Information Technology Industry Sector
Technology and the growing complexity of businesses have expanded the need for employees who can analyze, design, and manage information. Skills for evaluating data, the ability to work with people, and clear communication are companion components for careers in information technology systems. Employment opportunities for technically and professionally trained persons are outstanding in this emerging career path. After mastering basic technology skills, students can select one of many specializations in the field of technology.
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Students in the Information Support and Services Pathway prepare for careers that involve the implementation of computer services and software, provision of technical assistance, creation of technical documentation, and management of information systems. Mastery of information technologies is the foundation for all successful business organizations today. Persons with expertise in information support and services are in high demand for a variety of positions in business and industry.
A1.1 Evaluate the systems-development life cycle and develop appropriate plans to maintain a given system after assessing its impact on resources.
A1.2 Evaluate support needs for different data and systems configurations.
A1.3 Understand the necessity of and procedures for communicating and documenting technical support provided.
A2.1 Understand how to develop the purpose and scope of a systems project.
A2.2 Understand the criteria and processes for evaluating the functions of information systems.
A2.3 Know the processes needed to install and maintain systems.
A2.4 Know appropriate documentation support for information systems.
A3.1 Analyze business problems by using functional and cost-benefit perspectives.
A3.2 Know common organizational, technical, and financial risks associated with the implementation and use of systems.
A3.3 Know the functions of various tools used to manage projects involving the development of information systems.
A4.1 Know how to acquire, use, and manage necessary internal and external resources when supporting various organizational systems.
A4.2 Understand how to identify and integrate various organizational systems to achieve maximum efficiency and effectiveness.
A5.1 Know appropriate policies and procedures to ensure the security and integrity of management systems.
A5.2 Investigate, evaluate, select, and use major types of systems applications and vendors, including retail, manufacturing, and service management.
A6.1 Analyze technical support needs.
A6.2 Use technical writing and communication skills to work effectively with diverse groups of people.
A6.3 Understand the principles of a customer-oriented service approach to users.
A7.1 Know common industry-standard software and its applications.
A7.2 Evaluate the effectiveness of software to solve specific problems.
A7.3 Know a variety of sources for reference materials (e.g., online help, vendors’ Web sites, online discussion groups, tutorials, manuals).
A7.4 Diagnose and solve software application problems.
A7.5 Know current and emerging industry-standard technology and trends.
A8.1 Know appropriate search procedures for different types of information, sources, and queries.
A8.2 Evaluate the accuracy, relevance, and comprehensiveness of retrieved information.
A8.3 Analyze the effectiveness of online information resources to support collaborative tasks, research, publications, communications, and increased productivity.
A9.1 Know the characteristics and functions of available quality assurance tools and procedures for a variety of situations.
A9.2 Understand techniques for optimizing quality assurance processes.
A10.1 Know the variety of data types that are stored in database management systems.
A10.2 Understand the ways in which tools for developing applications can be used to create information systems.
A10.3 Understand the various structures appropriate for specific applications within database management systems.
A10.4 Understand the development process of database schemas.
A10.5 Understand the possibilities for and limitations of converting data between databases and various applications.
Students in the Media Support and Services Pathway prepare for careers that involve creating, designing, and producing multimedia products and services, including the development of digitally generated or computer-enhanced media used in business. Organizations of all types and sizes use digital media (e.g., CDs, DVDs, Web sites) to communicate with existing and potential customers. Media support experts can find jobs in organizations doing such work as creating e‑business Web sites.
B1.1 Know the basic functions of media design software, such as keyframe animation, two-dimensional design, and three-dimensional design.
B1.2 Use appropriate software to design and produce professional-quality images, documents, and presentations.
B1.3 Analyze the purpose of the media to determine the appropriate file format and level of compression.
B1.4 Analyze media and develop strategies that target the specific needs and desires of the audience.
B1.5 Understand the development and management process of a show (e.g., television programs, musicals, nd radio programs).
B1.6 Know the basic design elements necessary to produce effective print, video, audio, and Web-based media.
B1.7 Use technical skills (e.g., pagination, printing, folding, cutting, binding) to produce publishable materials.
B2.1 Know multiple ways in which to transfer information and resources (e.g., text, data, sound, video, still images) between software programs and systems.
B2.2 Understand the differences between various Internet protocols (e.g., http, ftp, mailto, telnet).
B2.3 Use multiple online search techniques and resources to acquire information.
B2.4 Know the appropriate ways to validate and cite Internet resources.
B3.1 Understand the appropriate peripherals and hardware needed to achieve maximum productivity for various projects.
B3.2 Know how to identify and integrate various types of peripherals and hardware to meet project requirements.
B3.3 Use various types of audio and video equipment (e.g., digital cameras, recorders, scanners, Web cams, CD and DVD recorders), as appropriate, for different projects.
B3.4 Understand the types of media storage and the use of appropriate file formats, and know how to convert data between media and file formats.
B4.1 Use a logical and structured approach to isolate and identify the source of problems and to resolve problems.
B4.2 Know the available resources for identifying and resolving problems.
B4.3 Use technical writing and communication skills to work effectively with diverse groups of people.
B4.4 Understand the principles of a customer-oriented service approach to users.
B5.1 Understand the purpose, scope, and development of a Web site.
B5.2 Know the relative features, strengths, and weaknesses of different authoring programs and cross-platform issues.
B5.3 Use industry-standard programs to produce a Web-based business operation or simulation.
B5.4 Know the tools needed to enable multimedia capabilities (e.g., still images, animated graphics, sound, video) for Web sites.
B5.5 Know strategies for optimizing Web design for fast delivery and retrieval.
B5.6 Know the tools needed to enable databases to collect data from Web site visitors (e.g., how to create forms and create a database of collected information and how to manage an online database) and the tools needed for general Web site management, including basic HTML coding, Web site statistical tracking, standard scripting languages, and advanced communications protocols.
