5 CORE modules and 5 OPTION modules to qualify for an HNC.

CORE MODULES:

1 Computer Platforms
2 Systems Analysis
3 Software Constructs & Tools
4 Computing Solutions
5* Computer Implementation Project
6* Software Engineering Implementation Project
7* Business Information Technology Implementation Project
8 Quality Management Principles
9 Communication Technology
10*Advanced Computing Project#
11*Advanced Software Engineering Project#
12*Advanced Business Information Technology Project#

* Select one from units 5,6 or 7 for HNC and one from units 10,11,or 12 for HND according to pathway

# The Advanced Project has a value of 2 To achieve Higher National Certificate/Diploma, students can follow three available pathways:

OPTION MODULES

COMPUTING SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
13 Networking
14 Data Analysis & Database Design
15 Visual Programming
16 Human Computer Interface
17 End User Support -
18 Introduction to Programming
19 Computer Architecture -
20 Database Management Systems
21 Computer Management -
22 Web Site Management -
23 Techniques of Artificial Intelligence
24 Object-Oriented Programming
25 Data Structures and Algorithms
26 Systems Software
27 Multimedia and Internet Development
28 Mathematics for Software Engineering
29 Software Engineering Techniques
30 Computer - Based Learning
31 Object-Oriented Development
32 Discrete Mathematics

BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
13 Networking
14 Data Analysis & Database Design
15 Visual Programming
16 Human Computer Interface
17 End User Support
18 Introduction to Programming
19 Computer Architecture
20 Database Management Systems
21 Computer Management
22 Web Site Management
23 Techniques of Artificial Intelligence
27 Multimedia and Internet Development
30 Computer - Based Learning
33 Business Applications Development
34 Management Science.

Entry Qualifications

Students should normally be aged 18 years or over.
They must possess four GCE's or their equivalent qualification, or a BTEC first Diploma, plus a reasonable knowledge of the English language. Mature students (over 21 years of age) may be exempt from this requirement on grounds of experience.

Duration of Course
Each course lasts two years, a total of approximately 64 weeks.
There is normally only one intake of students a year, in September with the first academic year commencing in late September and ending in June the following year. This pattern is the same for the second academic year.

The course is structured around formal classes, seminars, tutorials and individual tuition. In addition, students will be expected to undertake private study. Students will have to prepare at least two assignments per subject per term, plus two integrated assignments.Those seeking courses at degree level on completion of their BTEC National diploma course, will need to apply to UCAS by the end of the first term of the second year. The college will be required to complete a detailed reference on the performance of the candidate.

OPTION MODULES EXPLAINED

13.Networking
Description of unit

The importance of networked solutions in the business world grows year on year. The increasingly sophisticated technologies and widening user base means a fundamental understanding of networks is essential for many. The aim of this unit is to provide a rigorous introduction to networks, and practical experience in installing users and software on a network.

This unit will clarify the issues associated with network use and how this has developed. It will identify the architectural concepts behind networking and help develop the preliminary skills necessary to install and manage networks.

Content
1 Benefit of networks

Network principles and applications definition of a network: evolution of network uses, from simple file and print networks, through small office computing, to client-server architectures, review of remote access, starting with e-mail through to intranets and the Internet, LANs, WANs, and MANs, networked applications, cost/benefit analysis of network use

Network use: an overview of network resources (hardware and software), facilities of a network operating system, understanding of security implications and software licensing issues, constraints on capacity and performance ( such as being asked to run video off a 10M ethernet connection)

2 Design/evaluation of networks

Network architecture concepts: the ISO OSI 7 layer model (and/or IEE 802), topologies, eg bus, ring, structured, a description of communication devices, repeaters, bridges and hubs, standard connectors and wiring, functions of a network card, differences between peer to peer and server based networks, description of main protocols, ie Ethernet, ATM, token ring, IPX, SPX, and their relationship with the 7-layer model, the principles and resources required to connect LANs to WANs, TCP/IP as a WAN protocol, TCP/IP addressing and how routing worksNetwork design: using architectural principles and definitions to design a new network or evaluate an existing one

3 Network software

User factors: design and definition of users and groups, the definition of directory structures on the file server, file and directory attributes, trustee rights, IRM (Inherited rights management), and setting up security.

