OCR APPLIED ICT

G040: Using ICT to Communicate

ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES

Kingsmead Technology College Page 1 of 10 Unit 1

 OCR APPLIED ICT AS LEVEL
Unit 1: Using ICT to Communicate
Assignment Guidelines

Scenario

“GYM & TRIM”

This assignment will allow you to meet all of the assessment requirements for Unit 1: Using ICT to communicate. You should look at the Assessment
Evidence Grid attached to this document to check what you need to demonstrate in each task to achieve each mark band.

“Gym & Trim” is a new fitness club that is planning to open in a town or village near you. It is part of a nationwide company which provides this type of
service for new and experienced customers. Like all other fitness clubs, the company offers membership to use their gym, swimming pool, class
programmes and beauty facilities.

In this assignment you will:

• compare business documents used by three different companies;
• look at different ways that Gym & Trim can communicate information and the technologies that support them;
• create documents/communications for Gym & Trim.

Remember to organise your work clearly with suitable titles, headings or labels; number the pages and include a contents list. All work produced must be
clearly annotated. You should also make sure your name is on each page as well as your school name and centre number.

Kingsmead Technology College Page 2 of 10 Unit 1

 OCR APPLIED ICT AS LEVEL
Unit 1: Using ICT to Communicate
Assignment Guidelines
Task
Task Instructions
Number
Fitness clubs use many different types of
1
documents to communicate with new and existing
members. These will include letters,
advertisements in newspapers and magazines,
brochures or newsletters, information sheets about
individual offers, promotional flyers and websites.
You will be given one document and one website
link from a local gym. You will need to collect two
more different documents from each of two other
businesses. The establishments you choose
MUST have a website or other document you can
evaluate. For example, you may collect a
promotional flyer from Fitness First and then visit
their website.
Study the documents carefully and then write a
report that describes and compares the
documents.
Kingsmead Technology College
Due Date
Notes/Points of Information
(on or before)
You will need to consider these points when describing and
comparing the documents:
• What is the purpose of each document?
• How is each document laid out?
• What is good about the way each document is
presented?
• What is bad about the way each document is
presented?
• How does the presentation of similar documents
compare?
• What is good about the way each document is written
(the style of language used)?
• What is bad about the way each document is written?
• How does the writing style of similar documents
compare?
• Do documents from the same fitness club use a house
style?
• How is this ‘house style’ demonstrated?
• How well does each document meet its purpose?
• What improvements could be made to the documents?
(You have covered these points in your previous lessons.
You can look at the categories discussed to help you!)
You may choose the format of your report but you
should try to make sure that it is well structured with
headings and sub-headings to make it easy to follow.
You also need to check your work carefully so that there
are no spelling, punctuation or grammar errors.
Page 3 of 10 Unit 1
 OCR APPLIED ICT AS LEVEL
Unit 1: Using ICT to Communicate
Assignment Guidelines
Task Due Date
Task Instructions Notes/Points of Information
Number (on or before)
The Managing Director of Gym & Trim wants to You may use presentation software to create an on-screen
2 20/10/09
present an up-to-date image by using the latest presentation or you may present the information in some
technology to communicate with members and the other way, for example as a leaflet or newsletter. If you
general public. create an on-screen presentation, print the slides out three to
a page. Use the right-hand side of the page to describe any
Produce a presentation for the Managing Director
features, such as animation, that are not shown on the
on how information is communicated by Gym &
printed copy. If a slide presentation is used for this task, you
Trim and the technologies that support these
should expand on the main points on the slide in some
communication methods.
presenter notes to provide some detail. Get your teacher to
confirm that they have observed these features by initialing
and dating the page(s).

You should:
• plan the layout and content of your presentation;
• list the sources of any information you use;
• use a range of software tools and techniques so that
your presentation achieves the right impact;
• include draft copies of your presentation;
• spell check and proof read your presentation for errors
in content and layout;
• correct any errors so that no obvious errors remain;
• annotate the drafts to show how you developed your
presentation to meet its purpose;
• include the final version of your presentation;
• label the draft and final versions so it is clear which is
which;
• include descriptions of technologies that support
different methods of communication;
• evaluate your presentation;

Kingsmead Technology College Page 4 of 10 Unit 1

 OCR APPLIED ICT AS LEVEL
Unit 1: Using ICT to Communicate
Assignment Guidelines
• evaluate your performance in completing this task.
To evaluate your presentation you should consider:
2 • what is good about it, what worked well;
cont’d • what is not so good, what did not work;
• how well it meets its purpose;
• what could be improved if you produced it again;
• how you refined your draft copies to meet the purpose
more closely.

To evaluate your performance you should consider:

• what went well;
• what went badly;
• what you would do differently if you had to do a similar
task in future.

Kingsmead Technology College Page 5 of 10 Unit 1

 OCR APPLIED ICT AS LEVEL
Unit 1: Using ICT to Communicate
Assignment Guidelines

Further Guidelines – Tasks 3~7

In tasks 3 to 7 you will create different documents/communications for Gym & Trim. For each of these tasks you will need to:
• plan the layout and content of the document/communication;
• list the sources of any information you use;
• use a range of software tools and techniques so that your document/communication achieves the right impact;
• include draft copies of your document/communication;
• spell check and proof read the document/communication for errors in content and layout;
• correct any errors so that no obvious errors remain;
• annotate the drafts to show how you developed your document/communication to meet its purpose;
• include the final version of your document/communication;
• label the draft and final versions so it is clear which is which;
• evaluate your document/communication;
• evaluate your performance in completing the task.
Across the five documents/communications you need to:
• create new information;
• locate, use and adapt existing information – some has been provided for you but you will need to find more for yourself;
• use common standards for layout where appropriate, for example use the standard layout for a business letter;
• use different text styles, page layout and paragraph formatting;
• combine different types of data – text, graphics (photographs, clipart, line drawings, graphs, charts), tables, borders, shading, sound, video clips – to
suit the purpose of a document/communication and improve its impact, for example a photograph in a business letter would not suit its purpose but
would suit the purpose of a website.
To gain the highest mark band for use of software tools and techniques, you will also need to use software to automate aspects of your communications,
for example by creating and using a template for a business letter.

Kingsmead Technology College Page 6 of 10 Unit 1

 OCR APPLIED ICT AS LEVEL
Unit 1: Using ICT to Communicate
Assignment Guidelines
Task Due Date
Task Instructions Notes/Points of Information
Number (on or before)
• This should consist of a suitable log, contact details,
Create a suitable logo and house style that you will
Prep etc.
use in all of your publications

Create a two-fold double sided A4 leaflet about the
3
classes that are available and explanations of what
the classes are. This will be given to new
members when they join.
The leaflet must include:
• the name and contact details of Gym & Trim and
possibly a logo;
• photographs of the different classes;
• times, dates and locations;
• clear explanations of the classes.
• comments from members at other branches.
You should make the leaflet as attractive as possible. The
information should be factual but you should also make it the
sound as appealing as possible.

You can use photographs and details from the

Internet/flyers/your own observations for this assignment
providing they are copyright free.

Kingsmead Technology College Page 7 of 10 Unit 1

 OCR APPLIED ICT AS LEVEL
Unit 1: Using ICT to Communicate
Assignment Guidelines
Create an interactive multimedia information point. In order to complete this task successfully, it must contain
4
This will be a touch screen where members can sound and video. Content you might think about is:
stop and find information about what’s on. • forthcoming special events
• what’s on today
• profile of the instructors
• advertising a new class
You need to make the system as easy to use as possible for
all customers. It will need to contain on-screen instructions
and help.
It will need to use hyperlinks to navigate around it.
Task Due Date
Task Instructions Notes/Points of Information
Number (on or before)
Create a website for Gym & Trim to advertise their You should produce no more than three web pages. The
5
facilities. first page/screen should be a home page introducing the club,
the other pages/screens should give information about the
facilities offered and show some example classes/benefits.
You may want to include a short video clip or a sound file as
well as text and pictures. However, if you are creating a
website, don’t forget that large files may make it slow to
download.

You will need to produce hard copy evidence of your website

or presentation. Print out the pages/screens or make screen
prints and annotate them to explain any features that do not
show on paper. Get your teacher to witness these features
and confirm that they work by initialing and dating your
printouts.

