NFC in Information Technology Fundamentals
This course develops your ability to use and develop digital systems while maintaining reliable information and secure working practices.
About the course
This course develops your ability to use and develop digital systems while maintaining reliable information and secure working practices. Learning combines technical study with practical tasks relevant to Southern African organisations and communities.
What you'll learn
Select digital tools or system components for a defined task.
Develop and test an appropriate digital solution or application workflow.
Document the solution and apply sound data and security practices.
Requirements
Prepare to follow practical instructions, use basic measurements and keep a simple record of your work. The facilitator will introduce the tools and safe working procedures used in each activity. Check the provider's published admission requirements before enrolment.
Course content
The programme combines supporting studies, specialist subjects and practical integration. Each subject below includes its learning focus, outcomes, practice and assessment.
3 learning stages 8 subjects
1Stage 1: Foundation knowledge and safe practice2 subjects
2Stage 2: Technical subjects and guided application4 subjects
3Stage 3: Enterprise and integrated proficiency2 subjects
Subjects in this programme
The programme combines supporting studies, specialist subjects and practical integration. Each subject below includes its learning focus, outcomes, practice and assessment.
8 subjects are listed below with a short description of each. The Subject descriptions tab contains the learning outcomes, topics, practical tasks and assessments.
Stage 1: Foundation knowledge and safe practice
- Computer Systems and Digital Information. Build foundation skills in computer systems and digital information. Guided examples introduce hardware and software, followed by practice with data representation and input and output. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use storage and system diagrams to review the result.
- Files, Storage and Safe Computer Use. Build foundation skills in files, storage and safe computer use. Guided examples introduce files and folders and storage media, followed by practice with backups and permissions. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use safe shutdown and recovery concepts to review the result.
Stage 2: Technical subjects and guided application
- Office Applications and Information Records. Build foundation skills in office applications and information records. Guided examples introduce documents and spreadsheets, followed by practice with presentations and data records. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use file exchange and quality checks to review the result.
- Networks and Internet Services. Build foundation skills in networks and internet services. Guided examples introduce local networks and internet concepts, followed by practice with connectivity and web services. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use network roles and troubleshooting records to review the result.
- Digital Communication and Collaboration. Build foundation skills in digital communication and collaboration. Guided examples introduce email and shared documents, followed by practice with online meetings and professional tone. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use accessibility and collaboration records to review the result.
- Digital Security and Problem Solving. Build foundation skills in digital security and problem solving. Guided examples introduce passwords and phishing, followed by practice with software updates and data protection. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use problem diagnosis and help requests to review the result.
Stage 3: Enterprise and integrated proficiency
- Small Enterprise Records and Customer Communication. Study the development of a viable small enterprise from a defined customer need. Guided practice centres on a small-enterprise plan and test record, drawing on customer problems and enterprise opportunities and products, services and value propositions. You will record findings, justify decisions and check whether the financial assumptions and customer evidence support the proposal.
- ICT Skills Proficiency. Demonstrate the practical skills developed across the programme. Tasks integrate computer systems and digital information, files, storage and safe computer use within an agreed work brief. You will prepare resources, carry out the authorised task and check the result. Your evidence should show consistent performance, accurate records and an explanation of decisions within your learner role.
Assessment and practical learning
- Suggested learning checks: explain a procedure, complete a short task and respond to practical questions.
- Suggested practical assessment: demonstrate the skill under supervision and keep a record of completed work.
- Use assessor feedback to correct errors and repeat a task until the agreed quality criteria are met.
Practical application
Build a digital portfolio for a local organisation, using tasks appropriate to the course level, with clear instructions, test evidence and responsible data handling.
Subject descriptions
Select a subject to read its learning outcomes, main topics, practical task and assessment.
Stage 1: Foundation knowledge and safe practice
Computer Systems and Digital Information
Build foundation skills in computer systems and digital information. Guided examples introduce hardware and software, followed by practice with data representation and input and output. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use storage and system diagrams to review the result.
Learning outcomes
- Explain hardware and software using a practical example.
- Complete a guided task involving data representation and input and output.
- Review your work using storage and system diagrams.
Main topics
- Hardware
- Software
- Data representation
- Input and output
- Storage
- System diagrams
Practical task
Complete a guided computer systems and digital information task using a classroom simulation, supplied records or an authorised supervised work area. Record the preparation, work completed and quality checks.
Assessment
Assessment uses the completed task, a short knowledge check and your explanation of the result. Correct errors after feedback and demonstrate the revised work.
Files, Storage and Safe Computer Use
Build foundation skills in files, storage and safe computer use. Guided examples introduce files and folders and storage media, followed by practice with backups and permissions. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use safe shutdown and recovery concepts to review the result.
Learning outcomes
- Explain files and folders and storage media using a practical example.
- Complete a guided task involving backups and permissions.
- Review your work using safe shutdown and recovery concepts.
Main topics
- Files and folders
- Storage media
- Backups
- Permissions
- Safe shutdown
- Recovery concepts
Practical task
Complete a guided files, storage and safe computer use task using a classroom simulation, supplied records or an authorised supervised work area. Record the preparation, work completed and quality checks.