B5.7 Know the full process of Web hosting, including registering domain names, setting up Web hosting, setting up e-mail addresses, and recognizing privacy issues.
B5.8 Understand the hardware (server) and software required for Web hosting.
B5.9 Know the tools and process for registering Web sites with search directories and engines and for enabling e-commerce capabilities (e.g., sell products, create a shopping cart, handle credit card transactions).
B5.10 Differentiate among various versions of Internet programming languages.
Students in the Network Communications Pathway prepare for careers that involve network analysis, planning, and implementation, including the design, installation, maintenance, and management of network systems. The successful establishment and maintenance of information technology infrastructure is critical to the success of almost every twenty-first-century organization. Employment continues to grow for persons with expertise in network communications.
C1.1 Evaluate emerging products, services, and business models in relation to the creation, setup, and management of network communication products and services.
C1.2 Evaluate, create, and process voice, video, and data transmissions.
C1.3 Understand the effective management of human, financial, and communications resources from the standpoints of the user and the provider.
C1.4 Diagram physical and logical layouts of network communication systems.
C2.1 Know the types of networks and their features and applications.
C2.2 Know how to implement a functional wired and wireless network, including the installation and configuration of components, software, and plug-ins.
C2.3 Understand the functions of various network devices, including network connectivity hardware.
C2.4 Distinguish between the topologies and protocols of local area networks and those of wide area networks.
C2.5 Understand the differences between various network environments (e.g., peer-to-peer, client-server, thin client, n-tier, internetworks, intranets, and extranets).
C2.6 Evaluate, select, and deploy a variety of network architectures and protocols.
C2.7 Apply appropriate technologies to improve network performance.
C2.8 Identify, analyze, and evaluate emerging communications technologies for use in organizations.
C3.1 Know common customer policies and procedures, including those for management of incidents.
C3.2 Understand the security procedures necessary to maintain and support a network.
C3.3 Know the functions of common help-desk tools and resources, such as incident tracking, knowledge database, and staffing.
C3.4 Understand effective methods of disseminating information and instruction to users.
C4.1 Analyze network system interdependencies and constraints.
C4.2 Understand the processes used in managing and maintaining various types of electronic networks.
C4.3 Understand the implications of major protocols and international standards and their impact on data transmission.
C5.1 Know the appropriate uses of communication services, products, and applications.
C5.2 Use a variety of online services (e.g., purchasing, selling, tracking, communicating, banking, investing).
C5.3 Evaluate the features of communications software products in terms of their appropriateness to organizational tasks.
C5.4 Configure compatible systems across various platforms and types of media.
C6.1 Understand the importance of classifying appropriate monitoring devices and procedures for quick identification and prevention of security violations.
C6.2 Know policies and procedures for routine administration (e.g., user agreement, incident reporting, recovery for users).
C6.3 Know common potential risks and entrance points, including internal and external risks, and the tools used to neutralize them (e.g., firewalls; monitoring; antivirus, spyware, and spam protection).
C6.4 Know common techniques for disaster prevention and recovery.
Students in the Programming and Systems Development Pathway prepare for careers that involve the design, development, and implementation of computer systems and software. Those careers require knowledge of computer operating systems, programming languages, and software development. Persons with expertise in programming and software development work with cutting-edge technologies to develop tomorrow’s products for use by businesses and consumers.
D1.1 Develop information technology-based strategies and project plans to solve specific problems.
D1.2 Know how systems and software requirements are determined in various situations.
D1.3 Know the effective use of tools for software development.
D1.4 Know the software development process.
D2.1 Know the fundamentals of programming languages and concepts.
D2.2 Compare programs by using control structures, procedures, functions, parameters, variables, error recovery, and recursion.
D2.3 Understand digital logic, machine-level representation of data, memory-system organization, and use of assembly-level programming architecture.
D3.1 Analyze customers’ needs and requirements for software.
D3.2 Know how specifications and codes are developed for new and existing software applications.
D3.3 Understand the abstract organization of information and how programs maintain the properties of the data structure while they perform such operations as search, insert, or load-balancing.
D3.4 Know multiple ways in which to store, retrieve, and access information.
D3.5 Understand how to track software versions.
D4.1 Know the steps involved in the software-testing process.
D4.2 Know the methodologies of program maintenance to preserve intended program applications and the operation of scheduled batch jobs and real-time jobs.
D4.3 Know how different systems and associated utilities perform such functions as file management, backup and recovery, and execution of programs.
D4.4 Understand the differences between simple and multiuser operating systems.
D5.1 Know the standards and requirements for software quality assurance.
D5.2 Know common quality assurance tasks and their place in the development process.
D5.3 Understand the ways in which specification changes and technological advances can require the modification of programs.
D5.4 Know various sorting and searching methods and their comparative advantages.
D5.5 Know the characteristics of reliable, effective, and efficient products.
D6.1 Understand how to support access, privacy, and high ethical standards in computing.
D6.2 Use knowledge of cognitive, physical, and social interactions to create and design user-friendly computer practices and applications that meet the needs of the market.
There are 11 foundation standards that all students need to master to be successful in the career technical education curriculum and in the workplace. These standards are similar to the competencies described in the June 1991 report issued by the U. S. Department of Labor, Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS). The foundation standards are uniform in all sectors, although the subcomponents will differ. They cover the 11 areas essential to all students’ success:
1.0 Academics
2.0 Communications
3.0 Career Planning and Management
4.0 Technology
5.0 Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
6.0 Health and Safety
7.0 Responsibility and Flexibility
8.0 Ethics and Legal Responsibilities
9.0 Leadership and Teamwork
10.0 Technical Knowledge and Skills
11.0 Demonstration and Application