Unit 1 - Using ICT

This unit provides learners with the knowledge and skills they need to design and produce publications for print and screen that are fit for audience and purpose. Learners will discover how to:

• establish the ‘who, why, where and what’ requirements for publications
• produce an up-front plan to help them manage a project and use it to track, monitor and communicate progress
• select and capture information from various sources and use spreadsheet and database tools to collate and analyse data
• build an eportfolio that presents their achievements, giving ‘pride of place’ to project outcomes
• evaluate the effectiveness of publications they produce and assess the contribution of underpinning processes, such as planning and testing, to their success.

Unit 2 - Multimedia

This unit provides learners with the knowledge and skills they need to design and produce effective multimedia products. Learners will discover how to:

• produce detailed, up-front design documentation
• collect, create and prepare different types of digital assets – audio, video, animation, still images, movies and text – for use in multimedia products
• carry out different types of testing – for functionality, for usability, for accuracy, for impact - and obtain and use feedback from others as an integral part of the development process
• use multimedia assets to showcase their achievements in an eportfolio
• evaluate the effectiveness of multimedia products they produce and assess the contribution of underpinning processes, such as planning and design, to their success.

Unit 3 - Graphics

This unit provides learners with the knowledge and skills they need to design and produce effective graphic products that communicate successfully onscreen and in print. Learners will discover how to:

• use vector and bitmap tools to develop graphic elements
• use testing and feedback from others as an integral part of an iterative development process from initial designs through to final products
• exhibit their achievements in an eportfolio
• evaluate the effectiveness of graphic products they produce and assess the contribution of underpinning processes, such as planning and use of feedback, to their success.

Unit 4 - ICT in Enterprise

This unit gives learners the opportunity to tackle a practical enterprise activity. Working in a team, they put their DiDA skills to work to help them:

• produce an up-front plan to help the team manage a project, and use it – in conjunction with a diary - to track, monitor and communicate progress
• investigate potential enterprise opportunities and select the best one to carry forward
• design and create a corporate identity for their enterprise and produce a set of business documents
• produce a set of promotional materials, including a website
• present a comprehensive and convincing enterprise proposal in an eportfolio
• evaluate the effectiveness of an enterprise proposal and assess the contribution of underpinning processes, such as planning and teamwork, to its success.

Unit 5 - Games Authoring

This unit can be studied at Level 1 or Level 2 and is available for first teaching from September 2008. It aims to provide learners with the knowledge and skills they need to design and produce interactive computer games.

On completion of this unit a learner will:

• Know about different types of games, game features and game play
• Be able to produce a game proposal and production plan
• Be able to design and develop games for others to play, employing an iterative, participatory approach to game development from initial concept to final game, using feedback from others to inform the process
• Be able to showcase achievements
• Be able to review games and suggest improvements
• Be able to use ICT efficiently and safely.