Be able to save files in a planned hierarchical directory/folder structure

ICT 0417 – Cambridge IGCSE/A‑Level Syllabus Notes

1 Computer Systems (Hardware, Software & Emerging Technologies)

• Hardware components – CPU, motherboard, RAM, ROM, cache, power supply, case, cooling.
• Software categories –
  • System software (operating systems, device drivers)
  • Application software (word processors, spreadsheets, browsers, games)
  • Utility software (antivirus, backup, compression)
• Operating systems (OS) – Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS. Functions: manage hardware, provide UI, run applications, file system control.
• Emerging technologies – Cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), 3‑D printing. Brief advantage/disadvantage table:

  Technology	Advantage	Disadvantage
  Cloud computing	Access from any device	Reliance on internet & security concerns
  AI	Automation of routine tasks	Job displacement, bias
  IoT	Real‑time data collection	Privacy risks, network load

2 Input & Output Devices

• Input – keyboard, mouse, touchpad, scanner, digital camera, microphone, graphics tablet, sensors.
• Output – monitor, printer, speakers, projector, plotter, VR headset.
• Difference between primary (directly connected) and secondary (via hub, network) devices.

3 Storage, Data Representation & File Formats

• Primary storage – RAM (volatile), cache.
• Secondary storage – HDD, SSD, USB flash, CD/DVD, Blu‑ray, cloud.
• Data representation – binary (bits/bytes), hexadecimal, ASCII, Unicode.
• Common file formats – see Section 11.4 (generic vs. application‑specific).

4 Networks & Communication

• Network types – LAN, WAN, MAN, PAN, Internet.
• Topologies – star, bus, ring, mesh, hybrid.
• Transmission media – twisted‑pair (UTP/STP), coaxial, fibre‑optic, wireless (Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, satellite).
• Protocols & addressing – TCP/IP, HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, DNS, IPv4/IPv6.

5 Effects of IT on Individuals, Organisations & Society

Aspect	Positive Effects	Negative Effects
Individuals	Access to information, flexible work, communication	Digital addiction, privacy loss
Organisations	Increased productivity, global markets, data‑driven decisions	Cyber‑security threats, cost of upgrades
Society	Economic growth, e‑government services	Digital divide, environmental impact

6 ICT Applications (Real‑World Case Studies)

Application	Typical Use	Advantage	Disadvantage	Sample Exam Question
Communication (email, video‑call)	Instant contact across distances	Speed, cost‑effective	Miscommunication, security risks	“Evaluate the impact of video‑conferencing on a multinational business.”
Modelling (CAD, simulation)	Design and test products virtually	Reduces prototype cost	Requires expertise	“Explain how CAD software can improve the design process for a new product.”
Banking (online banking, ATMs)	Financial transactions	24 h access, reduced queues	Fraud, system downtime	“Discuss two security measures that banks use to protect online transactions.”
Medicine (e‑health records, tele‑medicine)	Patient data management	Improved diagnosis, remote care	Data confidentiality	“Analyse the benefits of electronic health records for hospitals.”
Retail (e‑commerce platforms)	Buy/sell goods online	Wider market reach	Logistics, return handling	“Assess how an online store can use data analytics to increase sales.”
Expert systems (AI decision support)	Provide advice based on rules	Consistent decisions	Limited to programmed knowledge	“Compare an expert system with a human expert in diagnosing faults.”
Recognition (facial, voice)	Security & user‑friendly interfaces	Fast authentication	Privacy concerns	“Evaluate the ethical issues of facial‑recognition technology in public places.”
Satellite (GPS, remote sensing)	Navigation, weather forecasting	Global coverage	Signal delay, cost	“Explain how GPS data is used in logistics management.”

7 Systems Life‑Cycle (SLC)

8 Safety & E‑Safety

• Physical safety – Proper ergonomics, cable management, avoid overheating, keep liquids away from equipment.
• E‑safety – Use strong passwords, enable firewalls, keep software updated, avoid phishing, back‑up data.

