This unit aims to develop learners’ knowledge and use of information technology including the use of standard office applications to prepare documents and presentations. This includes computer software and hardware, basic computer operations, application software, operating systems, information systems and IT-related issues in computing. The unit also seeks to provide learners with an awareness of ethical issues essential to an IT professional. This includes ethics in the cyberspace, intellectual property, privacy, the issue of security and reliability, how computing affects our health, professional code of ethics and how IT changes our daily lives.
This unit aims to provide an opportunity to learn mathematics and statistics and equip learners with the mathematical skills to analyse and solve problems that will enable them to work within the field of IT. The unit covers number systems, logic, relations, functions, quadratic equations, quadratic functions, simultaneous equations, polynomial equations, exponential functions, logarithmic functions, coordinate geometry and matrices. The unit provides an opportunity to learn statistics and equip learners with the descriptive and analytical methods for dealing with variability in observed data. It covers graphical presentation of data, descriptive statistics, index numbers, correlation and regression, time series, probability and statistical inference.
This unit aims to provide knowledge of personal computer hardware. Successful completion of this unit will enable learners to install a computer system unit and operating system and conduct troubleshooting. The unit provides the essential knowledge of computer hardware, the software needed to make a hardware work, the components of the hardware and the technologies and principles that support the components. In addition to this knowledge, learners will be able to assemble computer hardware to build a full set PC, understand how to install the operation system and how to conduct troubleshooting in faulty hardware.
This unit also aims to provide the basic concepts about operating systems and to be able to install, configure and operate two commonly used operating systems. It includes an overview of Windows and Linux operating systems, the installation and configuration of these systems; the use of proper file systems; managing groups and users; installing and uninstalling applications on these two operating systems; operating basic command-line environment; manipulating simple files and printer-sharing.
This unit aims to explain the concepts of photo editing. This will enable learners to insert photos into documents such as user manuals and the IT structure of an organization. The photos may need to be touched up before they are ready for use. This mainly involves using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator for photo/image editing and designing. The unit delivers skills in photo retouching and digital drawing to address the issues of digital image design. It emphasizes exploration, techniques, media, ideas development and production techniques.
This unit also provides the fundamental concepts of a database system through Database Management System (DBMS), relational databases, entity relationship modelling and normalization. Learners are also required to create database systems using the database language of Structured Query Language (SQL).
