Introduction

About your IT Cambridge National course and qualification

The IT industry is fast-moving and varied: it includes careers within specialist technology and telecommunications organisations alongside IT roles in areas such as finance, health, retail and media. You might want to work in applications or game development, data analysis, or engineering, for example. Whatever you choose, you will benefit from having a wide range of IT technical, data and creative skills. During your course, you will learn about how IT is used in an increasingly digital world (including the Internet of Everything), data manipulation and Augmented Reality. You’ll have a chance to develop skills relevant for a range of roles while designing, creating, testing and reviewing IT solutions and products. How will you be assessed? You have to complete three units. Mandatory units: • R050 IT in the digital world. You will take a written exam for this unit. The exam lasts for 1 hour 30 minutes, and is worth 70 marks. The exam is set and marked by OCR. • R060 Data manipulation using spreadsheets. You will be given an assignment to complete for this unit, which is worth 60 marks. This set assignment contains three to five practical tasks. • R070 Using Augmented Reality to present information – You will be given an assignment to complete for this unit, which is worth 60 marks. This set assignment contains three to five practical tasks. DRAFT

How to use this book

Throughout this book, you will notice lots of different features that will help your learning. These are explained below.

Thought-provoking questions at the start of units and topics will get you thinking about the subject. These features at the start of each unit give you guidance on the learning outcomes and how you will be assessed.DRAFT This section gives you information about what content is covered in the topic. Case studies based on real people and situations put key concepts and practices into context. The accompanying questions check your understanding and challenge you to take your learning further.

Key words are highlighted in the text and explained fully in the glossary, often using examples, to ensure you fully understand key terminology.

Stretch activities and questions give you the opportunity to try more challenging questions and to extend your knowledge. Practical activities that you can do on your own give you the opportunity to practise important skills and techniques, and to prepare for yourassessments. Over to you! activities let you apply your knowledge, and think more deeply about your course. DRAFT These question boxes give you regular opportunities to test your knowledge so that you feel ready for your exam or assessment. Summary sections help you review your learning, to check you understand key concepts and can apply your learning. They also show you where to look back for more information if you need to read it again.