INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

INDUSTRY SECTOR STANDARDS

Technology and the growing complexity of businesses have expanded the need
for employees who can analyze, design and manage information. Skills in
evaluating data, working with people, and communicating are companion
components for careers in information systems. Employment opportunities for
technically and professionally trained individuals are outstanding in this
emerging career path. After mastering basic technology skills, students can
select one of many specializations in the field of technology.

I. Information Technology: Students will understand information

technology concepts necessary to function in a rapidly changing
technological, global society. They will demonstrate competency by
appropriately using a variety of resources to develop, access,
modify, manage and provide information effectively.

I.a Accessibility – identify and develop systems that allow access to all
users, including those with cultural, physical and cognitive
differences

I.b Business and Technology Ethics – define, explain, and demonstrate

proper business and technology ethics, including management of
intellectual property and copyright laws

I.c Computer and Communications Systems – use operating systems,

hardware and peripherals, integrating communication tools and
appropriate resources, to share, store and manage information

I.d Computer Applications – identify, select, and use a variety of

business and industry standard applications software; discuss
emerging technology trends

I.e Knowledge Management and Business Processes – use technology

and electronic media to identify, analyze, design, and create
processes to manage workflow, communicate a collective
understanding, and provide feedback for operational management

I.f Personal Security – identify and understand procedures for keeping

personal information secure to ensure safety

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I.g Project Management – prioritize activities and manage the details
including project scope and scale, timelines, and budgets for the life
cycle of the system in a team environment

I.h System Models – identify and compare system models and data
elements and structures

I.i System Security – illustrate and implement security plans and

procedures for information systems

I.j Systems Analysis and Design – analyze information systems and

develop efficient and effective solutions

I.k Technical Resources – locate, organize, and utilize appropriate

resources necessary to implement and support systems and/or solve
problems

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 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
INDUSTRY SECTOR STANDARDS

II. Information Support And Services: Students will understand how

to analyze the need for, plan, manage, and support the use of
business systems to accomplish business goals and objectives. They
will demonstrate competency by successfully participating in a
system development project that improves the performance of an
organization.

II.a Change Management – analyze the potential impact of a system on

the people in the organization through the systems life cycle and
develop appropriate plans addressing impact on resources

II.b Deployment Planning – identify steps for systems implementation

and resources needed including technical support and ongoing
active learning and training programs

II.c Needs Analysis – describe a business problem, examine functional

requirements, and prepare a cost-benefit analysis

II.d Resource Management – explain how to qualify, recruit and manage

both internal and external resources needed when developing,
deploying, and supporting systems in an organization

II.e Risk Analysis – identify and analyze organizational, technical, and

financial risks associated with the implementation and use of a
system

II.f Systems Management – develop system life-cycle models and plans

for the ongoing upgrade, support, and training of users

II.g Systems Security – develop a plan and implement policies and

procedures to ensure the security and integrity of management
systems

II.h Systems Selection – investigate, evaluate, select, and use major

types of systems applications and vendors including retail,
manufacturing, and service management

II.i Training – design information and instruction for users to ensure

efficient, productive systems operation

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 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
INDUSTRY SECTOR STANDARDS

III. Media Support and Services: Students will understand media

support and services necessary in the operation of a business
organization in a global society. They will demonstrate competency
by accessing and developing a variety of media-based information
resources.

III.a 3D Animation – use animation paths to define a set of motions using

key framing rendered in digital format for final output

III.b 3D Modeling – utilize 3D modeling software to simulate three-

dimensional objects in a two-dimensional plane

III.c Application Software – select and use appropriate software to design

and produce professional documents and presentations

III.d Broadcast Production – develop a script, design a set and implement

crew responsibilities to broadcast a show

III.e Design Layout – identify and implement the basic design elements
necessary to produce effective print, video, audio and web-based
media

III.f Desktop Publishing – create periodicals or one-time publications,

which include the knowledge of planning, publication, creation,
pagination, negative stripping, plate burning, printing, folding,
cutting and binding

III.g Electronic Information Transfer – send and receive electronic

information including all forms of file attachments

III.h File Compression – analyze the purpose of the graphical image to

determine the appropriate file format and level of compression

III.i Graphic Design – use drawing techniques including orthographic,

oblique, isometric projection and perspective drawings to create
both vector- and raster-based graphic images

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III.j Peripherals/Hardware Proficiencies – demonstrate knowledge in the
use of different types of peripherals and hardware such as scanners,
digital cameras, large capacity digital storage devices, large format
printers, teleconferencing devices and 3D digitizing hardware