Safety Checklist	Action
Secure password	At least 8 characters, mix of letters, numbers, symbols.
Antivirus	Run regular scans, keep definitions up‑to‑date.
Backup	Weekly external drive or cloud copy of critical files.
Phishing awareness	Check sender address, hover over links before clicking.
Physical ergonomics	Screen at eye level, 20‑20‑20 rule for eye strain.

9 Audience, Communication & Ethical Use

• Identify audience (teacher, peer, public) → adjust language, tone, level of detail.
• Use appropriate media: email, report, presentation, website.
• Ethical considerations – copyright, plagiarism, data protection (GDPR), digital citizenship.

10 Internet & World Wide Web

• Internet basics – Global network of networks, ISP, routers, DNS.
• Web technologies – HTML, CSS, JavaScript, URLs, hyperlinks.
• Search strategies – Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT), site‑specific search, evaluating credibility.
• Cloud services – SaaS, PaaS, IaaS; examples: Google Drive, Microsoft 365.

11 File Management (Section 11)

11.1 Why Plan a Hierarchical Folder Structure?

• Fast retrieval of files when you need them.
• Prevents duplicate or misplaced files.
• Facilitates sharing, collaboration and version control.
• Supports reliable backup and archiving.

11.2 Key Terminology

1. Root folder – Top‑most folder on a drive (e.g., C:\).
2. Parent folder – Contains other folders or files.
3. Sub‑folder (child folder) – Folder inside another folder.
4. Path – Complete address of a file/folder (e.g., C:\School\ICT\Assignments\Report.docx).
5. File format – Type of data identified by its extension (e.g., .docx, .pdf).

11.3 Naming Conventions

Rule	Explanation / Example
Use only letters, numbers, hyphens (-) and underscores (_)	2024_03_15_QuizResults.xlsx
Avoid spaces	Replace with underscores or hyphens
Include dates in YYYYMMDD format	Ensures chronological sorting
Keep names concise but descriptive	ICT_Term1_Notes.pdf
Consistent case	All lower‑case is simplest (e.g., assignment.docx)

11.4 Common File Formats (Generic vs. Application‑Specific)

• Generic formats – Openable by many programmes:
  • .txt – plain text
  • .csv – comma‑separated values
  • .pdf – read‑only document
  • .jpg / .jpeg – photographic images
  • .png – loss‑less images (diagrams)
  • .zip – compressed archive
• Application‑specific formats – Created by particular software:
  • .doc / .docx – Microsoft Word
  • .xls / .xlsx – Microsoft Excel
  • .ppt / .pptx – Microsoft PowerPoint
  • .odt, .ods, .odp – OpenDocument equivalents

How‑to Save / Export in a Different Format

11.5 Creating a Planned Hierarchical Structure

1. Identify main categories (e.g., Subjects, Projects, Personal).
2. Create a root folder for each category (e.g., C:\School\ICT).
3. Within each root, add sub‑folders such as Notes, Assignments, Resources.
4. If needed, add another level for years/terms (e.g., Assignments\2024_Term1).
5. Save every file in the most appropriate folder, using the naming conventions from 11.3.
6. Review the structure regularly and archive old material.

11.6 File Compression (Reducing Size for Transfer)

Large files may exceed email limits or take a long time to upload. Compressing them creates a single .zip (or .rar) archive that is smaller and easier to manage.

11.7 Impact of File Size on Transmission

• Email attachment limits are usually 10 – 25 MB.
• Large images or video files should be resized or compressed before sharing.
• Using generic formats (e.g., .pdf instead of .docx) often reduces size.

12 Images – Managing Size, Resolution & Colour Depth (Section 12)

12.1 Why Image Size Matters

• Large images increase document, presentation and email sizes.
• High‑resolution images are unnecessary for on‑screen viewing (72 dpi is sufficient for most presentations).

