# HSC Information Processing and Technology/The Course
## Aim

Information Processes and Technology Stage 6 is designed to enable students to become confident, competent, discriminating and ethical users of information technologies, to possess an understanding of information processes and to appreciate the effect of information systems on society.

## Objectives

Students will develop:
* knowledge and understanding of the nature and function of information systems
* knowledge and understanding of interrelationships among information processes
* an understanding and appreciation of social and ethical issues pertaining to information systems, technologies and processes
* an understanding and appreciation of the emerging nature of information systems, technologies and processes within a historical context
* skills in the discriminatory selection and ethical use of appropriate resources and tools to support information systems
* skills and techniques to creatively and methodically plan, design and implement information systems to address needs
* skills in management, communication and teamwork in relation to individual and group activities.

## Course Structure

The arrangement and relationship between components of the Preliminary course and the HSC course for Information Processes and Technology Stage 6 are outlined below. The percentage values refer to indicative course time.
| Preliminary Course | HSC Course |
| Introduction to Information Skills and Systems (20%) Information Systems in Context Information Processes Digital Representation of Data Classification of Information Systems Social and Ethical Issues Tools for Information Processes (40%) Collecting Organising Analysing Storing and Retrieving Processing Transmitting and Receiving Displaying Planning, Design and Implementation (20%) Understanding the Problem to be Solved Making Decisions Designing Solutions Implementing Testing, Evaluating and Maintaining Social and Ethical Issues Personal and Group System Projects (20%) Personal Information Systems Group Information Systems | Project Work (20%) Understanding the Problem Making Decisions Desiging Solutions Project Management Social and Ethical Design Implementing Testing, Evaluating and Maintaining Information Systems and Databases (20%) Information Systems Examples of Database Information Systems Organisation Methods Storage and Retrieval Other Information Processes Issues Related to Information Systems Communication Systems (20%) Characteristics of Communication Systems Examples of Communication Systems Transmitting and Receiving in Communication Systems Other Information Processes in Communication Systems Issues Related to Communication Systems Option Strands (40%) Students will select TWO of the following options: Transaction Processing Systems Decision Support Systems Automated Manufacturing Systems Multimedia Systems |

## Objectives and Outcomes

| Objectives Students will develop: | Preliminary Outcomes A student: | HSC Outcomes A student: |
| 1. Knowledge and understanding of the nature and function of information systems. | P1.1 Describes the nature of information processes and information technology P1.2 classfies the functions and operations of information processes and information technology | H1.1 applies an understanding of the nature and function of information technologies to a specific practical situation H1.2 explains and justifies the way in which information systems relate to information processes in a specific context |
| 2. knowledge and understanding of interrelationships among information processes | P2.1 identifies the information processes within an information system P2.2 recognises the interdependence between each of the information processes | H2.1 analyses and describes a system in terms of the information processes involved H2.2 develops solutions for an identified need which address all of the information processes |
| 3. an understanding and appreciation of social and ethical issues pertaining to information systems, technologies and processes | P3.1 identifies social and ethical issues | H3.1 evaluates the effect of information systems on the individual, society and the environment H3.2 demonstrates ethical practice in the use of information systems, technologies and processes |
| 4. an understanding and appreciation of the emerging nature of information systems, technologies and processes within a historical context | P4.1 describes the historical development of information systems and relates these to current and emerging technologies | H4.1 proposes ways in which information systems will meet emerging needs |
| 5. skills in the discriminatory selection and ethical use of appropriate resources and tools to support information systems | P5.1 selects and ethically uses computer based and non-computer based resources and tools to process information | H5.1 justifies the selection and use of appropriate resources and tools to effectively develop and manage projects H5.2 assesses the ethical implications of selecting and using specific resources and tools |
| 6. skills and techniques to creatively and methodically plan, design and implement information systems to address needs | P6.1 analyses and describes an identified need P6.2 generates ideas, considers alternatives and develops solutions for a defined need | H6.1 analyses situations, identifies a need and develops solutions H6.2 selects and applies a methodical approach to planning, designing or implementing a solution |
| 7. skills in management, communication and teamwork in relation to individual and group activities | P7.1 recognises and applies management and communication techniques to project work P7.2 uses technology to support group work | H7.1 implements effective management techniques H7.2 uses methods to thoroughly document the development of individual and/or group projects |

## References

http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/pdf_doc/infoprotech_syl.pdf