Semester One - Weeks 1, 2-3, 4-5, 6-8, 9, 10-14
Semester Two - Weeks 1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-11, 12-13, 14
Source: SCSA
Semester 1
SEMESTER 1 - WEEK 1
Introduction
Overview
Assessment requirements
KNOWLEDGE – SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND DEVELOPMENT
Concept of project management, including:
- planning
- scheduling
- budgeting
- tracking
Types of system development methodologies
- prototyping
- system development life cycle (SDLC)
SEMESTER 1 - WEEKS 2-3
KNOWLEDGE – SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND DEVELOPMENT
- preliminary analysis
- analysis
- design
- development
- implementation
- evaluation and maintenance
Systems development documentation as a part of the SDLC
- context diagrams using Yourdon/DeMarco notation
- data flow diagrams (DFD) using Yourdon/DeMarco notation
SKILLS – SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND DEVELOPMENT
Analyse context diagrams and data flow diagrams
Apply context and data flow diagrams using Yourdon/DeMarco notation, as a part of the SDLC
- create context diagrams
- create Level 0 DFD’s (maximum four processes), applying correct symbols and rules and defining system boundaries
SEMESTER 1 - WEEKS 4-5
KNOWLEDGE - SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND DEVELOPMENT
Types of primary and secondary storage, including:
- random access memory (RAM)
- read only memory (ROM)
- cache
- mechanical disk
- solid state drive (SSD)
Concept of boot process (power up to OS booting, including POST)
Storage capacities, including:
- bit
- byte
- kilobyte
- megabyte
- gigabyte
- terabyte
Hardware and software components for a computer system designed for a specific purpose, including:
- input
- output
- processing
- storage (primary and secondary)
Role of standard operating environment (SOE)
Role of components in the central processing unit (CPU)
- arithmetic logic unit (ALU)
- control unit (CU)
- registers
- program counter
- system clock
- data, address and control bus
Concept of the fetch-execute cycle
Troubleshooting strategies, including:
- diagnosis of fault
- implement a solution
- document troubleshooting procedure
Appropriate physical preventative maintenance measures (see Troubleshooting Strategies)
Purpose of an ICT code of conduct
Ethics in the development and use of ICT systems
Privacy considerations in the development and use of ICT systems
Digital communications etiquette when using ICT systems
SEMESTER 1 - WEEKS 6-8
KNOWLEDGE - MANAGING DATA
Spreadsheet terms, including:
- cell
- formula
- label
- functions (sum, average, max, min, count, countif)
- worksheet
- lookup tables (vlookup, hlookup, )
SKILLS - MANAGING DATA
Create solutions using a spreadsheet application using:
- functions (practice these)
- charts (practice these)
- lookup table (practice this)
- sorting (practice this)
SEMESTER 1 - WEEK 9
KNOWLEDGE - MANAGING DATA
Hierarchical structure of data
- character/byte
- field/attribute
- record/tuple
- table/entity/relation
Data protection methods, including:
- encryption
- private key
- public key
- authentication
- passwords
- biometrics
- digital signature
SEMESTER 1 - WEEKS 10-14
KNOWLEDGE - MANAGING DATA
- number
- date/time
- currency
- text (string)
- Boolean (true/false)
Database terms
- data, field, record, relation, atomicity
- data integrity
- data redundancy
Ethical and legal issues relating to the personal use and storage of data
Legal requirement and implication of information kept by various organisations about individuals
Design considerations for visual interfaces and navigation systems within database systems
Purpose of database documentation for the user
SKILLS - MANAGING DATA
Resolve simple many to many (M:N) relationship in a multi-table relational database system (maximum three entities)
Create using Chen’s notation entity relationship (ER) diagrams for a simple database solution (maximum three entities)
Data modelling using Chen’s notation entity relationships diagrams (LOTS OF PRACTICE HERE)
Create a working relational multi-table database using:
- data types
- relations
- primary and foreign keys
- relationships
- cardinality (1:1, 1:M, M:1, M:N)
- validation rules
- forms
- reports
- queries
Create a visual interface for a database
Create database documentation
Semester 2
SEMESTER 2 - WEEK 1
Introduction and overview
Assessment requirements
KNOWLEDGE - DEVELOPING SOFTWARE
Evolution of programming languages
- machine
- assembler
- procedural
- non-procedural
- object-oriented
Purpose and function of software to operate a computer system
- operating systems
- utility software
- file compression
- defragmenter
- anti-virus
- anti-malware
- application software
Requirements for software licensing, including:
- freeware
- open source
- shareware
SEMESTER 2 - WEEKS 2-3
KNOWLEDGE - DEVELOPING SOFTWARE
Stages of the software development cycle (SDC)
- state the problem
- plan and design
- develop
- test
- evaluate
Factors affecting the development of software, including:
- user needs
- user interface
SKILLS - DEVELOPING SOFTWARE
Create a system solution using the SDC
Apply software development requirements
SEMESTER 2 - WEEKS 4-6
KNOWLEDGE - PROGRAMMING
- integer
- real (floating point number)
- Boolean
- character
Appropriate naming conventions for variables
Types of code, including:
- source
- executable
Types of control structures, including:
- sequence
- selection
- one-way (if then)
- two-way (if then else)
- multi-way (case, nested if)
- iteration
- test first (while)
- test last (repeat until)
- fixed (for)
Types of program or code errors, including:
syntax errors
run-time errors
logical errors
Modelling of an algorithm using trace tables to test for logic
Purpose of internal and external documentation
Modelling of an algorithm using flow charts
SKILLS - PROGRAMMING
Create flow charts to represent a programming solution
Use pseudocode to represent a programming solution
SEMESTER 2 - WEEKS 7-11
SKILLS - PROGRAMMING
Apply, using pseudocode and a programming language, the following programming concepts:
constants
variables
Apply, using pseudocode and a programming language, the following control structures:
sequence
selection
one-way (if then)
two-way (if then else)
multi-way (case, nested if)
iteration
test first (while)
test last (repeat until)
fixed (for)
Apply, using pseudocode and a programming language, the following techniques:
develop internal and external documentation
select and apply suitable test data for checking the solution
use trace tables to test for and debug logic errors
Apply the SDC to create digital solutions
Use of the following number systems within a computer
binary
decimal
hexadecimal
SEMESTER 2 - WEEKS 12-13
KNOWLEDGE - NETWORKS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Functions of the following computer hardware components required for industry networks;
Good ref Here 1
Good ref Here 2
- router
- switch
- firewall
- modem
- network interface card (NIC)
- wireless access point (WAP)
- bridge
Types of communication networks
- Personal Area Network (PAN)
- Local Area Network (LAN)
- Wide Area Network (WAN)
- Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX)
- wireless (PAN, LAN, WAN)
Technologies appropriate for the implementation of a client/server and peer to peer network
Star topology network
Diagrammatic representation of network topologies for LAN and WAN
Characteristics of transmission media, including;
- twisted pair (unshielded twisted pair [UTP] and shielded twisted pair [STP]
- fibre optic
- satellite
- microwave
- cellular
- wireless
SKILLS - NETWORKS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Create network diagrams using CISCO network diagram conventions to represent network topologies for LAN and WAN
SEMESTER 2 - WEEK 14
KNOWLEDGE - NETWORKS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Communication terms
protocols
digital
analogue
ethernet
bandwidth
Types of communication protocols, including:
file transfer protocol (FTP)
hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP)
hypertext transfer protocol secure (HTTPS)
simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP)
wireless access protocol (WAP)
Methods used to ensure security of information over the internet, including:
authentication
encryption
firewalls
Types of malware, including:
viruses
worms
trojans
spyware
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