Hello,

 My name is Gareth Byrne and I am Edexcel's new ICT Subject Advisor.

I'm just posting quickly to introduce myself so that anyone who uses these forums regularly could drop me a line with any questions.

You can contact me by replying to this thread or through our "Ask the Expert Service".

Please look out for our new ICT subject pages which will be filled with info on all ICT specs.

There is also lots of info already online about the new 2010 GCSE Spec.

http://www.edexcel.com/quals/gcse/gcse10/ict/Pages/default.aspx

I look forward to hearing from you soon and hopefully getting involved in some discussions through the web community.

Take care

 Gareth

Hi Gareth

Could you help me out with a query I made through AskEdexcel originally, the answer to which referred me to you?

Matchware Mediator is an acceptable format for the DiDA course, being on the Moderators toolkit, along with a Mediator reader. Would it be an acceptable format for the Unit 1 e-book for the AS Applied ICT course? Mediator can export in HTML format but this reduces the facilities available on the software when compared with the native Mediator format.

Tony Mellor
Head of ICT
The Sir John Colfox School

Hi Tony,

I will check with the moderator as I have only had limited experience of Mediator.

Is this a question of Mediator possibly not being acceptable because it offers the student to much help? or are you just worried that the format will be unacceptable? 

I will post as soon as I have more information, or I can email you directly if you would like?

Kind regards

Gareth Byrne

ICT Subject Advisor

More that the format would be unacceptable. The software allows students to produce flash presentations, web pages and combine multimedia elements though an easier to use interface than the standard Adobe titles. Since my students have used this on DiDA coursework it seems a natural progression to allow them to use it for the AS coursework.

please feel free to e-mail directly on mellort@colfox.dorset.sch.uk

Many thanks

Tony Mellor

Hi Gareth

we are running the BTEC National IT practitioners and would like some clarification on Unit 10 M1.  It states that students needd to compare two methods of accessing external CSS script but we are unsure of how much detail the students need for this.  Can you give me any examples of the sorts of things that would be suitable?

Regards

Maria Sheehy

Hi Maria,

Either the learner can select two methods, or the assessor can suggest two methods, either is acceptable.

I hope this helps. 

Hello Gareth

 I am new to Applied ICT GCE.

Could you tell me where to find the examiners' report for Applied ICT GCE for 2009?

Are there worked versions of the databases and spreadsheets for previous years?

Thanks

Val Bryant 

Hi Val,

All our examiners reports are available from the specification website.

http://www.edexcel.com/QUALS/GCE/APP-GCE/APP-ICT/Pages/default.aspx

Here is a link to the 2009 examiners report.

https://www.edexcel.com/migrationdocuments/secure_content%20general/June09-ER/8751-9752_GCE%20Applied%20ICT_rep_20090813_UA021101.pdf 

The best way to access example work is through our OSCA system.

http://www.edexcel.com/iwantto/Pages/osca.aspx

If you would like any help or advice on using OSCA please contact me on ICTSubjectAdvisor@EdexcelExperts.co.uk

Regards

Gareth

Hi Gareth,

Hope the job is going well.

 I teach the BTEC Introductory ICT units on a Vocational course.  have you any idea when the new specifications will be available?

 Kind regards

Trish Lewis

Hi Trish,

I am expecting an announcement on the BTEC changes this week.

If you send me an email to ICTSubjectAdvisor@EdexcelExperts.co.uk I will add you to my contact list.

I will then email you once I have the official comment.

Regards

Gareth

Hi,

Any idea when the new specs will be out for BTEC IT 2010?

Hi Gareth, my name is Dorothy Davitt and I am delivering BTEC 1st ICT for Practioners for the first time.  I am in the process of delivering assignment 2.2 and the learners are asked to produce a report which considers suitable hardware platforms and software applications which can be used to produce more complex website for a web development company that wishes to be more commercially successful.  My problem is, how much information does the learner have to include when suggesting suitable computer systems.  Are they expected to build them from scratch or as I am thinking just looking at Processors, Memory, Operating systems, hardware and software.  Do they need to suggest ISP or am I going too far. Look forward to hearing from you.

Hi Dorothy,

I've referred this one to one of the unit moderators, his reply is below.

"I think this refers to unit 2 Tutor Support Material assignment 2..

Learners need to consider the prescriptive elements of the unit content in terms of Hardware (LO 2.1) and Application Software (LO 3.2) in particular the:

Processor speed & type
Memory
Storage devices
Input devices
Output devices
They can include some ideas on NICs if they like but not essential since communication was not integral to the scenario although it is in the unit content, so debatable whether required.
Application software will need to include office applications, web development software, graphics, video, etc suitable to the scenario.
Learners should be able to give a specific example of each"

I hope this helps.

Gareth

Hi Gareth,

 I have a very specific question about Unit 18.  The features of programming languages include arrays, can you tell me if it is enough for students to use just control arrays (as in VB6)?

 Thanks,

Hannah Robertson