12.2 Key Image Concepts

Concept	Typical Value for School Work
Resolution (dots per inch – dpi)	72 dpi for screen, 300 dpi for printing
Colour depth	24‑bit (true colour) for most images; 8‑bit for simple graphics
File size	Keep under 1 MB for PDFs, under 2 MB for PowerPoint slides

12.3 Resizing & Reducing Images

13 Layout – Creating & Editing Documents (Section 13)

13.1 Basic Layout Features

• Headers & footers – title, page numbers, date.
• Tables – organise data; can be exported to CSV.
• Styles – apply consistent font, size, colour throughout a document.
• Bulleted / numbered lists – improve readability.

13.2 Saving in Multiple Formats

After completing a document, you may need to share it in a format the recipient can open.

14 Spreadsheets (Section 14)

14.1 Core Functions & Formulas

• Basic arithmetic: =A1+B1, =A1*B1
• Statistical: =SUM(A1:A10), =AVERAGE(B1:B10), =MAX(C:C), =MIN(D:D)
• Logical: =IF(A1>50,"Pass","Fail")
• Lookup: =VLOOKUP(value,range,column,FALSE)

14.2 Charts & Data Presentation

• Column, bar, line, pie, scatter – choose based on data type.
• Use titles, axis labels and legends for clarity.
• Keep chart size under 800 px width for easy embedding.

14.3 Data Validation & Protection

• Data Validation – restrict entries (e.g., whole numbers 1‑100).
• Protect worksheets – lock cells that contain formulas.
• Conditional formatting – highlight out‑of‑range values.

14.4 Practical Mini‑Task

Task: Create a spreadsheet to record class test scores, calculate total, average, highest and lowest score, and produce a bar chart.

1. Enter student names in column A, scores in column B.
2. Use =SUM(B2:B31), =AVERAGE(B2:B31), =MAX(B2:B31), =MIN(B2:B31).
3. Insert → Chart → Bar chart.
4. Save as 2024_03_20_TestScores.xlsx in the appropriate folder.

15 Presentations (Section 15)

15.1 Slide Design Principles

• Keep text concise – max 6 bullet points per slide, 6 words per point.
• Use high‑contrast colours (dark text on light background).
• Include relevant images/diagrams; resize as per Section 12.
• Consistent layout – same font, colour scheme, logo.

15.2 Multimedia & Animation

• Insert audio/video – embed rather than link for offline use.
• Use simple transitions; avoid excessive animation that distracts.

15.3 Exporting & Sharing

Save the final presentation as a PDF for reliable printing or as a .pptx for editing. Use File → Export → Create PDF/XPS Document in PowerPoint.

16 Databases (Section 16)

16.1 Key Concepts

• Table – collection of records (rows) and fields (columns).
• Primary key – unique identifier for each record.
• Foreign key – links to a primary key in another table.
• Relationships – one‑to‑one, one‑to‑many, many‑to‑many.

16.2 Design Steps (SLC Integration)

1. Analyse requirements – what data must be stored?
2. Design tables, fields, primary keys.
3. Define relationships and referential integrity.
4. Create forms for data entry and queries for retrieval.
5. Test with sample data, then implement.

16.3 Practical Mini‑Task (Microsoft Access)

1. Create two tables: Students (StudentID PK, Name, Year) and Results (ResultID PK, StudentID FK, Subject, Mark).
2. Set StudentID in Results as a foreign key linked to Students.
3. Build a query to show each student’s average mark.
4. Save the database as 2024_Term2_StudentResults.accdb.

17 Website Authoring (Section 17)

17.1 HTML Basics

• Structure: <!DOCTYPE html>, <html>, <head>, <body>.
• Common tags: <h1>–<h6>, <p>, <a href="">, <img src="" alt="">, <ul>/<ol>, <table>.
• Attributes – use quotes, avoid spaces, keep names lower‑case.

17.2 CSS for Styling

• External stylesheet: <link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css">.
• Basic selectors – element, class (.nav), id (#header).
• Properties: font-family, color, background-color, margin, padding.