Login scripts: definition of the user environment, menu systemsHardware and software factors: printing set-up understanding of printing options, installation and configuration of applications on the network (including operating system constraints), file server installation and utilities

4 Network management

Management responsibilities: the problems of creating large numbers of accounts on a network and keeping it up-to-date, management of users, workgroup managers, network security and virus protection, (elements of good practice)

Control resource usage estimation and tracing of resource usage, managing printer queues, connecting of the network to the outside world, advantages (eg Internet) and disadvantages (eg hackers), firewalls

14: Data Analysis and Database Design
An understanding of databases is fundamental to the development of any significant information system. Database systems are predominant in the world of IT and continue to demand more complex data structures as applications get increasingly sophisticated. The aim of this unit is to provide an essential knowledge of database systems including basic design principles, practical implementation and development skills for both system designer and software engineer.

The importance of structured query languages should be stressed, and once created, databases will be used or demonstrated for a variety of tasks including querying and report writing.

Content
1 Databases

Implement a design: select suitable data types, entity and referential constraints, convert logical database design to physical implementation using appropriate visual tools and structured query languages

Data manipulation: use of query languages and visual tools for database maintenance, inserts, updates and amendments of dataQuery and reporting: query languages and query by example (QBE) to extract meaningful data, including formatting and use of functions/formulae, report writing tools, links to stored queries, design and format of reports, including graphical outputApplication links: database applications, identification and use of data sources and access via 4GL programs

2 Small databases

Relation model: the relational model and relational operationsData analysis: identification of data requirements form different user perspectives, comparison of top-down and bottom-up approaches to data analysis, their strengths and weaknesses

Top-down analysis: entity analysis techniques, entities, attributes, key identifiers, relationship types and enterprise rules, entity relation diagrams (ERDs), degrees of a relationships

Bottom-up introduction: to problems of redundancy, update anomalies, purpose of normalisation, functional dependency, determinacy diagrams and identification of un-normalised data structures, development of first, second and third normal forms

Data definition: documenting results from data analysis, data models/notations, data dictionaries, use of supportive software including database products and data modelling software tools

Unit 15: Visual Programming
Students will increasingly use visually based operating systems such as Windows 95 and will need to develop code which uses similar features and techniques

The aim of this unit is to enable students to develop visual applications, become familiar with a visual development environment and use its facilities to build the applications

Content
1 Visual objects

Object types: Buttons, Text Boxes, Windows, Frames etc
Object structure: attributes, methods etc
Creating objects: placing objects on a screen and customising attributes
Linking objects: enabling objects to interact using programming or scripting

2 Visual application

Design strategies: state transition diagrams, storyboarding, event modelling, prototyping
Design: using design strategies

3 Visual development environment

Identification of features: investigation of current advanced tools and development methods
Employment of features: use of advanced features to satisfy the requirement methods application features available will vary greatly between different development environments, but typical examples might be the use of drag and drop, simple animation, linking to databases, Internet development

Unit 16: Human Computer Interface
As technology moves forward, new exciting methods of communicating with computers are becoming possible. Software developers are required to determine whether software is developed with new techniques or traditional tried and tested methods. The developer also needs to measure how well a computer interacts with a user.

This unit aims to give students a full understanding of the human computer interface (HCI) and the part it plays in the construction of software which is usable, attractive, efficient and effective. The student is encouraged to explore how well software interacts with the user, fulfils the user's needs and makes allowances for different users. The student should develop a critical appreciation of the advantages and disadvantages of various interfaces currently available and experience the production of a prototype.

