Summary:
This text has been written specifically to support teachers and students following AQA's ICT Applied AS Single and Double Award specifications. The book covers the key information required by students, and provides them with support and guidance on how to plan, produce and review successful coursework that is required by the specification. The units covered are:

- Unit 1 - ICT and Society
- Unit 2 - ICT and Organisations
- Unit 3 - Data Handling
- Portfolios - advice and hints on what and what not to do when preparing a portfolio for the course

Each of the three main units in the book is supported by resources that are provided free on the accompanying CD featured in the back of each copy of the student book.
Written by a senior examiner, this text offers indispensable support for those studying and teaching the course.

• Is written specifically for the AQA Applied AS Single Award course
• Contains support resources on a CD in the back of every copy of the book
• Authors are senior examiners of the course who provide teacher support resources and inset for centres

Table of Contents:
Unit 1
Assessment – the AQA set task
What you have to produce
Background Information
The effect of technology on society
Legislation
ICT and people with particular needs
Skills required
Software
For newsletters
For web pages
Other
Understanding the audience
Understanding the purpose
Research
Design
Assessing whether the needs of the audience have been met
Evaluation
Documentation
Standard ways of working
Assessment – investigation time and controlled conditions
Assessment objectives and what they mean in this unit
Unit 2
Assessment – general
What you have to produce
Background knowledge frequired
What is an organisation
What is ICT?
The information needs of organisations
Does organisation size matter?
Understanding what happens when an organisation grows
Types of organisation
What are ICT systems?
How organisations communicate
Information used by organisations
Changes in working practices
Skills required
Software
Other
Researching information
Report writing
Documentation
Evaluation
Using diagrams
Standard ways of working
Assessment
Assessment objectives and what they mean in this unit
Unit 3
What you have to produce
Background knowledge needed
What is a database?
What is an RDBMS?
How RDBMS are used and their benefits
Data and Information
Data formats
Quality of Information
Types of queries
Types of reports
Users and Interface design
Skills required
Software
General functionality of RDBMS software
Other
Researching information
Report writing
Documentation
Evaluation
Using diagrams
Standard ways of working
Assessment
Assessment objectives and what they mean in this unit
Final Section:
Portfolios

About the Author(s):
Barbara Wilson is a well respected and senior examiner. She has written many exam board specifications and sits as Chair of Examiners for a leading awarding body.

Contributors:
Steve Bachrach teaches ICT in a large college. He is a senior examiner for a leading awarding body.

Readership:
Students of AQA's Applied ICT AS Single Award