Kingsmead Technology College Page 8 of 10 Unit 1

 OCR APPLIED ICT AS LEVEL
Unit 1: Using ICT to Communicate
Assignment Guidelines
Create a single page newsletter that Gym & Trim
6
could distribute to potential customers in the local
area (this could be done by a leaflet drop or
inserted in local newspapers).
Task
Task Instructions
Number
Gym & Trim have to record vital information about
7
members.
Create an application form to collect this
information. You might think of some other
information to add. The application form can be on
paper or online as part of a website. Make the
form as easy to complete as possible. Customers
do not want to spend a lot of time writing or typing
answers.
Kingsmead Technology College
You can decide what the content of the newsletter will be but
you might consider:
• details of the new branch that is being opened with a
map to show its location;
• information about staff with photographs;
• information about the layout of the club (i.e. an aerial
view);
• chart comparing membership prices to other clubs;
• opportunities to visit before it opens to the general
public.
Due Date
Notes/Points of Information
(on or before)
The information could include:
• the customer’s name and current address;
• personal details; DOB, gender, etc.
• payment details (e.g. Direct Debit);
• place of work; job title;
• emergency contact details;
• type of membership requested, amount payable and
payment method;
• any special requirements such as needing wheelchair
access;
• health details; e.g. epilepsy, allergies, etc.
Page 9 of 10 Unit 1
Evidence:
You produce a report comparing two types of business document from each of three organisations and six original documents for different purposes which communicate a
range of writing and presentation styles and that would be communicated by different methods.
Mark Band 1
a.1: You describe the layout and/or purpose of the six collected
documents, identifying some good and some bad points about the
writing and/or presentation styles of similar items; you make little
comment on their suitability for purpose, use of housestyle and/or
how they could be improved; your report may contain errors in
spelling, punctuation and grammar;
[0 1 2 3]
b(i).1: You produce little planning for your work but show that you
have checked the accuracy of the layout and content of your work,
and proof-read it so few obvious errors remain; you list your
information sources;
[0 1 2 3]
b(ii).1: You create new information that is clear, easy to understand,
uses a suitable style and, where appropriate, common standards for
layout, and is at a level that suits the intended recipient;
[0 1 2 3 4]
b(iii).1: You use text styles, page layout and paragraph formatting,
and combine text, graphics (photographs, clip art, line drawings,
graphs and charts), tables, borders, shading, sound and video clips
to suit the purpose of each communication;
[0 1 2 3]
b(iv).1: You comment on the effectiveness of your communications
and suggest improvements; you comment on your actions and roles
in solving the problem;
[0 1 2]
b(v).1: You briefly describe some methods used to communicate
information and the technologies that support them;
[0 1 2]
Kingsmead Technology College
Mark Band 2
a.2: you describe the layout and purpose of the six collected
documents, identifying good and bad points about the writing and
presentation styles of similar items; you make some comment on their
suitability for purpose, use of housestyle and/or how they could be
improved; your report will contain few spelling, punctuation and
grammar errors;
[4 5]
b(i).2: you produce outline plans for your work and show, by
presenting annotated draft copies, how you placed information in
appropriate positions and ensured correct and meaningful content by
carefully checking the accuracy of the layout and content of your work,
and proof-reading it so few obvious errors remain; you list your
information sources in an appropriate form;
[4 5 6 7]
b(ii).2: you locate, use and adapt existing information to suit a
presentation, combining it with information you have created;
[5 6 7]
b(iii).2: you use text styles, page layout and paragraph formatting, and
combine formatted text, graphics (photographs, clip art, line drawings,
graphs and charts), tables, borders, shading, sound and video clips to
suit the purpose of each communication and improve its impact;
[4 5 6 7]
b(iv).2: you clearly identify good and not so good features of your
communications, suggesting ways they could be improved; you include
an analysis on your experiences in order to improve your own
performance;
[3 4]
b(v).2: you describe most methods used to communicate information
and the technologies that support them;
[3 4]
Page 10 of 10
Mark Band 3
a.3: you describe in detail the layout and purpose of the six
collected documents, accurately identifying good and bad points
about the writing and presentation styles of similar items; you
comment on their suitability for purpose, use of housestyle and how
they could be improved; your report will be consistently well
structured and there will be few, if any, spelling, punctuation and
grammar errors.
[6 7]
b(i).3: you produce detailed plans for your work and show, by
presenting annotated draft copies, how you achieved a consistent
style, made good use of standard formats and organised a variety
of different types of information in a coherent and easy-to-read way,
ensuring correct and meaningful content by carefully checking the
accuracy of the layout and content of your work, and proof-reading
it so few obvious errors remain; you list your information sources in
detailed bibliography.
[8 9 10]
b(ii).3: you locate, adapt and combine information to create
coherent, easy to read communications of near-professional
standard.
[8 9 10]
b(iii).3: you use text styles, page layout and paragraph formatting,
and combine formatted text, graphics (photographs, clip art, line
drawings, graphs and charts), tables, borders, shading, sound and
video clips, appropriately, to suit the purpose of each
communication and improve its impact, showing effective skills in
the appropriate use of software to automate aspects of your
communications, such as creating templates for standard layouts.
[8 9 10]
b(iv).3: you show that you identified strengths and weaknesses in
your initial drafts and how you refined them to meet the purpose
more closely; you include an analysis on your experiences
suggesting how you might approach a similar task in future.
[5 6 7]
b(v).3: you describe, in detail, most methods of communicating
information and the technologies used to support them.
[5 6]
Unit 1