The qualification aims to develop your knowledge, understanding and skills of the principles of IT and Global Information Systems. You will gain an insight into the IT sector as you investigate the pace of technological change, IT infrastructure, the flow of information on a global scale, and the importance of legal and security considerations. Designed in collaboration with experts spanning the breadth of the sector, the Level 3 Cambridge Technicals in IT focus on the requirements that today’s universities and employers demand. 

You will also develop professional, personal and social skills through interaction with peers, stakeholders and clients, as well as theoretical knowledge and understanding to underpin these skills. These support the transferable skills required by universities and employers such as communication, problem solving, time management, research and analytical skills. 

The chosen pathway, Emerging Digital Technology Practitioner, spans two years and include 5 units: 

• Year 1: Unit 1 and unit 2 
• Year 2: Unit 3, unit 5 and unit 17 

You will practically apply your skills and knowledge in preparation for further study, apprenticeship or the workplace. 

This qualification is suitable for learners: 

• studying to prepare for employment in the IT sector. 
• who want to progress into IT-related apprenticeships. 
• who want to gain a level 3 qualification to support further study in Further Education (FE) or to progress to Higher Education (HE) in in IT. 
• studying for career development and who are already in employment.

Courses Offered

OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma in IT. 

Pathway: Emerging Digital Technology Practitioner. 

Equivalent to 1 A level. 

Syllabus Breakdown

You will take five units, made up of three mandatory and two optional units. You will study our chosen specialist pathway, Emerging Digital Technology Practitioner. 

All learners will study the following two mandatory units; Fundamentals of IT and Global information. These units provide learners with an insight into the IT sector, as they investigate the pace of technological change, IT infrastructure, and the flow of information on a global scale, as well as the important legal and security considerations. 

In addition, you are required to complete three further units, one of which is the designated mandatory unit for the pathway, Virtual and Augmented Reality, thereby ensuring that you are specialising in a specific area as part of your study programme. You will be firmly en route to achieving a qualification that is relevant to the job role you wish to pursue as well as equipping you with relevant employability skills. The remaining optional units will support and enhance the skills that you are developing in the particular pathway, thus enabling you to gain a deeper appreciation of the specific industry, occupation or occupational group. 

The units we will cover include: 

Subject Key Concepts

     #1 Logical Thinking      #2 Programming Language      #3 Operations     #4 Systems     

#5 Data      #6 Online Security     #7 Digital Artefacts       #8 Analysing Data

Please click here for Subject Key Concepts.

Curriculum Overview

Please click here for a PDF overview for Year 12 and 13.

Minimum Entry Requirements

In addition to the general Sixth Form entry requirements of five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, you must have achieved a grade 4 or above in GCSE English and GCSE maths. It would be advantageous but not essential if you have studied a similar course to IT at Level 2. .

Why Study The Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma in IT?

This qualification is for learners 16 years old or over who prefer to study IT in a context that allows them to learn and be assessed in ways that are practical and relevant to the IT sector. 

This qualification is not just about being able to use computers. Employers need people who are able to help them develop their systems or the systems for their customers, use IT as a tool to analyse data and develop applications. 

Therefore, this qualification is designed to give learners a range of specialist knowledge and transferable skills in the context of applied IT, providing them with the opportunity to enter an apprenticeship, move directly into employment, or progress to a related Higher Education (HE) course. 

Learners could progress onto a Level 4 apprenticeship such as Network Engineer or Software Developer or into employment in the IT sector in areas such as technical support, digital technologies, application development or data analysis. 

Course Content

 The OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma in IT consists of four pathways. At Knights Templar, we will be delivering the pathway: Emerging Digital Technology Practitioner. 

The Emerging Digital Technology Practitioner pathway focuses on the use and development of virtual and augmented reality and emerging technologies for application across a range of sectors, to include: mobile technology, digital marketing and the visualisation of Big Data. 

In addition to the mandatory units, you must also achieve the mandatory pathway unit Virtual and Augmented Reality. 

The units you will study are as follows: 

Unit 1 – Fundamentals of IT (Externally examined) 

A sound understanding of IT technologies and practices is essential for IT professionals. Information learnt in this unit will create a solid foundation in the fundamentals of hardware, networks, software, the ethical use of computers and how businesses use IT. 