Content
1 HCI related developments and their application
Developments in technology: workstation environment eg screens, keyboards, pointing devices, other I/O devices (eg speech), related processing and storage requirements
Developments in HCI: virtual machines, command line input ( command sets), menu selection and the methods of selection, graphical interfaces, speech, screen design for intensive data entry, intelligent HCIs, virtual personas (engaging with the computer within a virtual reality), concept of 'look and feel'Developments in the concept of 'the user': range of users (eg expert, regular, occasional, novice, special needs), needs of user
Development of systems: new developments (eg hypertext, event driven systems, use of multimedia), modelling techniques, implication of new developments on user interfaces, implications of developments on hardware (storage, processing requirements etc)
Applications: range of applications, selection of HCIs for specific applications

2 HCI
Psychological considerations: memory (long-and short-term), reasoning, perception, cognition and the use of metaphors and the consequences on the design of HCI
Health and safety considerations: ergonomics and the surrounding environment, eg lighting seating, RSI, legal implications
Information considerations: necessity for information-rich environment, examples of systems (eg share trading rooms or combat environments)Cost implications in the choice of HCI: training, effectiveness of systems, architectural requirements (eg hardware, software, communications)HCI support for less common environments: identification of applications (eg Remote interaction using virtual environments, real time simulation (flight simulators), high-speed interactive interfaces (games), special needs (implications for colour blind, partially sighted, blind, physically incapacitated, slow learners), analysis of implication of HCI selection

3 HCI prototypes

Modelling the interface: mapping the system functionality to the conceptual model, grouping of the tasks into logical sets
Analysis: task analysis eg storyboarding, user needs analysis, evaluation of HCI complexity
Design: rules and heuristics for good HCI design, review of propriety examples, context sensitive help, on line help/documentation, design toolsProduction: selection of tools, production of prototype
Measuring the functionality of an HCI: keystroke effort per task, ability to navigate within the system, time to perform a task, ability to configure the HCI, user satisfaction

Unit 17: End User Support
User need training in the systems they use since problems always occur, they also need support from knowledgeable and sympathetic staff within a formal framework of systems support. A major element of support is the provision of a service to install the hardware and software to satisfy changed requirements. This unit the framework for developing the knowledge and skills needed by those who aim to provide this important service.

Content
1 User problem
Analysis of problem: ability to identify a user's requirements from a computer system, ability to analyse or determine a problem from a user's descriptionEvaluation of possible solutions: immediate response, advice on access to manuals, help systems etc, obtaining additional supportHuman factors: appreciation of user frustration, appropriate communication techniques, situations requiring communication eg changes/amendments.User support system: role of help desks, logging systems for faults and solutions, service level agreements

2 Installation of hardware and software
Installation planning: analysis of users' requirements, installation schedules, acceptance standards, user involvement
Installation programs: installation and testing of software, device drivers, support files etc configuring software to suit specified user needs and the machine operating environment
Installation of hardware: installing and configuring supplied hardware to a manufacturer's standard instructions, (hardware may include single of multiple circuit boards, memory modules, storage of I/O devices etc), adherence to health and safety procedures
Testing: testing new installation against specified acceptance standards, taking remedial action
Re-configuration of installed software: re-configuration of software to suit changes in user requirements or to solve problems, testing of re-configuration

3 Software products

Training areas: applications, security, routine maintenance
Training tools: a survey of tools eg manuals, guides, multimedia, courses etc, evaluation of appropriateness of different training toolsTraining plans: identifying different training needs, producing a training schedule, evaluating training
Individual training: analysis of requirements of user, identify capability of user, employing appropriate tools with necessary support
Individual education: developing user responsibility (eg accuracy, prevention of viruses), encouraging users to increase knowledge of computing.

Unit 18: Introduction to Programming
An understanding of the general principles and concepts of programming underpins much of the knowledge in any course in computing or IT.Being a core unit, this seeks to provide the fundamental ideas and opportunities to develop and reinforce basic programming skill. Students will develop programs of increasing complexity, and although the content could be delivered from a range of languages, compilers or platforms, the unit should aim to deliver skills and knowledge which will easily transfer to other area of the programme.This unit will also attempt to dispel the common notion that a program 'works' if is seen to execute once without crashing, asking the student to develop and implement both 'black-box' and 'white-box' testing schedules based on supplied program specifications and program code.
The unit does not cover dynamic data structures, files of records/structures or using objects; belong in 'Data Structures and Algorithms' (Unit 25) or 'Object-Oriented Programming' (Unit 24).

