Welcome

1. Welcome A Level ICT

2. Contents • Introduction to OCR • Introduction to ICT • Why change to our specification? • Support and training • Next steps A Level ICT

3. About OCR • Part of Europe’s largest assessment agency, Cambridge Assessment • UK’s leading awarding body • Over 13,000 centres choose our qualifications • Qualifications are developed in consultation with teachers

4. Our Mission Our commitment is to provide qualifications which engagelearners of all ages whether at school, college, in work and part time training programmes so they achieve their full potential make a difference Practical Accessible Innovative and exciting

5. Our Credentials • Leading the way with new ideas • Dedicated to offering respected qualifications • Engaging and relevant qualifications • Comprehensive support framework

6. ICT Credentials • Leading IT awarding body • Working with global IT vendors • A smart choice for an extra A Level

7. Key points of the specification • Explores the latest technologies • Modern and relevant content • Encourages practical skills

8. ICT | AS Structure Teaching Units and Assessment Method and Weighting • G061 Information, Systems and Applications • Topics covered in this unit include: • Data, information, knowledge and processing • Software and hardware components of an information system • Characteristics of standard applications software and application areas • Spreadsheet concepts • Relational database concepts • Applications software used for presentation and communication of data • The role and impact of ICT – legal, oral and social issues

9. ICT | AS Structure Teaching Units and Assessment Method and Weighting • G062 Structured ICT Tasks • This unit gives the learners the opportunity to explore: • Design • Software development • Testing • Documentation

10. ICT | A2 Structure Teaching Units and Assessment Method and Weighting • G063 ICT Systems, Applications and Implications • Topics covered in this unit include: • The systems cycle • Designing computer-based information systems • Networks and communication • Applications of ICT • Implementing computer-based information systems • Implications of ICT • G064 ICT Project • Here learners explore: • Definition, investigation and analysis • Design • Software development • Documentation • Evaluation

11. Stretch and Challenge • Stretch and Challenge is a new QCA initiative for A Levels: • Included in A2 assessment • Reflected in the style of question asked which invite a greater variety of thinking • Questions are structured to show more connections between different sections of the specification • Extended writing is encouraged in all subjects (except Maths) • A wider range of question types – like case studies and open ended questions • More synoptic assessments – exploring connections between different areas and levels of a subject

12. What’s in it for you? • Easy to administer • Rewarding to deliver • Flexibility in teaching topic to match your interests

13. What’s in it for your learners? • Enjoyable and motivational • Develops essential skills required in the real business world • Progression opportunities • Stretch and challenge opportunities

14. What’s in it for your school? • More student enrolments • Flexibility in curriculum planning • Good progression routes into HE/FE

15. Support • Overarching scheme of work and sample lesson plans • E-community • Exemplar candidate work • Coursework guidance documents • Past papers online for you to download • Exam quest • INSET

16. Publishers • We are working with our publishing partner Hodder Education to provide further resources to support the new specifications. The books are specifically tailored to the specification.

17. Next Steps • Book training/events - www.ocr.org.uk/training • Bookmark website for further information/future updates – www.ocr.org.uk

18. Other qualifications • GCSE ICT • OCR Nationals in ICT • IT Diploma • iMedia