What has it been like working on the ICT Diploma?

What has it been like taking part in the ICT diploma?

Taking part in the ICT Diploma has been very interesting. It's a brand new course, which means it's a good opportunity to learn things that have never been taught in such a way before. It gives us new challenges and opens our eyes to how much ICT can affect a business. It's a very good opportunity, as this diploma, once finished, is equivalent to 7 GCSE's which will be very useful once you leave school to go into further education or work. Most parts of the ICT Diploma are very interesting as you get to learn new things and see just how important ICT really is. You see the impact it has on not only a business but the world, which is in turn exciting for anyone taking the Diploma as you can see just exactly what you are able to do with this skill you are learning.

What work have you had to do as part of your studies?

The work we have done as part of our studies is largely based on business. One of the units we did was how ICT affects a business. We went to a lot of businesses and saw first hand how they used ICT to better the work they did. We saw what sort of ICT they used and how it benefits them and in what way. We have also studied databases and how to store large amounts of data.

Another thing is we learnt the components of a computer and physically took a pc apart to fix them. We were taught to distinguish between a broken computer and a fixed computer, then we had to move the parts around and put them correct or put in missing parts. One more aspect of the sort of work we did was project work; we had to study projects and see what makes a successful or unsuccessful project. We then used different software on the computer to plan our own projects; we managed to produce a write up of the goals of our project, how it was sure to be successful and what we would do if we encountered a problem.

We also used Microsoft Project to produce Gantt charts to tell us what was needed to be done, when and how long it would take. Overall the work we have had to do as part of our studies has been interesting. We have had to work hard and learn new things to make sure all of the work we did was to the required standard. It is hard work and needs a lot of effort, but overall the work keeps you interested and shows you a wide range of ICT skills.

What are the best bits of the ICT diploma?

There are lots of best bits about the ICT diploma. For example, the visits we go on let us experience first hand what it is like in a business environment and give us a good insight into how a business works. We have had a range of visits we have been on, for instance, we once went to a construction site to see how they used ICT for the Architect's side of things. Another place we went to was UCAS, where they use ICT to deal with online applications for college, and finally another completely different place we visited was Cadbury World, where they use ICT for advertising and managing production lines.

These visits we find are one of the best bits of the diploma; they give us a chance to get out and explore things ourselves and find out the information we need in an exciting and fun way. Other best bits of the diploma is that as the diploma is a new course we get special bonuses. For example, in our class we had a problem of people's home computers breaking and them being unable to do work from home when needed; with it being a new course there was money available that we were able to use to get small notebooks which were ours to use until the course finished.

This was a benefit to all of us and our standard of work and we are now able to use these notebooks at home to do our work which means we can do our work in a more relaxed environment and make sure everything can be completed by the deadline. We also get to travel all over to get lectures; for instance we are taking a trip to Disneyland Paris in January; we are spending 3 days there and we will have 3 lectures about the course. This is one of the best bits of the course as we can get the work done but we can also have fun at the same time. This course involves getting out of the classroom and experiencing a lot of things, but then there are also stages where you can just get motivated and work hard; this is great as there is variety in what you do.

How do you think the ICT diploma prepares you for a career in ICT and why should young people consider undertaking the ICT diploma?

The ICT diploma prepares you for a career in ICT as it lets you experience a range of skills which are ICT based. It lets you develop your skills and opens your eyes to all different aspects of jobs you can get in ICT. It shows you how ICT is used in all different careers and it lets us see the importance of ICT.

Young people should consider undertaking the ICT diploma as it gives you important skills which you will definitely need in later life, as almost every job involves needing ICT in one way or another, so taking this diploma and learning the necessary skills will give you greater opportunities.

This course may be new, but students who have taken part are already showing great achievement in their new skills. Leaving school having completed this diploma gives you the freedom to do a wide range of career options. It is a very useful qualification to have and will enable you to better your career. Colleges, Universities, and employers will be more likely to recruit you if they see this qualification on your CV. We feel that anyone who is given the option to take this diploma should definitely do it, as it is not only a good opportunity but a very useful qualification to have.