1 Structured programming

Storage: the concepts of data storage within a computer program, using variables, constants and literals. For a third generation language, the pre-defined data types, integers, floating-points, character, Boolean (logical), strings, ID and 2D arrays of simple types, and simple files, consequences of using these types, and the available operators within the supplied languageControl structures: identify and select appropriate iterative and selection structures when writing simple programsProgramming language syntax: the facilities and rules of the language (operators, 1/0 commands etc)Program design: employment of an algorithmic approach for the development of a solution to a problem (structure charts, pseudo code etc), producing tested programs to meet given specificationsProgramming standards and practice: use of comments, code layout eg consistent identification and descriptive identifiers

2 Modularisation
Use of functions/procedures: the student use/create functions/procedures both pre-defined, and user-defined, map structured design onto a program using functions/procedures
Scope of variable: global, local, static and external variablesParameters: passing data by value and reference, using return values
3 test schedulesError types: semantic, syntax and run-timeTest documentation: test plan and related evidence of testing (may include reading sample inputs from a file and/or writing test results to a file)Test data and schedules: black box, white box and dry testingError detection techniques: compiler and linker error messages, debugging tools and structured walk-through

Unit 19: Computer Architecture
The unit outlines the fundamental way in which a computer works: starting with simple logic and progressing to a simple model of a microprocessor. This is followed by an appreciation of low-level programming leading to a clear understanding of the key points of machine performance. The time spent on machine performance should be sufficient to enable students to make an authoritative evaluation between different machine architectures. The unit also covers a basic knowledge of the purpose of operating systems and some elementary operating system processes.

1 Computer system
Processor: description of components (Von-Neuman architecture), identification of factors affecting performance (eg MIPS, FLOPS, clock speed, computed performance indexes, bus architecture, etc)
Backing store: identification of types (disc, CD etc) performance factors (eg data transfer rate, seek times, capacity)
Peripherals: description of available peripherals (displays, printer etc), understanding of performance factors (eg displays-performance, resolution, colour planes, video RAM, refresh rate, interlacing, slot pitch etc, printer-speed, resolution, image quality, software requirements, Postscript, PCL and associated printer control)
Computer selection: specification of user requirements, match to a machine specification evaluation of suppliers' proposals

2 Operating systems
Operating system functions: overview of functions (eg user interface, machine and peripheral management etc), comparison between functions of different types of operating system (personal computer, network, maintenance etc)Computer operations: use of a proprietary operating system, generation of environment and systems for a computer user (file/directory structures, tailoring of screen interface, backup systems etc)Network administration: the management of users (maintenance of work groups, logical and physical security)

3 Data representation, simple logic and the fetch-executive cycle of a modelData representation: number system conversions (eg binary, denary, hexadecimal, floating point numbers, ASCII, Unicode, bit masks, graphic bitmaps, role of different number systems), demonstration of the possibility of errors by inappropriate representation of decimal or other numbers in various binary form

Logic and fetch-executive cycle: concepts of logic and logic gates, simple arrays of logic gates, truth tables, concepts of registers, busses, control unit, arithmetic and logic unit, memory etc in model microprocessor and the fetch-decode-execute cycle, without reference to performance enhancing hardware such as cache memory

4 Low-level programs
Machine code: development of programs which enable an application of a set of operation codes and operands (to move, add, subtract, multiply, divide, mask, make decisions using branching)

Assembly code: development of short assembly language programs covering a set of operation codes and operands (may link to high-level code or sections of in-line assembly language), use of operating system calls, direct addressing of hardware/hardware subsystems or IO devices as appropriate to the machine in use

Critical appreciation of machine performance: an identification of how the architectural relationship between the fetch-execute cycle and different machine code programs affect performance

Unit 20: Database Management Systems
The aim of this unit is to provide the application developer with essential knowledge of database management system software. Content will include the evolution of DBMS technology, database administrative functions and controls within a multi-user environment.

Content
1 DBMS technologies
Evolution: concepts of redundancy and dependence in flat file systems, the DBMS solution, data independence, integrity and security, components of a typical database management systemTechnologies: hierarchical, network, relational and object models, single user, multi-user and enterprise wide database applications, two and three tier client-server, Internet/intranet architectures, support for complex data types eg graphical, multi-media

2 Database administrative tasks
DBA functions: the DBA' s role, creation and management of databases and users, security eg levels of authority, access rites, service levels, recovery, back-up procedures, use of views, SQL support for DBA functionsIntegrity: insert, update and deletion anomalies, entity and referential integrity, database design including integrity constraint, SQL support for integrity constraintsPerformance: performance criteria, storage and access methods eg use of indexes, b-trees etc query optimisers, costs of improved performance, language support for optimising performance

3 Multi-user environment
Concurrency: properties of transactions, concurrency issues, atomocity, consistency, independence and durability (ACID) principlesBackup and recovery: use of log files, checkpoints, timestamping, rollback and recovery techniques, SQL supportLocking: loss of integrity in concurrent systems eg lost updates, inconsistent analysis, isolation levels, locking mechanisms (including two-phase protocol)

Unit 21: Computer Management
The unit aims to provide the generic skills and knowledge required by a manager in the information technology sector. Such managers have additional pressures of having to deal continuously with change and participate effectively with management at all levels, including senior management, in the development of strategy.

In addition to techniques for staffing and budgetary control, the unit also covers techniques for keeping abreast of developments in information technology.

Content
1 Staffing management
Staff recruitment: job description, selection criteria, preparation for interview, administrative and induction processes, line management structureMotivation of staff: current theories, leadership, participation, management of change, team structure and management
Staff administration: scheduling including links with project management, monitoring performance, appraisal, implications for contract staff

2 Organisational requirements
Organisation charts: roles and responsibilities of employees, organisation charts for IT departments and other financial areas
Financial planning and control: investigation of an organisation's budgetary procedures, bidding procedures, budgetary monitoring systems, production of financial reports
Software tools for management: investigation of available tools (eg diary systems, spreadsheets, intranet, decision support systems), identification of tools with appropriate applications

3 Strategic planning
Strategic planning: the aim of strategic planning, the role of IT developments in strategic planning
Maintaining currency: research methods (eg periodicals, Internet, conference etc), networking (human contracts), accreditation
Senior management links: techniques to influence management, production of necessary documentation (reports, briefs etc), the role of service level agreements, the need for security and disaster planning

Unit 22: Web Site Management
This unit enables students to create and manage web-based applications. The focus is on the server and the mechanisms to link web pages to databases. Although intended for the Internet, it could be taught with reference to an intranet, and the unit will deal with intranet issues.
Content
1 Interactive web pages
Mark-up languages: mark-up languages (ML), structure of ML, ML tags and their documentation, current ML features (tables, frames etc), current changes to ML standards
Browsers: difference between current browsers and designing to suit them, use of Javascript, Java applets etc
Server interaction: linking via a web server/Internet with databases using current protocols eg get, post mailto, isindex, query, ODBC

2 Web sites
Specification: web site software, server operating system, server hardware and communications requirements, server performance and loadingServer organisation: structure of services, (eg WWW, ftp, gopher), structure of data, areas, aliases, management and performance analysis tools, portabilitySecurity and integrity: backup, user access rights, file management, testing integrity of third party supplied web pages, protection against aggressive attack eg firewalls

3 Interactive applications
Sever side interaction: accepting data from users and responding with appropriate actions and responses based using the CGI (Common Gateway Interface) or equivalentDatabase connectivity: the common methods of using/accessing databases from CGI applications eg ODBC, JDBC, SQL