Overview+ITGS

=** Overview of ITGS **=

The big question is "**What is ITGS?**" Students entering ITGS often think that this will be "another" IT/ICT course where they will learn and use IT tools. Partially they are right, but this is not the correct orientation to begin ITGS. ITGS is based on **the Triangle** and this is the driving force for every lesson in ITGS. The Triangle presents a non-linear structure with any one of the areas as a starting point that can be used to create varied approaches for teaching ITGS.

4. An **information system** is a collection of people, information technologies, data, methods and policies organized to accomplish specific functions and solve specific problem.
 * The above triangle and the following definitions permeate all aspects of ITGS:**
 * 1. Information technology** is the acquisition, processing, storage, manipulation and dissemination of digital information by computing or telecommunications or a combination of both.
 * 2. Social impact** includes the economic, political, cultural, legal, environmental, ergonomic, health and psychological effects of IT on human life.
 * 3. Ethical considerations** refer to the responsibility and accountability of those involved in the design, implementation and use of IT.

===**Before beginning the ITGS workshop, it is important to take the time to simply identify the major elements that contribute to the teaching and learning of ITGS.**===

====The following ** "BIG" ideas **are fundamental to ITGS and can be used as a check list when creating ITGS lessons:====
 * 1) ====ITGS TRIANGLE is a part of every lesson and all aspects are a part of a unit of study.====
 * 2) ====Students must use ITGS terminology and concepts* and being able to use them to describe step-by-step IT processes====
 * 3) ====Students learn through visual material, investigations and hands-on activities. ITGS must be placed in real contexts.====
 * 4) ====Command terms (i.e. organized according to Bloom's Taxonomy) need to be used for discussions, assignments and in-class tests.====
 * 5) ====Students need to follow step-by-step development processes for the Portfolios/Extension / Project / and Extended Essay.====
 * 6) ====Regularly discussing and analyzing current news items relevant to ITGS needs to be integrated into ITGS lessons.====
 * 7) ====The Learner Profile and TOK need to be integrated into into ITGS.====

• Specific IT terminology and concepts that are commonly found in most IT textbooks and resources and • the social and ethical terminology and concepts that emerge from the impact that IT has in specific scenarios on the various stakeholders.**
 * ITGS terminology and concepts refer to two aspects of the subject:



 * What other "Big ideas would you add to the list?


Download the following from the OCC:
 * ITGS (first examination 2012 onwards)
 * TSM (first examination from 2012 onwards)
 * Template files for the ITGS project
 * Relevant documents from the ITGS Survival Kit


 * ITGS Survival Kit: a list of IB documents for teaching ITGS**