IGCSE ICT Personal Learning Checklist

Unit 1 Digital Devices

Types of Digital Devices
I know that mainframe computers are used for complex processing tasks and microprocessors are
embedded in products such as washing machines
I know that laptop and desktop computers are types of personal computers. Some laptops are used
as desktop replacements
I can explain types of mobile phones; smartphones and specialist phones and how they connect to
the network (SIM)
I can explain tablet devices
I can describe the purpose and use of other digital devices such as:
cameras and camcorders
games consoles
home entertainment systems
media players
I can explain navigation aids and how they are used
I can explain the term multifunctional’ (e.g. mobile phones that include a camera, have limited game
playing functionality and GPS) in the context of digital devices
I can explain the term ed game playing functionality and GPS) and ‘convergence’ (e.g. functionality
of smartphones and tablet devices becomes more similar) in the context of digital devices
Features of Digital Devices
I can identify 9 features of digital devices
I can explain portability
I can explain performance
I can explain storage
I can explain user interface
I can explain connectivity
I can explain media support
I can explain energy consumption
I can explain expansion capability
I can explain security features
Software
I can identify the purpose of systems software and applications software
I can explain operating systems and system software tools such as utilities
I can explain the role/function of the operating system
I can explain single user and network
I can explain memory management
I can explain resource management
I can explain security
I can explain print spooling
I can identify software applications (apps) and explain the following:
office-productivity tools
web authoring
Image editing
Sound editing
presentation software
control software
project management software
I can explain what software licence is
I can explain the following two types of software licences:
free/open-source software
proprietary software
I know that the purpose of communication software is to provide remote access to systems and to
exchange files and messages in text, images, audio and/or video formats between different
computers or users
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I can explain why software is updated
I can explain how software is updated
I can explain possible risks to data systems
Types of Peripheral Devices- Input and Output
I can explain the purpose of an output peripheral
I can identify the following as output peripherals:
monitor (screen size, resolution)
printer (laser, inkjet, 3D)
plotter
data projector
speaker
control device
I can identify when the following output peripherals would be used:
monitor
printer
plotter
data projector
speaker
control device
I can explain the purpose of an input peripheral
I can identify the following as input peripherals:
keyboard
mouse
tracker ball
joystick
graphics tablet
scanner
digital camera
webcam
microphone
OMR reader
OCR reader
barcode scanner
biometric scanner
magnetic stripe reader
chip and pin
sensor
touch screen as an input and output peripheral
I can identify when the following input peripherals would be used:
keyboard
mouse
tracker ball
joystick
graphics tablet
scanner
digital camera
webcam
microphone
OMR reader
OCR reader
barcode scanner
biometric scanner
magnetic stripe reader
chip and pin
sensor
touchscreen
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 Types of Peripheral Devices- Storage
I can differentiate between storage devices and the media used to store data
I can explain the characteristics of the following:
hard disk drives (HDD)
solid state drives (SSD)
optical disk drives
I can explain that storage devices can be internal or external
I can explain the following types of storage media such as:
hard disks,
optical disks (CD, DVD, Blu-ray)
flash memory devices
magnetic tape
I can explain that storage media can be recordable / write once (R) and rewritable (R/W)
I can explain the following terms that describe the capacity of storage:
Bit
byte
and multiples of these:
kibibytes
mebibytes
gibibytes
tebibytes
using 1KiB = 1024 bytes
Memory
I know that RAM stands for Random Access Memory
I know that ROM stands for Read Only Memory
I can describe the characteristics of:
RAM
ROM
I can explain ethe difference between RAM and ROM
I can explain the impact on the user of the size of:
RAM
ROM
I can describe the characteristics and uses of flash memory
Processors
I can explain the function of the processing unit (CPU)
I can describe how the speed of a processor is measured
ICT Systems to Meet Specified Needs
I can identify digital devices and associated peripheral devices that meets particular needs, including
accessibility
I can identify appropriate software that meets specified needs
I know that settings of ICT systems can be configured to meet the accessibility needs of individuals
I can justify choices made in identifying and configuring hardware and software

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