17.3 Publishing & Testing

• Validate HTML with W3C Validator.
• Test in at least two browsers (e.g., Chrome & Firefox).
• Upload via FTP or use a cloud service (e.g., GitHub Pages).

17.4 Mini‑Task

Create a simple 3‑page site for a school project:

1. Home page – index.html with a heading, paragraph, and navigation links.
2. Resources page – list of downloadable PDFs (use <a href="files/2024_03_12_LessonNotes.pdf">).
3. Contact page – a form with fields for name, email, and message (no backend required).
4. Link a common stylesheet style.css to give a uniform look.
5. Save all files in C:\School\ICT\Website\ and archive the folder.

18 Proofing – Checking Your Work (Section 15)

18.1 Proofing Checklist

Check	How to Perform
Spelling & grammar	Use built‑in spell‑check (e.g., F7 in Word) and read aloud.
Data validation	In Excel, use “Data → Data Validation” for numeric ranges.
Consistent formatting	Apply a style set; verify headings use the same font/size.
File size & format suitability	Check file properties; ensure required format (e.g., .pdf for submission).
Correct file name	Confirm name follows naming conventions and includes the correct date.

19 Assessment Objectives & Command‑Word Cheat‑Sheet (Section 19)

AO	Focus	Typical Command Words
AO1	Recall knowledge & understanding	define, list, state, describe, identify
AO2	Apply knowledge in a practical context	demonstrate, use, calculate, produce, create
AO3	Analyse, evaluate & make judgements	analyse, evaluate, compare, discuss, justify, recommend

20 Practice Activities – Integrated Scenarios

20.1 Design a Folder Structure (File Management)

Scenario: You are studying Mathematics, Physics and ICT in 2024 Term 2. Create a hierarchical folder layout and write the full path for each of the following files:

• Lesson notes (PDF) – Mathematics – 12 March 2024
• Lab report (Word) – Physics – 20 April 2024
• Spreadsheet of experiment data (Excel) – Physics – 20 April 2024
• Image for ICT presentation (PNG) – 05 May 2024

Suggested answer (teacher reference)

File	Full Path
Maths lesson notes	C:\School\Mathematics\Notes\2024_Term2\2024_03_12_LessonNotes.pdf
Physics lab report	C:\School\Physics\Assignments\2024_Term2\2024_04_20_LabReport.docx
Physics data spreadsheet	C:\School\Physics\Resources\Spreadsheets\2024_Term2\ExperimentData.xlsx
ICT presentation image	C:\School\ICT\Resources\Images\2024_Term2\PresentationDiagram.png

20.2 Spreadsheet Task (AO2)

Using the data set provided, calculate total sales, average monthly sales, and create a line chart. Export the chart as an image and insert it into a Word report saved as PDF.

20.3 Database Task (AO3)

Design a simple database for a school library. Identify at least two tables, define primary and foreign keys, and write a short evaluation (150 words) of the advantages of using a relational database over a flat file.

20.4 Website Task (AO2 & AO3)

Build a three‑page website (HTML + CSS) that showcases your ICT project. Include a navigation menu, an image gallery (compressed as per Section 12), and a contact form. Evaluate (100 words) the benefits of using external CSS for consistency.

21 Tips for Maintaining an Efficient Structure

• Limit folder depth to 4‑5 levels – deeper structures become hard to navigate.
• Archive completed work in an Archive folder rather than deleting it.
• Create shortcuts (Windows) or aliases (Mac) for frequently used folders.
• Back up the entire root folder to an external drive or cloud service at least weekly.
• Apply the same folder layout on all devices (home PC, school laptop, tablet).

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Saving files on the desktop or directly in the root of a drive.
• Using vague names such as document1.doc or newfile.pdf.
• Mixing unrelated subjects in the same folder.
• Creating duplicate folders with slightly different names (e.g., Assignments vs Assignment).
• Leaving temporary files in a folder for long periods.