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Unit 1: Communicating in the ITIndustry

On completion of this unit a learner should:

1 Be able to communicate information to suit audience, purpose and content

2 Be able to use IT tools to communicate and exchange information

3 Understand the impact of IT on individuals, communities and society.

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The Impact of IT on individuals, communities and society.

communicating and exchanging information

Learner exercises in using word processing, presentation, web pageproduction, and email software

exercises using the spell­checkerand thesaurus

at least one other specialist tool

need to be aware of the pitfallsproblem with using auto­correctwithin the spelling check, or in using a grammar checker, also need to be emphasised

specialist communication channels

different methods of communication. Blog, wiki, vlog and podcast production, voip software ﴾eg Skype﴿

class discussions on the benefits and disadvantages of the software based on learnerexperiences.

safetyTutors will lead discussions and encouragesafe working practices when learners use the internet. Learners will apply appropriate practical safetymeasures during their work.

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Evidence for P1:over a period of time and should involve a variety of face­to­face communication. As much naturally occurring evidence as possible should be used, in fact there should be no need to set up simulated circumstances. Good evidence is a compilation of videos of a variety of formal and informal face­to­face communication. An alternative would be detailed observations by tutors, and other appropriate people, backed up by any relevant documentary evidence. There should be at least three separate and different examples of face­to­face communication.

For P2, learners should produce IT­related material for technical audiences specified either by learners orthe tutor. The material produced as evidence must specify the audience for each item. It may be the sameinformation being presented in two different styles for different types of audience, for example a quick helpmenu for a frequent IT user and a full illustrated user guide for a casual IT user.

P3 is similar to P2, except that the audience is non­technical, requiring learners to adjust their languageaccordingly. As with P2, the material produced as evidence must specify the audience for each item,

For P4, learners need to show that they can use various software tools to help them check communicationsin order to exchange information effectively. There should be evidence of using proofing tools ﴾at least two﴿and one other tool type. Tools can be selected by learners or the tutor.

For P5, learners should select, set up and use a specialist communication channel to communicate andexchange information. Evidence can come from screengrabs and/or a written report. Learners should identifycommon safety issues and use appropriate methods to protect themselves and their data.

For P6, learners need to describe the social impacts of the use of IT. While the descriptions included shouldbe clear, at this level learners are not required to explain the concepts involved in an in­depth way.

Pass criteria

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For M1, learners will need to use one of the specialist communication channels selected in P5 or somethingsimilar. Having used the software learners should explain how their choice is effective for a given purpose.Their justification should show an understanding of user requirements and appropriate characteristics of thechosen specialist channel.

Merit criteria

For M2, learners must show an awareness of the severity of particular threats, and briefly discuss possiblesolutions to issues introduced by IT.

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For D1, learners must explain how they use appropriate methods to ensure safety and security when settingup and using a specialist communication channel to communicate and exchange information. This shouldcover personal safety as well as the security of data being transferred. Evidence for this criterion can comefrom screengrabs or a written report.

Distinction criteria

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specialist communication channels

What methods of communication can you name?

Blog,

wiki,

vlog

podcast production,

voip software ﴾eg Skype﴿

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BlogWho has a blog?

Who has viewed others' blogs?

Who uses Facebook?https://www.blogger.com/start

A blog is a personal diary. A daily pulpit. A collaborative space. A political soapbox. A breaking-news outlet. A collection of links. Your own private thoughts. Memos to the world.

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Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/start

A blog is a personal diary. A daily pulpit. A collaborative space. A political soapbox. A breaking-news outlet. A collection of links. Your own private thoughts. Memos to the world.

go@blogger.com

Mail­to­Blogger

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WikiThe simplest online database that could possibly work.

a piece of server software that allows users to freely create and edit Web page content using any Web browser.unusual among group communication mechanisms in that it allows the organization of contributions to be edited in addition to the content itself.

