Digital Information Technology (BTEC)
Digital Information Technology (BTEC) is a hands-on course offering an insight into what it is like to work in the Digital sector. Digital skills span all industries, and almost all jobs in the UK today require employees to have a good level of digital literacy.
This course is a broad introduction to several aspects of Digital: from user experience and interface design to data management and IT systems. Through the study of these topics, learners will acquire sector-specific applied knowledge and skills and discover the processes and attitudes that underpin the sector.
GCSE (Year 10-11)
Examination Board: EDEXCEL
Course Description
In Digital Information Technology (BTEC), using realistic vocational contexts, students explore, develop and apply skills such as data management and data protection, project planning, and the design of user interfaces and dashboards as a way to present and interpret data. The course covers the iterative design process, cyber security, virtual teams, codes of conduct, and legal and ethical issues. All these topics and themes are very relevant to today’s digital landscape.
Component 1: Exploring User Interface Design Principles and Project Planning Techniques. Students develop their understanding of what makes an effective user interface and how to manage a project. They use this understanding to plan, design and create their own user interface.
Component 2: Collecting, Presenting and Interpreting Data. Students learn about the characteristics of data and information, and how they help organisations in decision making. They use data manipulation methods to create a dashboard to present and draw conclusions from information.
Component 3: Effective Digital Working Practices. Students explore how organisations use digital systems and the wider implications associated with their use.
This course builds an understanding of relevant employability skills and personal attributes, such as self-management and communication skills and the ability and willingness to evaluate and critically analyse their own performance.
The Digital Information Technology (BTEC) course offers a more practical approach than GCSE Computer Science and focuses on how technology is used in the workplace, it has one external exam and other two units are assessed internally. GCSE Computer Science offers a scientific approach with focus on programming and algorithms. It is assessed with 2 papers at the end of Year 11.
Assessment
In Digital Information Technology students are required to complete three components:
- Component 1: Exploring User Interface Design Principles and Project Planning Techniques (internal assessment with 4 tasks)
- Component 2: Collecting, Presenting and Interpreting Data (internal assessment with 3 tasks)
- Component 3: Effective Digital Working Practices (external exam set by Edexcel, worth 40%)
Possible outcome grades are shown below with the approximate GCSE equivalent grade:
| BTEC Grade | GCSE Comparative Grade |
|---|---|
| Distinction * | 8.5 |
| Distinction | 7 |
| Merit | 5.5 |
| Pass | 4 |
| Level 1 Distinction | 3 |
| Level 1 Merit | 2 |
| Level 1 Pass | 1.25 |