Assessment
Assessment uses the completed task, a short knowledge check and your explanation of the result. Correct errors after feedback and demonstrate the revised work.
Stage 2: Technical subjects and guided application
Office Applications and Information Records
Build foundation skills in office applications and information records. Guided examples introduce documents and spreadsheets, followed by practice with presentations and data records. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use file exchange and quality checks to review the result.
Learning outcomes
- Explain documents and spreadsheets using a practical example.
- Complete a guided task involving presentations and data records.
- Review your work using file exchange and quality checks.
Main topics
- Documents
- Spreadsheets
- Presentations
- Data records
- File exchange
- Quality checks
Practical task
Complete a guided office applications and information records task using a classroom simulation, supplied records or an authorised supervised work area. Record the preparation, work completed and quality checks.
Assessment
Assessment uses the completed task, a short knowledge check and your explanation of the result. Correct errors after feedback and demonstrate the revised work.
Networks and Internet Services
Build foundation skills in networks and internet services. Guided examples introduce local networks and internet concepts, followed by practice with connectivity and web services. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use network roles and troubleshooting records to review the result.
Learning outcomes
- Explain local networks and internet concepts using a practical example.
- Complete a guided task involving connectivity and web services.
- Review your work using network roles and troubleshooting records.
Main topics
- Local networks
- Internet concepts
- Connectivity
- Web services
- Network roles
- Troubleshooting records
Practical task
Complete a guided networks and internet services task using a classroom simulation, supplied records or an authorised supervised work area. Record the preparation, work completed and quality checks.
Assessment
Assessment uses the completed task, a short knowledge check and your explanation of the result. Correct errors after feedback and demonstrate the revised work.
Digital Communication and Collaboration
Build foundation skills in digital communication and collaboration. Guided examples introduce email and shared documents, followed by practice with online meetings and professional tone. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use accessibility and collaboration records to review the result.
Learning outcomes
- Explain email and shared documents using a practical example.
- Complete a guided task involving online meetings and professional tone.
- Review your work using accessibility and collaboration records.
Main topics
- Shared documents
- Online meetings
- Professional tone
- Accessibility
- Collaboration records
Practical task
Complete a guided digital communication and collaboration task using a classroom simulation, supplied records or an authorised supervised work area. Record the preparation, work completed and quality checks.
Assessment
Assessment uses the completed task, a short knowledge check and your explanation of the result. Correct errors after feedback and demonstrate the revised work.
Digital Security and Problem Solving
Build foundation skills in digital security and problem solving. Guided examples introduce passwords and phishing, followed by practice with software updates and data protection. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use problem diagnosis and help requests to review the result.
Learning outcomes
- Explain passwords and phishing using a practical example.
- Complete a guided task involving software updates and data protection.
- Review your work using problem diagnosis and help requests.
Main topics
- Passwords
- Phishing
- Software updates
- Data protection
- Problem diagnosis
- Help requests
Practical task
Complete a guided digital security and problem solving task using a classroom simulation, supplied records or an authorised supervised work area. Record the preparation, work completed and quality checks.
Assessment
Assessment uses the completed task, a short knowledge check and your explanation of the result. Correct errors after feedback and demonstrate the revised work.
Stage 3: Enterprise and integrated proficiency
Small Enterprise Records and Customer Communication
Study the development of a viable small enterprise from a defined customer need. Guided practice centres on a small-enterprise plan and test record, drawing on customer problems and enterprise opportunities and products, services and value propositions. You will record findings, justify decisions and check whether the financial assumptions and customer evidence support the proposal.
Learning outcomes
- Define a customer need and a practical enterprise response.
- Estimate resources, costs and cash requirements.
- Revise a business proposal using evidence from a small market test.
Main topics
- Customer problems and enterprise opportunities
- Products, services and value propositions
- Startup resources and operating costs
- Pricing, cash flow and basic records
- Market testing and customer feedback
- Business risks, responsibilities and growth choices
Practical task
For Small Enterprise Records and Customer Communication, prepare a small-enterprise plan and test record in a information technology fundamentals setting. Use supplied records, a realistic simulation or authorised supervised practice. Include your working and checks of whether the financial assumptions and customer evidence support the proposal.
Assessment
Applied questions, a worked case and an individual explanation supported by calculations, diagrams or records. Use guided tasks with feedback and a further attempt after corrections.
ICT Skills Proficiency
Demonstrate the practical skills developed across the programme. Tasks integrate computer systems and digital information, files, storage and safe computer use within an agreed work brief. You will prepare resources, carry out the authorised task and check the result. Your evidence should show consistent performance, accurate records and an explanation of decisions within your learner role.
Learning outcomes
- Plan and complete an integrated task to agreed criteria.
- Demonstrate safe and consistent practical performance.
- Explain the result and correct identified weaknesses.
Main topics
- Interpreting an integrated work brief
- Preparing tools, information and resources
- Demonstrating the required technical skills
- Checking output against agreed criteria
- Responding to faults and assessor feedback
- Presenting evidence and explaining decisions
Practical task
Build a digital portfolio for a local organisation, using tasks appropriate to the course level, with clear instructions, test evidence and responsible data handling.
Assessment
Direct observation, the completed output, a quality-check record and oral questions provide the evidence for this subject.
Instructors
