Administration and IT: N4/N5
Entry Requirements
Completion of the school based S3 Administration and IT course is preferable.
Course Content:
Administration & IT introduces learners to the growing service sector of the economy which offers wide-ranging employment opportunities. Moreover, administrative and IT skills have extensive application not only in employment but also in other walks of life. The key purpose of the course is to develop learners’ administrative and in particular IT skills – a significant part of this course is practical. The course aims to develop a range of essential skills which will stand learners in good stead regardless of the career path they ultimately choose. Whatever path they choose, learners who have completed the N4 or N5 Administration & IT course will thus be able to play their part in the economic and social life of the 21st century effectively.
The Course has 3 units of work:
- Administrative Practices
The general aim of this Unit is to give learners a basic appreciation of administration in the workplace and to enable them to carry out a range of straightforward administrative tasks in the context of organising and supporting small-scale events. Learners who complete this Unit will be able to: Provide an overview of administration in the workplace Carry out administrative tasks to organise and support small-scale events.
- IT Solutions for Administrators
The general aim of this Unit is to develop learners’ basic skills in IT and organising and processing information in administration-related contexts. Learners will use the functions of the following IT applications: word processing, spreadsheets and databases, to create and edit simple business documents. Learners who complete this Unit will be able to: Use functions of a spreadsheet (MS Office Excel) Use functions of a flat database (Microsoft Office Access) Use functions of word processing (Microsoft Word)
- Communication in Administration
The general aim of this Unit is to enable learners to use IT for gathering and sharing information in administration-related contexts. Learners will develop an understanding of the appropriate methods for gathering information and of how to communicate information, making use of appropriate electronic methods. Learners who complete this Unit will be able to: Use technology (internet & network) to extract information Evaluate sources of information Use advanced functions of technology to prepare and communicate information, by interpreting a brief, to convey a professional image – such as Microsoft Powerpoint, Publisher, Email and other emerging technologies eg blogs/SMS/podcasts
Assessment:
- National 4 – assessment is dealt with by 3 mandatory units: 1. Administrative Practices, 2. IT Solutions for Administrators, 3. Communication in Administration as well as an Added Value Unit. All work is internally marked but is externally verified by the SQA.
- National 5 – The coursework assignment set by the SQA and worth 70 marks will be undertaken during the course. External assessments:- This will consist of a single final examination worth 50 marks.
Progression Pathway:
