General
Unit 2: Technology Systems
Level 1 / Level 2 First Certificate in Information and Creative Technology
Helen Griffiths
Start Date Brecon week commencing 18th December 2023
Unit 2 Technology Systems Brecon/Neath 2023-24
Course: Unit 2 Technology Systems Brecon/Neath 2023-24 | Grŵp NPTC Group Moodle
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Instructions: Clicking on the section name will show / hide the section.
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Literacy, Numeracy, Digital Literacy and Welsh words
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In this section, you will find links to resources which can be used to improve your literacy and numeracy skills. You will also find logs which you will use to record your progress as well as information concerning the BTEC complaints procedure. All other policies can be found within the 'Students' section of Moodle.
Englicious - http://www.englicious.org/node/411
Numeracy Skills Practice - http://www.test-questions.com/qts-skills-test-numeracy-01.php
BTEC Complaints: http://www.edexcel.com/Aboutus/contact-us/complaints-feedback/Pages/complaints-and-feedback.aspx
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Session 1 - LA.A - Unit introduction & technology systems - 18/12/2023
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Unit Introduction Section
Today we will have an introduction to this unit and then we will investigate computer and technology systems and issues of technology systems.
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Sectors
Construction Finance Health Manufacturing Retail Activity 2 Part 2
Spin the wheel
Pairs/Small Group activity - you will be allocated a sector. In pairs, create a mind map and make note of the technology systems used.
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Activity 2 Part 3 - Group activity - discuss the remaining sector and on the Clevertouch board, create a mind map and make a note of the technology systems used.
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Investigate technology systems in the retail sector by researching self-service checkouts in supermarkets - 10 minutes
- Use the diagram supplied and label it to identify the ways the inputs and outputs are used.
- Review the system and list some of the drawbacks.
- Suggest improvements of these systems
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Session 2 - Applications and Issues/Computer Hardware - 19/12/2023
Today, we will cover the following content:
- issues involved in the use of technology systems, including health and safety, security measures (passwords, authentication, levels of access), environmental, sustainability, privacy and copyright
- reasons why future development of a technology system is important to organisations, including competitive advantage, reduced costs and improved performance.
Understand the features, uses and implications of hardware devices, including:
- devices (PC, server, laptop, tablet, games console and other programmable digital devices)
- input – keyboard, mouse, sensors, touch screen, microphone, scanner, digital camera
- output – printers (inkjet, laser, impact), speakers, force feedback devices, actuators, screens, projectors, robot arms, other control devices
- storage devices – solid state, optical media, magnetic media
- that modern technology devices are often multifunctional (have both input and output functionality)
- how hardware components and software can be combined to form an automated technology system (self-service checkout, production line)
- the uses of devices that capture data for automated systems (barcode readers, magnetic strip readers, optical character readers (OCR), optical mark readers (OMR) and radio frequency identification systems (RFID))
- suitable devices to suit the requirements for a specific user and purpose, and justify their use.
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Starter Activity
Robot Videos Amazon Ford Amazon Drone -
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Activity 1 - Classroom discussion consider:
Reasons why future development of a technology system is important to organisations, including:
- competitive advantage,
- reduced costs
- improved performance.
Take notes if you need to!
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Modern technology devices are often multifunctional (have both input and output functionality). Think back to last week's Tesco discussion and give some examples of multifunctional (both input and output). Now let's take a look at activity 3 above. Volunteer please?
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Additional resources to support today's session and useful for revision.
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Session 3 - Computer Networks/Data Transfer - 08/01/2024
Computer networking
Understand the concepts, applications and implications of networks, including:
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the purpose of different types of network (local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), personal area network (PAN), mobile broadband)
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the common uses of network systems (resource sharing, data sharing, entertainment, communication)
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the benefits of computer networking
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the need to synchronise data held on devices forming a PAN.
