Be able to wrap text around a table, chart or image including above, below, square and tight

ICT 0417 – Comprehensive Syllabus Notes (Cambridge IGCSE / A‑Level)

1. Computer Systems (Hardware & Software) ^{AO1, AO2}

• Core hardware components: CPU, motherboard, RAM, ROM, cache, hard‑disk/SSD, GPU, power supply, cooling system.
• Software categories:

  • System software – operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux) and device drivers.
  • Application software – word processor, spreadsheet, database, presentation, web browser, graphics editor.
  • Utility software – antivirus, backup tools, disk‑defragmenter.

• Operating‑system functions: file management, multitasking, security, user interface, hardware abstraction.
• Virtualisation & cloud computing:

  • Virtual machines – isolated OS instances on a single physical host.
  • Cloud service models – IaaS, PaaS, SaaS (e.g., Google Drive, Microsoft 365).

2. Input, Output and Storage Devices ^{AO1, AO2}

Storage Media – Characteristics & Typical Uses

3. Networks and the Internet ^{AO1, AO2, AO3}

• Network types: LAN, WAN, MAN, PAN, Internet.
• Topologies: Star, bus, ring, mesh, hybrid.
• Key protocols: TCP/IP, HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, SMTP, POP3/IMAP, DNS.
• Wireless standards: Wi‑Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax), Bluetooth, NFC, Zigbee.
• Internet services: Email, web browsing, cloud storage, VoIP, streaming, online collaboration tools.

4. Effects of ICT on Individuals, Society and the Environment ^{AO1, AO3}

• Positive impacts: increased productivity, instant communication, access to information, e‑learning, tele‑medicine.
• Negative impacts: digital divide, cyber‑bullying, privacy loss, information overload, e‑waste.
• Environmental considerations:

  • Energy consumption of data centres and devices.
  • Electronic waste – recycling, safe disposal, extended producer responsibility.
  • Sustainable computing – power‑saving settings, cloud‑based solutions.

5. ICT Applications ^{AO1, AO2, AO3}

6. Systems Life‑Cycle (SDLC) ^{AO1, AO2, AO3}

The SDLC provides a structured, repeatable approach to developing an information system.

7. Safety & Security ^{AO1, AO3}

• Physical safety: ergonomics, safe handling of equipment, proper disposal of e‑waste.
• E‑safety: safe internet use, recognising phishing, strong passwords, two‑factor authentication.
• Data protection:

  • Backup strategies – the 3‑2‑1 rule (3 copies, 2 media types, 1 off‑site).
  • Encryption – AES for data at rest, RSA for data in transit.
  • Firewalls, antivirus/anti‑malware, intrusion‑detection systems.

• Common threats: malware, ransomware, social engineering, DDoS attacks, insider threats.

8. Legal, Ethical & Copyright Issues ^{AO1, AO3}

• Copyright basics: what can be reused, licences (Creative Commons, GPL, MIT).
• Plagiarism: acknowledging sources, referencing styles (APA, Harvard, MLA).
• Data‑protection legislation: GDPR principles – lawfulness, purpose limitation, data minimisation, accuracy, storage limitation, integrity, confidentiality, and accountability.
• Ethical considerations: digital rights, accessibility for disabled users, responsible AI, environmental impact of ICT.

9. Communication, Audience & Presentation ^{AO2, AO3}

• Identify the target audience (age, knowledge level, purpose).
• Select appropriate tone, language and visual style.
• Use clear headings, bullet points, tables and graphics to enhance readability.
• Ensure accessibility: alt‑text for images, sufficient colour contrast, logical heading hierarchy (H1‑H6).

10. File Management ^{AO1, AO2}

• File‑naming conventions: alphanumerics, no spaces, use underscores or hyphens, include version numbers (e.g., Reportv022025.docx).
• Folder hierarchy: logical structure such as Year/Subject/Topic or Project/Phase/Deliverable.
• Common file formats:

  • Documents – DOCX, PDF, ODT.
  • Spreadsheets – XLSX, CSV.
  • Images – JPEG, PNG, GIF, SVG.
  • Presentations – PPTX, ODP.

• Backup & recovery: external hard‑drive, cloud services, scheduled automated backups; test restores regularly.

11. Working with Images ^{AO1, AO2}

• Basic editing: resize, crop, rotate, colour correction (brightness, contrast, saturation).
• File formats:

  • JPEG – lossy, good for photographs.
  • PNG – lossless, supports transparency.
  • GIF – simple animation, limited colour palette.
  • SVG – vector, scalable without loss.

