Key Info
Learning Area Digital Academy
Delivery Mode Full-time
Duration 1 Year
Course Code 11832-CAM-22
Dates & Locations
Course Type 16-19, Adult
Location Cornwall College Camborne
Start Date 12/09/2022
If you are interested in a career in programming, Website development, social media or cyber security or you just have a passion for using computers to achieve great things join us on the Foundation/Extended Diploma in Information Technology.
The BTEC Foundation Diploma in Information Technology provides you with the skills you need to pursue a career in the exciting and innovative industry of IT. I.T. is about providing solutions through the use of computers, networks, hardware and software. It is in the same subject area to computing but concentrates on making things happen rather than the theory behind how they happen.
You will learn how to use computers and I.T. systems to provide applications, Web sites, social media impact, mobile apps/games and secure networks. You can think of these as immediately useful job skills or as a taste of what you could study later on at university.
The course includes knowledge and skills in the use of many industry standard areas such as networking, Android app development, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, C/C++ and Java. It also includes more general knowledge such as how to support users and work with organisations in providing I.T. systems. We also have fantastic links with local industry employers who will be involved in your course and may also be interested in you as an employee once you complete the course!
I.T. is an enormous area with careers to suit most people. An extra benefit of this course is that it will help you to find out which areas you enjoy the most.
If you want to kick start your career in tech, come and join our Foundation/Extended Diploma in Information Technology.
What You Will Learn
- the principles of all I.T. systems (such as assembling PCs, operating systems, networking)
- creating properly structured databases (in Access)
- the use of social media to promote and support business
- programming (mostly using Python)
- Website development (hand coded in HTML and CSS with a little JavaScript thrown in)
- either mobile app development or computer games development
In the second year you will go on to:
- managing a practical project of your own (e.g. programming, Website, database or networking)
- cyber security (security threats and how to tackle them)
- delivering service or support to users
- two options covering anything from graphics to big data
The final unit in the first year and the two options in the second may vary depending on the strengths of the learners and what interests them.
The course is usually structured as three days a week plus English and maths if you need to take those.
Entry Requirements
Work Experience
In the second year you will be expected to arrange a larger amount of work placement for yourself. By then you should have been introduced to a few local companies who might be interested.
The aim is not just to get you useful experience but if you like the employer and they like you your work experience will often lead to an offer of a job.
Assessment
There is one unit in the first year which is assessed by a paper-based examination. The other units are all assessed by assignment/course work and for many units that will be mostly practical work.
For example in the database unit you make a database, in the support unit you support users and in the programming unit you write an application.
Progression
The course should provide you with enough skills to be useful to an employer immediately. However I.T. is an advanced subject area and so most people will go on to learn more before settling on a career. You might progress to a university degree but you also have the option of an apprenticeship. Both will let you build on the wide range of skills and knowledge you will learn on this course.
You will have tried many areas of I.T. on our Diploma and will probably have chosen which areas to take further in Higher Education or work.
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Courses listed on this website are indicative of the subject, nature and level of study. The College reserves the right to alter specific qualifications titles, awarding bodies and levels of qualification, which can change in year. Any cost may also vary, based on personal funding eligibility. The Cornwall College Group reserves the right to withdraw any course listed at any time.
Profile
Ben Eddy
After completing the IT diploma with the College Ben decided he wasn’t quite ready for university and took a job working for a national company dealing with television services. After five years Ben felt the time was right for the next step and applied for the BSc (Hons) Computing course at the University of Plymouth. Fast forward four years and he is now part of a graduate scheme at Boeing working as a software developer.
“I wasn’t sure what career I wanted, but I remember being told to follow my passion, so that’s exactly what I did. IT is such a vast area of study that you’ll never become an expert in everything, but my college course was a great introduction to all IT disciplines. I’m now working at Boeing, primarily as a software developer. I still can’t quite believe it. My graduate scheme at Boeing offers rotations between four different departments. Currently I’m working within Application Support, helping to introduce some of the new technologies I’ve learned over the last few years.”