Data transfer
Understand the concepts, implications and processes of data transfer, including:
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physical methods of transferring data between devices using wireless or cabled topology to meet the requirements for a specific user and purpose
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wireless methods of transfer including the use of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies
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cabled methods for transfer of data between devices, including the use of optical fibre, unshielded twisted pair (UTP) and coaxial cables
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the benefits and drawbacks of these physical methods
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Activity 3 - Pairs Discussion
Question - If there were no networks, how would this have changed today's lesson?
Consider the alternative methods used, ease of use, efficiency etc.
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Activity 5 - Cabling used in data transfer
Network Connections by Helen Griffiths
Find an image of each of the following and include an example of what they are used for in digital technology.
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Coaxial cable
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Optical fibre
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Unshielded twisted pair
Place these in a word document and upload in the slot provided below. If you are having difficulty uploading, please submit into the appropriate session folder in the Unit 2 channel found in our team.
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Investigate data transfer methods to include physical (cable) and wireless
The PowerPoint above to complete this activity. Read through the slides and then complete the final slide. Make sure that you include your initials when saving. Upload into today's slot.
- In the first column list the different physical and wireless methods of transferring data.
- In the second column give the benefits of each method.
- In the third column give the drawbacks
Upload your completed version into the upload slot or team folder if you are having issues.
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Complete or pass the activity
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Session 4 - LA.B - Internal components of a computer 1 - 08/01/2024
Internal components of a computer - Understand the main characteristics, functions and role of the internal components of a computer, including:
- the motherboard – printed circuit board (PCB) holding main components of the system
- central processing unit (CPU) – arithmetic and logic unit (ALU), control unit, registers
- memory (RAM, ROM, including Flash memory)
- graphics/sound/video hardware
- heat dispersal systems – fans and heat sinks
- storage devices – solid state, optical and magnetic
- how internal components of a computer affect performance and user experience
- comparison of different specifications of internal components
- how the features of the central processing unit and graphical processing unit affect performance and user experience: o clock speed o caches o multiple processing cores o heat, power consumption
- how the features of mobile devices affect performance/user experience: o System-on-a-Chip (SoC) o CPU and GPU o battery life
- comparing how mobile systems are different from traditional platforms
- how the features of memory and storage devices affect performance/ user experience: o memory (cache and RAM) o storage devices (solid state, optical and magnetic media)
- the role of computer buses in carrying data between the internal components of a computer.
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You have already accessed this with Linda's unit so unit 2 should be available. If you have not changed your password, it should be d/mm/yyyy.
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I suggest that you use your phone to answer although you can also use the college PCs.
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Activity 1 - Inside a computer (please pay attention as there is a quiz based on the video to follow)
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Using the glossary analogy file, add an analogy for each row. Here is an example of an analogy for battery life:
Computer battery life is like a car’s gas tank – when it’s full, you can do a long way, but when it’s empty, you’re stuck and need to refuel.
Analogy helps to explain a complicated idea. It does that by comparing it to something that's easier to understand.
If you tried to explain the immune system to someone who had never heard of it, they might get lost in all the terms. If you compared it to something else, though – like a castle with walls and soldiers to defend against attacks – your explanation could get through to them more easily. That's the function of analogy!
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Please label the diagram including in the PowerPoint. Upload into today's upload slot or add to the team folder if you are having issues.
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Activity 6 - What makes a computer a computer - Video Clip
Individually, consider an analogy which could be used to explain what input, output, storage and processing actually mean in every day life. Share your examples with the rest of the class.
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BLC Revision Resources
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Session 5 - LA.B - Analogue and Digital Data - 09/01/2024
Understand the concepts, processes and implications of data transmission, including:
- the differences between analogue and digital transmission of data
- the need to convert analogue signals to digital signals and digital signals to analogue signals
- how data in a computer is represented using binary notation (bit, bytes, word length).
Understand and use binary format and the concepts of data storage, including:
- how characters can be represented in binary format and convert whole numbers into binary numbers (zero up to 10)
- conversion of binary numbers (up to 8 bits) to whole numbers (base 10)
- units used to describe memory and data storage (bit, byte, kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte, terabyte, petabyte).
