An undergraduate course in Computing and ICT and Engineering and Technology.

Keeping ahead in information and communication technologies (ICT) not only means keeping up to date with rapidly changing technologies. It also means successfully using these new technologies in complex systems in which people play a major part. Therefore this course addresses the two important questions: How do you keep up to date and how can you analyse ICT systems and take account of social factors? This course will equip you with the skills to tackle these questions, in the context of studying several contemporary ICT systems. By the end, you should be well-placed as an independent learner to ‘keep ahead in ICT’.

Register for the course

This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.

What you will study

The course consists of three 10-credit Blocks, with the precise content changing from year to year as the technology changes. In addition to studying some specially written material you will research the subject for yourself. The course structure is as follows:

Block 1: Wireless technologies. The rapid development of mobile digital wireless communications (which includes wi-fi, Bluetooth etc.), is made possible by a range of factors ranging from scientific principles to economic and regulatory constraints. Block 1 looks at some of these factors - specifically, electromagnetic radiation and its spectrum, modulation and multiplexing, spectrum regulation and networking protocols.

Block 2: Wireless sensor networks: an investigation. This block guides you through a search for technical documents and provides an opportunity for and help in reading specialist, technical articles and reports. The focus for the enquiry is on systems that use large numbers of wireless sensors, their applications and technical issues that arise in deploying them. The in-depth reading will not only update your technological knowledge and understanding, it will also help you develop your researching skills.

Block 3: ICTs in context. In this block you will investigate how social, cultural and political environments influence the ways ICTs have evolved and are used. You will develop your skills of critical analysis of ICT systems, including an examination of why so many large-scale systems fail, and you will also look at ICTs in the developing world.

You will learn

After completing this course you should, among other things:

• understand the basic principles of wireless technologies
• have a knowledge of one or more emerging standards in the wireless area
• understand the technologies of large-scale wireless sensor systems
• understand how ICT systems are influenced by their social, cultural and political contexts
• understand the structure of a typical specialist document dealing with an ICT topic
• be able to extract useful information from highly technical documents, including journal articles, product information, websites, etc.
• be able to learn independently from such materials, in order to keep up to date in ICT
• be able to evaluate critically a range of resource materials originating from third parties, including news items and general interest publications
• have improved your written communication skills in a range of ICT topics.

Entry

This is a Level 3 course. Level 3 courses build on study skills and subject knowledge acquired from studies at Levels 1 and 2. They are intended only for students who have recent experience of higher education in a related subject, preferably with the OU. 

You need familiarity with the language and modelling techniques used by technologists, such as you would get from Level 2  technology courses, for example Communication and information technologies (T215).

You should be experienced in using a computer for working with documents, spreadsheets and accessing the internet. You also need basic mathematical skills so that you can work with algebraic equations and carry out numerical calculations.

T324 assumes that you are already familiar with communication technology at a level equivalent to successful study of T215.

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.

Preparatory work

You should revise the material on communication technology in any Level 2 courses you have already taken. T529, the ICT CD-ROM distributed with a number of ICT courses, is also a useful source of revision material.

Study materials

What's included

Course books, other printed materials, DVD, online forum, website.

N.B. Some (assessable) material may be provided only in electronic form via the website.

Computing requirements

This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave. Some of your course software will be provided on disk.

You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new Windows computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual. Please note that you cannot use an Apple Mac or Linux computer unless it is running Windows using Boot Camp or similar dual-boot system.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. We may also be able to offer group tutorials or day schools that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to attend. Where your tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the course.

Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.

You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.

Professional recognition

This course may help you to gain recognition from a professional body. You can view or download our Recognition leaflets 3.3 Professional Engineering Institutions and 3.7 Computing for further information.

Future availability

The details given here are for the course that starts in February 2013. We expect it to be available once a year.

Students also studied

Students who studied this course also studied at some time:

• Technologies for digital media (T325)
• Ebusiness technologies: foundations and practice (T320)
• Communication and information technologies (T215)
• Cisco networking (CCNA) (T216)
• The computing and IT project (TM470)

How to register

To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.

Student Reviews

Distance learning

The Open University is the world’s leading provider of flexible, high quality distance learning. Unlike other universities we are not campus based. You will study in a flexible way that works for you whether you’re at home, at work or on the move. As an OU student you’ll be supported throughout your studies – your tutor will guide and advise you, offer detailed feedback on your assignments, and help with any study issues. Tuition might be in face-to-face groups, via online tutorials, or by phone.

For more information about distance learning at the OU read Study explained.

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Study explained

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