• Resolution: DPI/PPI – 300 dpi for print, 72‑96 dpi for screen.
• Insert images via Insert → Picture and use the Picture Tools ribbon for adjustments (crop, style, colour).

12. Layout & Text Wrapping ^{AO1, AO2, AO3}

Learning Objective

Be able to wrap text around a table, chart or image using the four wrap styles: Above, Below, Square and Tight.

What Is Text Wrapping?

Text wrapping determines how surrounding paragraph text flows when a non‑text object (table, chart or picture) is placed in a document. The chosen wrap style defines the area that the text may occupy relative to the object.

Wrap Styles Explained

Step‑by‑Step Procedure (Word‑Processor Independent)

1. Select the object (table, chart or image) you wish to wrap.
2. Open the Layout (or Format) menu and choose Wrap Text.
3. Pick one of the four options: Above, Below, Square or Tight.
4. If Square or Tight is chosen, set the wrap distance (e.g., 5 pt, 10 pt) to create a margin between text and the object.
5. Confirm with OK or Apply.
6. Switch to “Print Layout” view, move the object if necessary, and type new text after deselecting the object.

Practical Tips

• Use Above or Below for full‑width tables or charts that should not interrupt paragraph flow.
• Choose Square for most standard layouts – it provides a clean rectangular margin.
• Reserve Tight for decorative or irregularly shaped images where the text should follow the contour.
• Increase the wrap distance (e.g., from 5 pt to 10 pt) if the text looks cramped, especially on printed work.
• Always deselect the object before typing new text; otherwise the new text may inherit the previous wrap setting.
• For tables, ensure they are set to “Floating” (not “In line with text”) before applying a wrap style.

Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

• Forgetting to deselect the object – click elsewhere before typing.
• Using “Tight” on a rectangular object – creates large white gaps; prefer “Square”.
• Not adjusting wrap distance – default may be too small for readability.
• Applying a wrap style to an anchored object set as “In line with text” – switch the object to “Floating” first.

Visual Comparison (Suggested Diagram)

Insert a single page illustration showing the same image placed four times, each with a different wrap style (Above, Below, Square, Tight). Caption each example for quick visual reference.

13. Styles and Formatting ^{AO2, AO3}

• Paragraph styles: Normal, Heading 1‑3, Quote, List – control font, size, colour, spacing.
• Character styles: Bold, Italic, Underline, Colour, Highlight – applied to selected text.
• Adopt a corporate house style: e.g., Arial 11 pt for body, Arial 14 pt bold for headings, line spacing 1.15, colour palette #003366 (headings) & #000000 (body).
• Use the Styles pane to modify a style once and have all instances update automatically.

14. Proofreading & Validation ^AO3

• Run spelling & grammar checks (built‑in or third‑party tools).
• Use “Read Aloud” or have a peer read the document to catch missing words.
• Validate spreadsheet data: error checking, data‑validation rules, conditional formatting.
• Check accessibility: alt‑text for images, proper heading hierarchy, colour contrast ratios (WCAG AA minimum 4.5:1).

15. Charts & Graphs ^{AO1, AO2, AO3}

• Common chart types: bar, column, line, pie, scatter, histogram, area.
• Key components: title, axis labels, legend, data labels, source note.
• Best practice:

  • Choose a chart type that reflects the data relationship (e.g., line for trends, bar for comparisons).
  • Avoid 3‑D effects that distort perception.
  • Use a limited colour palette for clarity.

• Insert via Insert → Chart, edit data in the embedded spreadsheet, then apply “Square” or “Tight” wrap as required.

16. Document Production (Word‑Processing Lab) ^{AO2, AO3}

1. Create a multi‑page report titled “The Impact of ICT on Education”.
2. Insert a header containing the report title and a footer with page number and student name.
3. Apply appropriate heading styles (Heading 1 for main sections, Heading 2 for subsections).
4. Insert at least one table, one chart and one image; use Square wrap for the table, Tight for the image, and Above for the chart.
5. Add a bibliography using a consistent referencing style (e.g., Harvard).
6. Check accessibility: add alt‑text to all non‑text objects, ensure colour contrast, and verify logical reading order.
7. Save the document in both DOCX (editable) and PDF (final submission) formats; back up to cloud storage.