NB. Although A level ICT no longer exists, I have left these materials in case they are useful for other courses.
Below is a list of the topics examined by the ICT2 theory paper. By the
end of the course, there will be entries in the Materials column for
all sections of the course. Note that where there are Word documents and PowerPoint presentations for the same topic, they are not necessarily the same.
Topic |
Contents
|
Materials
|
Data Capture |
Describe methods of data capture and identify appropriate contexts for their use
Understand the concept of data encoding
|
Data Capture Methods PowerPoint presentation
(Data, Information and Knowledge for encoding)
|
Validation and Verification |
Understand the difference between accuracy
and validity
Explain sources of errors and how they could be overcome
Understand the difference between validation and verification
Describe appropriate data validation techniques
|
Validation and Verification
|
Organisation of data for effective retrieval |
Describe methods of data capture and identify appropriate contexts for their use
Understand the concept of data encoding
|
Relational databases
Boolean operators (PowerPoint presentation)
You might also like to look at the Databases section of this web-site
|
Software: nature, capabilities and limitations
|
distinguish between systems and application software
describe the nature of generic, package and bespoke software
describe the functionality of internet software
describe the features of software that make it appropriate for particular users
explain the technical and human implications of upgrading software
explain the difficulties of thoroughly testing complex software
|
Software nature & capabilities
Generic software
Object Linking and Embedding
(Word)
Upgrading and software evaluation
|
Manipulation and/or
Processing |
Describe the different modes of operation: batch, interactive,
transaction and real-time, identifying appropriate contexts for use.
Describe the characteristics of processing data in the form of text,
pictures, numbers and sound.
|
Manipulation and Processing - PowerPoint presentation
Modes of Processing - Word document
|
Dissemination/Distribution |
Describe the need for suitable output formats and orderings to
communicate the results of data interrogation and undertake report
generation.
|
This section has been covered implicitly through other sections, including:
Relational
databases
|
Hardware; nature, capabilities and limitations |
Decribe the broad characteristics, capabilities and limitations of current input devices, storage devices, communication devices, processing devices and output devices, and identify appropriate contexts for their use
|
2-7 Nature of Hardware - PowerPoint presentation
2-7 Configurability of Hardware - Word document
Storage Media Comparison
|
Security of Data |
Understand the importance of mechanisms for maintaining security
Understand the difference between privacy and security
Understand procedures to protect against accidental or malicious alteration
Understand the need for regular and systematic backups and procedures for recovery
|
Security of Data PowerPoint presentation
Security of Data Word document
|
Network Environments |
Describe the characteristics and relative advantages of network and standalone environments
Decribe the difference between a Local area and a Wide area network
Describe the elements of network environments
|
Network environments
|
Human/Computer Interface |
Understand the need to form an effective dialogue between humans and machines
Explain the need to design systems appropriate to both users and environments
Describe the advantages of common user interfaces
Describe the advantages and limitations of a natural language interface
|
User Interfaces (PowerPoint presentation)
|
NB. To move through a PowerPoint presentation that runs in a window (rather than full-screen), you need to use the PgUp and PgDn keys - don't ask me why!