Information Technology in a Global Society

You can take ITGS at Higher Level or Standard Level.

• Higher Level ITGS focuses on the technical elements of all areas of ICT with an emphasis on ethics and globalisation. A keen interest in ICT both practical and technical is essential.
• Standard Level is aimed at students looking to learn about the technical elements of ICT. Good practical ICT skills are essential.

For ITGS you will need at least a B in ICT. Whatever level you take, you will also need a data pen to bring work to and from college.

The ITGS syllabus at HL and SL is divided into three sections: social and ethical issues, IT systems in a social context, six areas of impact. All 3 areas are studied in an integrated fashion.

Strand 1: Social and ethical significance

This section is the study of the social and ethical considerations linked to specific IT developments, such as reliability of systems, security and integrity of systems, privacy and anonymity and authenticity. Other areas include intellectual property, the digital divide, surveillance, globalisation and cultural diversity. We look at how all of these issues are dealt with by people and technology using policies and standards and how the internet has created a concept of digital citizenship.

Strand 2: Application to specified scenarios

This strand is scenarios based and looks at real-life situations that address specified IT developments. The main areas include business and employment, education, environment, health, home and leisure and government and politics. Higher level students will look at many real life scenarios and focus on cutting edge technology and its consequences.

Strand 3: IT systems

This strand is all about the terminology and interrelations between different technologies. Concepts and tools are examined theoretically and practically where possible and all manner of hardware and software are examined and studied. We also examine networks, the internet, communication technology, multimedia, databases, spread sheets and project management. Higher level students will also look at how IT is used in organisations and also learn about robotics, artificial intelligence, expert systems and an area of technology specified annually by the IB in the case study.

Higher Level

External assessment (3 papers) 80%

Internal assessment 20%

You will have to produce an IT product for a client of your choice. You will decide how a problem can be solved using IT and then you will plan and create and implement your chosen product.

You will have to produce:

• A product developed through the integration of IT skills
• A written report (2,000 - 2,500 words)

Standard Level

External assessment (2 papers) 70%

Internal assessment 30%

You will have to produce an IT product for a client of your choice. You will decide how a problem can be solved using IT and then you will plan and create and implement your chosen product.

You will have to produce:

• A product developed through the integration of IT skills
• A written report (2,000 - 2,500 words)

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