional’ systems together
8. Implications for organisations

By the end, pupils can

• Explain how ad hoc networks are set up, and their security and performance issues.
• Explain the factors that affect network availability.
• Explain cloud storage features: access rights, synchronisation, availability and scalability.
• Describe the features and uses of cloud computing, including collaboration and version control.
• Explain how the number and complexity of features, and paid vs free, affect the choice of platform.

Lessons

1. Modern teams
2. Managing modern teams
3. Communicating with stakeholders
4. Inclusivity and accessibility
5. Impacts on organisations
6. Impacts on individuals

By the end, pupils can

• Describe the features of modern teams: world, multicultural, inclusive, 24/7/365 and flexible
• Explain how collaboration, communication, scheduling and planning tools help manage modern teams
• Choose suitable platforms and private or public channels to communicate with stakeholders
• Explain how interface design and accessibility features make technology inclusive
• Explain the infrastructure organisations need and the demands it must meet

Lessons

1. Why systems are attacked
2. Malware
3. Hacking, denial of service and interception
4. Phishing and social engineering
5. Internal threats
6. Controlling user access
7. Protecting data
8. Finding weaknesses
9. Security policy

By the end, pupils can

• Explain why organisations’ systems are attacked and the impact of a security breach
• Describe the main types of malware and how each one spreads
• Compare external threats such as hacking, DoS, phishing, pharming and man-in-the-middle attacks
• Identify internal threats to data and how they can be reduced
• Explain how physical security, passwords, access levels, biometrics and 2FA restrict user access

Lessons

1. Shared data
2. Environmental impact
3. Equal access and net neutrality
4. Acceptable use policies
5. Social and business boundaries
6. Data protection principles
7. Data and the internet
8. Intellectual property
9. Criminal use of computer systems

By the end, pupils can

• Describe the benefits and drawbacks of shared data and how to use it responsibly
• Explain the environmental impact of manufacturing, using and disposing of IT systems
• Explain why equal access matters and the laws and standards that require it
• Describe net neutrality and explain how it affects organisations
• Describe the parts of an acceptable use policy and why each is needed

Lessons

1. Forms of notation
2. Flowcharts
3. Data flow diagrams
4. Information flow diagrams
5. System diagrams
6. Combining diagrams and written information

By the end, pupils can

• Explain why organisations use different forms of notation to explain systems, data and information
• Interpret tables, written information and diagrams in a range of workplace contexts
• Read and draw flowcharts using terminator, process, decision and input/output symbols
• Read and draw data flow diagrams with external entities, processes, data stores and labelled flows
• Draw information flow diagrams that show who passes what information to whom