BTEC Nationals - IT Practitioners Tutor Resource Pack

Howard Anderson, Sharon Yull

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2012
• eBook ISBN: 9781136075339
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Computer Science General
• Index: Computer Science

The complete off-the-shelf resource for delivering the compulsory core units of the new BTEC Nationals.Used alongside the students' text, 'BTEC Nationals - IT Practitioners', this pack offers a complete suite of lecturer support material and photocopiable handouts for the compulsory core units of the new BTEC National specifications, for National Awards, Certificates and Diplomas. The authors provide all the resources needed by a busy lecturer, as well as a bank of student-centred practical work and revision material, which will enable students to gain the skills, knowledge and understanding they require. Officially endorsed by Edexcel, the pack is freely photocopiable within the purchasing institution, as well as supplied in its entirety on CD Rom, and will include: * Worksheets to support and develop work in the students' book
* Planned projects which will enable students to display a wide range of skills
and use their own initiative
* Assessment materials
* Reference material for use as hand-outs
* Background on running the new HNC/HND courses
* Tutor's notes supporting activities in the students' book and resource pack

Unit 1 Language and communications

1.1 How do we communicate?

Worksheet 1

Tools for communication

To enable effective communication there needs to be three main elements: a sender, a communication tool and a receiver.

1.Using a similar template to the one provided, give an example of a sender, communication tool and receiver for the following systems:

(i)Receiving information about a course at college

(ii)Booking a holiday

(iii)Invitation to a party

(iv)Obtaining information about computer hardware for an assignment

2.Identify five factors that could impact upon the way in which information is transmitted between a sender and a receiver.

3.Identify five communication tools and provide a comparison of each in terms of:

(i)Speed of transmission

(ii)Cost of transmission

(iii)Reliability of transmission

(iv)Formality of transmission

Figure 1.1Elements to enable effective communication

Worksheet 2

Impact of communication tools

Different types of communication tools are used on a daily basis to transmit information. The type of tool that we use is dependent upon a number of factors, including:

•Time

•Expense

•Geography

•Impact

•Convenience

•Audience

•Occasion

•Formality

1.Complete the table identifying two suitable communication tools for each given scenario justifying your choice fully.

Scenario	Choice 1	Choice 2
You need to send information which is personal and confidential to a friend who lives abroad
You promised that an assignment would be handed in today, the last possible hand-in date
You have just passed your driving test and cannot wait to tell your friends and family
You have seen a suitable part-time job advertised in the paper and require further information
You have been stopped in the street by an exchange student who speaks little English and needs directions to the bank

1.2Types of communication

Worksheet 3

Verbal communication

It has been established that for effective communication to take place there need to be three components: the sender, use of a communication tool and a receiver. However, another factor that will influence the effectiveness of communication is the type of communication that is used.

Verbal communication is one of four categories of communication that are used to transmit information. The way in which we transmit information verbally depends upon who we are speaking to, the environment and the objective of the transmission.

1.Complete the following table by identifying a situation that you have been in which involved that particular category of verbal communication.

Categories	Situation
Negotiating
Persuading
Debating
Delegating
Challenging
Advising
Arguing
Apologizing

Worksheet 4

Impact of verbal communication

The impact of verbal communication can be very strong, and as a result change your relationship with the person/people you are speaking to momentarily or permanently.

1.Think of a situation where you have been the receiver of verbal communication recently and think about how you felt towards the receiver under the following situations:

(i)Being told off or disciplined

(ii)Being congratulated

(iii)Being advised

(iv)Being confided in

Verbal communication is probably the most important and most used form of communication. As a result verbal communication has a great deal of benefits over other communication methods.

2.Identify six advantages of using verbal communication.

3.Identify any limitations of using verbal communication.

Interviews are a good example of testing how well you communicate verbally because you have to present yourself professionally and competently. Your skills of trying to persuade and convince the interviewer that you are the best can...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• 1 Language and communications
• 2 Computer systems
• 3 Business information systems
• 4 Software development
• 5 Communication technology
• 6 Systems analysis
• Appendix A ASCII character set presented as control characters and text characters
• Appendix B How to obtain a hex dump with DEBUG
• Appendix C How to unassemble with DEBUG
• Appendix D Library of assembly subroutines
• Appendix E Answers