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This activity is about sequences so try to do it without cheating. Look for a method of memorising the numbers and then answer the questions. Good luck!!
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Activity 4 - Convert Denary (Decimal) to Binary
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Revision Resources
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Session 6 - LA.B - Internal components of a computer 2. LA.C. Software - 15/01/2024
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Please pay attention as there is a quiz to follow which is based on the video!!
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Learning Aim C
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Individually, create a kahoot quiz based on the PowerPoint which can be shared with other students.
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Complete or pass the activity
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Complete or pass the activity
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Next week student kahoots for starters
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Session 7 - LA.C - Introduction to computer programming concepts - 15/01/2024
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Activity 1 - Terminology
As you are completing Software Development, you should already be familiar with most of the terms listed below. You should also understand the need to annotate and use of of data types and data structures. Complete the form below.
- declaration, input, output, assignment, variables (local and global) and constants, sub-routines, scope of variables
- the need to annotate code to allow for maintenance
- the use of data types, including character, string, integer, real and Boolean
- the use of data structures, including records and simple arrays.
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Flow Charts
- You can use a flow chart to help design a program. A flow chart is a diagram that shows how a program works and the routes that can be taken through it.
- A flow chart shows where the program starts, where decisions are taken, processing operations, inputs and outputs.
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Activity 4 - create flow charts - you may want to remind yourself of the shapes used.
Create a flow chart on one of the processes below. If you finish quite quickly, challenge yourself to another.
1. The stages involved in making toast
2. To calculate the area of a rectangle
3. To authenticate a user's password
4. To authenticate a user's password and lock the account after 3 incorrect attempts.
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Complete or pass the activity
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Session 8 - LA.C - Designing a computer program - 16/01/2024
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Starter Activity
The Role of an Operating System Quiz - Click on the image below to start the quiz and choose single player. Who can get the highest score?
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Activity 3 - Operating Systems on Devices
Let's view the video 5m 28s (embedding not allowed). Concentrate as the Kahoot quiz to follow is based on this video.
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Activity 5 - GUI versus CLI - Graphical User Interface versus Command Line Interface
- Find a suitable image of each and place in a word document making it clear which is the GUI and which is the CLI by labelling.
- Read through the following link and select 5 comparison points which you feel relate to you. For example, if you feel the most important thing to you is the use of graphics, you need to copy the contents of point 10 and paste into your word document.
- Compare which points others have chosen.
- Upload your word document when told into the Teams folder for today's session.
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Activity 6 - Accessibility & Ease of Use of PCs and Mobile Phones - Prepare for discussion
What tools are available on a PC to make things accessible and easier to use for some people. For example, if a student has dyslexia, can you change colours?
Consider your own mobile phone. What 'tweaks' have you done to make it easier to use? What tools can be used to make it more accessible? For example, instead of writing a message, can you do something else?
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You can use your phones for this activity. Go to Classpoint.app and enter the class code once it is shown.
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Answer the questions to the best of your knowledge without using any other sources.
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Session 9 - LA.A, B & C - Revision - 29/01/2024
Today's session has been allocated to mock assessments and revision.
You will be given 50 minutes to complete the retired papers.
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Please remember that you also have access to Know It All Ninja. Revisit areas which you need to develop as a result of your self assessment/evaluation.
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Session 10 - LA.A, B & C - Revision - 29/01/2024
You will be given 50 minutes to complete each retired test. We will then go over the answers.
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Complete or pass the activity
You will be given 15 minutes to complete this activity. I have worked through and this is sufficient time to listen to everything which is being said and to answer the questions.
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This retired test has been converted into a word document. I have supplied boxes with a tick which you can use to select an answer. Large text boxes have also been added where you need to type in an answer.
Deadline for completion - Friday 25th March, 16:00 hrs (4:00 pm).
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BLC Revision Resources Half Term
All BLC revision resources have been added here. I have tried to put them in order of the unit content. There is also a folder which contains the accessibility version (word document instead of interactive presentation).
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If you prefer a written document, take a look in this folder.
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