III.k Records Management – classify, save, retrieve, backup and delete

records

III.l Resource Validation – describe the process to validate Internet

resources used and demonstrate proper citation

III.m Target Market – develop media and strategies that target the specific
needs and wants of the audience

III.n Tool Integration – integrate hardware and software tools, mixing

pre-existing and new digital media, for the purpose of producing
multimedia presentations and products

III.o Video Production/Filmmaking – create a video-based project that

includes planning, script writing, storyboarding, filming and editing

III.p Web Page Design – plan, design and develop effective web page
content that is optimized for fast delivery and retrieval

III.q Web Page Management – apply knowledge of coded language and

standard scripting languages and advance communication protocols
to manage/master a web site

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 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
INDUSTRY SECTOR STANDARDS

IV. Network Communications: Students will understand the concepts,

systems, and business models necessary to install, create, and
manage diverse types of communication technologies and
networking systems. They will demonstrate competency by
performing tasks related to the creation, installation, management,
and security of a chosen networking system.

IV.a Business Decisions – analyze the factors affecting the selection of

appropriate communications services; for example, cost, ease of use,
and timelines

IV.b Business Models – examine various types of networking models

including products and services provided, identification of market
spaces, resources needed to create, deliver, and support products and
revenue models essential for company growth

IV.c Customer Support – create a plan that includes customer policies

and procedures including incident management and escalation;
select help desk tools and resources such as incident tracking,
knowledge database, and staffing

IV.d Emerging Technology and Trends – discuss emerging products,

services, and business models in relation to the creation, setup, and
management of network communication products and services

IV.e Media Types – identify, evaluate, create, and process voice and data
transmissions

IV.f Network and Systems Administration – analyze, manage, and

maintain various types of electronic networks

IV.g Network Communication Applications – describe and illustrate

appropriate use of communication services, products, and
applications

IV.h Network Communication Infrastructure – evaluate, select, and

configure compatible systems across various platforms and media
types

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IV.i Resource Management – discuss the effective management of
human, financial, and communications resources from the
standpoint of both a user and a provider

IV.j Security Monitoring and Investigation – classify appropriate

monitoring devices and procedures for quick identification, and
prevention of security violations; describe investigative procedures
to follow

IV.k Security Program – develop policies and procedures including user

agreements, incident reporting, and recovery for users; design
orientation and training programs to educate technicians and end-
users

IV.l Security Risk Assessment – identify potential risks and entrance

points including internal and external risks, and select appropriate
hardware and software including firewalls, monitoring, and antivirus
protection

IV.m Standards and Protocol – analyze implications of protocols and

international standards and discuss their impact on data transmission

IV.n Topology – diagram physical and logical layouts of network

communication systems

IV.o Training – provide information and instruction to users that will

enable them to utilize network communication systems

IV.p Troubleshooting – identify problems, develop appropriate methods

and tools for resolving problems, and implement solutions

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 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
INDUSTRY SECTOR STANDARDS

V. Programming And Systems Development: Students will

understand systems and programming concepts related to computer-
based information systems. They will demonstrate competency by
developing successful computer systems and programs.

V.a Algorithms – design solutions that are correct, reliable, and

efficient; compare and contrast various sorting and searching
methods

V.b Architecture Methods – explain digital logic, machine-level

representation of data, memory-system organization, and
architectural use of assembly-level programming

V.c Artificial Intelligence and Robotics – discuss uses and effects of

artificial intelligence and robotics

V.d Data Structures – discuss the abstract organization of information

and develop programs that perform operations, such as search,
insert, or balance, which maintain the properties of the data
structure.

V.e Database – design, modify and use tables to store data; design and
develop forms, reports and queries to access information in the
database

V.f Human-Computer Interfaces – use knowledge of people, including

cognitive, physical and social characteristics, to design and build
effective interactions between humans and computer systems

V.g Networking and Communications – install programs that utilize

various network and communication protocols

V.h Operating Systems – utilize operating systems and associated

utilities for file management, backup and recovery, and execution of
programs; compare simple and multi-user operating systems

V.i Program Design – design, code, execute, test and debug well-
structured, maintainable programs to meet specifications

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V.j Program Modification – define and execute ways in which
specification changes and technological advances require the
modification of programs

V.k Programming Languages – compare programs using control

structures, procedures, functions, parameters, variables, error
recovery, and recursion

V.l Social Issues – develop systems which support access, privacy and
high ethical standards while understanding their impact on
individuals and society

V.m Systems Analysis – demonstrate knowledge of the systems

development life cycle and its application to the development of
effective information systems

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