Vientiane International School

Course Description

Information Technology in a Global Society (ITGS) is the study and evaluation of the impact of information technology on individuals and society. It explores the advantages and disadvantages of the use of digitized information at the local, national and global level. ITGS provides a framework for the students to make informed judgments and decisions about the use of information technology (IT) within social contexts.

Although ITGS shares methods of critical investigation and analysis with other social sciences, it also considers ethical questions found in the study of philosophy. Students come into contact with IT daily because it is so pervasive in the world in which we live. This widespread use of IT inevitably raises important questions about social and ethical issues that shape our society today. ITGS offers an opportunity for a systematic study of the issues, whose range is such that they fall outside the scope of any other single discipline.

The nature of the subject is defined by the use of fundamental ITGS terms. For the purpose of the ITGS syllabus the following definitions apply:

• Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage, manipulation and dissemination of digital information by computing of telecommunications or a combination of both.
• Social impact includes the economic, political, cultural, legal, environmental, ergonomic, health and psychological effects of IT on human life.
• Ethical considerations refer to the responsibility and accountability of those involved in the design implementation and use of IT.
• An information system is a collection of people, information technologies, data, methods and policies organized to accomplish specific functions and solve specific problems.

Topics

Topics to be covered in the Mathematical Studies course include the following:

• HTML
• Computer Basics
• Software                                                         
• Human-Computer Interfaces
• Networks, Data Communications                      
• Graphics
• Presentation Software                                      
• Wizards
• History of Computers                                      
• Desktop Publishing
• Robotics                                                          
• Reliability of Internet Source

IB Assessment

External Assessment - 60%

Papers 1 and 2 - 3 hours - 60%

Paper 1 = 1 hour - 25%
Four compulsory short-answer questions which assess in an integrated way sections 1 and 2 of the syllabus: social and ethical issues and IT systems in a social context.
Paper 2 = 2 hours - 35%

Six structured questions which assess in an integrated way sections 1, 2 and 3 of the syllabus: social and ethical issues; IT systems in a social context; and areas of impact. The paper is divided into two parts:
Part A: one compulsory question on business and employment.
Part B: five questions, one on each of the other areas of impact.

Candidates are required to answer two questions from this section, each one on a different area of impact.

Internal Assessment - 40%

Project - 20%

An IT solution to a problem set in a social context. Candidates must produce:
a product developed through the integration of IT skills
a written report (2000–2500 words)
a log book.

Portfolio Essays - 20%

Three pieces of written work on social and ethical issues based on three different areas of impact, each 800–1000 words.

• Internet, Web                                                    
• Security
• Computers & communications                        
• Embedded computers
• Databases                                                        
• Spreadsheets
• Simulation and modelling                                
• Virtual Reality
• Multimedia                                                     
• Artificial Intelligence

VIS Assessment

The VIS grade will be based on the differentiation of tasks and assignments from the above list.  These differentiated tasks and assignments will be handed out with the course outlines at the beginning of the school year.