Like many simple concepts, "open editing" has some profound and subtle effects on Wiki usage. Allowing everyday users to create and edit any page in a Web site is exciting in that it encourages democratic use of the Web and promotes content composition by nontechnical usersThe first ever wiki site was created for the Portland Pattern Repository in 1995. That site now hosts tens of thousands of pages.

http://wiki.org/wiki.cgi?WhatIsWiki

http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?PersonalWikiPersonal Wiki

Web-based Personal Wikis

* Free o Luminotes ­­ http://luminotes.com/ ­ Shut down. Not available. o PBWiki or PeanutButterWiki ­­ http://pbwiki.com/ o Unyverse ­­ http://www.unyverse.com o Wetpaint ­­ http://www.wetpaint.com/cyo

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vlogNot to be confused with the Village Light Opera Group of New York City!

Youtube

- 1mbps (speed)- 320 x 240 (image size)- 128 kbps audio (higher quality MP3)- sharpest possibel setting- 10% more brightness- 20% more contrast (which keeps the gray from pixelating color)

Sony Vegas Editing Software,

http://www.vlogblog.com/

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Podcast

A podcast is a digital audio or video file that is:­episodic; downloadable; programme­driven, mainly with a host and/or theme; and convenient, usually via an automated feed with computer software

portmanteau of the words "pod"— "playable on demand" and "broadcasting"

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Voip

eg Skype

Voice over Internet ProtocolIP telephony, Internet telephony, voice over broadband (VoBB), broadband telephony, and broadband phone.

VoIP phone is necessary

* Dedicated VoIP phones connect directly to the IP network using technologies such as wired Ethernet or wireless Wi-Fi. They are typically designed in the style of traditional digital business telephones. * An analog telephone adapter is a device that connects to the network and implements the electronics and firmware to operate a conventional analog telephone attached through a modular phone jack. Some residential Internet gateways and cablemodems have this function built in. * A softphone is application software installed on a networked computer that is equipped with a microphone and speaker, or headset. The application typically presents a dial pad and display field to the user to operate the application by mouse clicks or keyboard input.

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Skype screen shotsbenefits

challenges

cost

flexibility

* Routing phone calls over existing data networks to avoid the need for separate voice and data networks.[15] * Conference calling, IVR, call forwarding, automatic redial, and caller ID features that traditional telecommunication companies (telcos) normally charge extra for are available free of charge from open source VoIP implementations. * Costs are lower, mainly because of the way Internet access is billed compared to regular telephone calls. While regular telephone calls are billed by the minute or second, VoIP calls are billed per megabyte (MB). In other words, VoIP calls are billed per amount of information (data) sent over the Internet and not according to the time connected to the telephone network. In practice the amount charged for the data transferred in a given period is far less than that charged for the amount of time connected on a regular telephone line.

* The ability to transmit more than one telephone call over a single broadband connection. * Secure calls using standardized protocols (such as Secure Real-time Transport Protocol). Most of the difficulties of creating a secure telephone connection over traditional phone lines, such as digitizing and digital transmission, are already in place with VoIP. It is only necessary to encrypt and authenticate the existing data stream. * Location independence. Only a sufficiently fast and stable Internet connection is needed to get a connection from anywhere to a VoIP provider. * Integration with other services available over the Internet, including video conversation, message or data file exchange during the conversation, audio conferencing, managing address books, and passing information about whether other people are available to interested parties.

quality of servicepower failure

emergency calls

lack of redundancy

number portability

security fax handling

compatibility with analogue phones

caller IDlegal issues

support for other devices eg alarm systems

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class discussions on the benefits and disadvantages of the software based on learnerexperiences.

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Assignment 2

Criteria covered Assignment title Scenario Assessment method

P5, P6, M1, M2, D1 Specialist Communication Channels

You work for a recruitmentagency and deal with clients faceto face, over the telephone andthrough video conferencing.You are to use video sessions you have participated in todemonstrate your interpersonalskills and produce a blog explaining how to use videoconferencing.

Videos, blogs

Specialist Communication Channels