After completing this unit, the knowledge, skills and understanding you have developed will underpin your study for the additional units. 

Knowledge gained in the study of this unit will also help prepare you for relevant industry qualifications such as CompTIA A+, CompTIA Mobility+ and Cisco IT Essentials. 

Unit 2 - Global Information (Externally examined) 

The purpose of this unit is to demonstrate the uses of information in the public domain, globally, in the cloud and across the Internet, by individuals and organisations. You will discover that good management of both data and information is essential and that it can give any organisation a competitive edge. 

This unit will provide you with a greater understanding of how organisations use information sources both internally and externally and the types of information you will encounter. The skills gained by completing this unit will give you knowledge of the functionality of information and how data is stored and processed by organisations. You will also learn about how individuals use information of various types. 

This unit will help you to understand the legislation and regulation governing information which flows in to and out of an organisation and the constraints and limitations that apply to it. You’ll also learn the relationship between data and Information. 

Knowledge gained in the study of this unit will also help prepare you for relevant industry qualifications such as VM Ware. 

Unit 3 - Cyber Security (Externally examined) 

The need for secure digital systems is more crucial than ever before. We rely on computerised systems and networks to collect, process, store and transfer vast amounts of data and to control critical systems such as water and power supplies. 

Business and e-commerce can be undertaken twenty four hours a day, seven days a week and telecommunications enable us to keep in touch with family and friends and collaborate with colleagues at any time. Mobile devices offer us freedom and flexibility of where and how we learn and work. However, for all the advantages that these systems offer us, some people have found ways to exploit them and this poses a threat to our safety and security in the real world, as much as in the cyber world. To deal with this problem, the cyber security industry is expanding at a rapid rate. 

This unit has been designed to enable you to gain knowledge and understanding of the range of threats, vulnerabilities and risks that impact on both individuals and organisations. You will learn about the solutions that can be used to prevent or deal with cyber security incidents resulting from these challenges. You will be able to apply your knowledge and understanding of cyber security issues and solutions by reviewing and making recommendations for ways to best protect digital systems and information. 

Learning within this unit will also support the delivery of the Cisco Cyber Security and CompTIA A+, CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Mobility+ qualifications. The unit also makes reference to UK government cyber security initiatives, for example, the UK government’s UK Cyber Security Strategy, Cyber Essentials Scheme, 10 Steps Strategy, and Cyber Streetwise. 

Unit 5 - Virtual and Augmented Reality (Internally assessed via Portfolio) 

Virtual Reality is a simulated environment that is intended to replicate the physical experience of being in places in the real or imagined worlds, by giving the user sensory experiences that match those which would be experienced were the user actually in that environment. Augmented Reality is the process of changing the user’s view of the real world in order to give them an improved, or more detailed view of what they are seeing. 

You will learn about both technologies and how they are used. You will research both technologies and design both a Virtual and an Augmented Reality resource. Finally, you will use your research skills learnt whilst designing and creating resources to suggest future applications of Virtual and Augmented Reality. 

This unit is mandatory to the Emerging Digital Technology Practitioner pathway due to its relevance as an emerging digital technology. The unit supports the development of skills, knowledge and understanding relevant to a job role in the areas of 3D modelling, digital transformation and even the film and games industry. 

Unit 17 - Internet of Everything (Internally assessed via Portfolio) 

This unit is about the use of the Internet and how it is impacting people and society. 

You will learn about the Internet of Everything (IOE) and how it is used. Using your knowledge you’ll carry out a feasibility study for a potential idea. You will pitch your idea to potential stakeholders and use their feedback to revise your proposal. 

Knowledge gained in the study of this unit will also help prepare you for relevant industry qualifications such as Cisco IoE. 

What Can I Do Next?

With the knowledge gained in the study of the Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma in IT, with the chosen pathway of Emerging Digital Technology Practitioner, will help prepare you for relevant industry qualifications such as CompTIA A+, CompTIA Mobility+, Cisco IT Essentials, VM Ware, 3D modelling, digital transformation, the film and games industry and Cisco IoE.  

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