What+is+ITGS?

**What is ITGS?**

ITGS is the study and evaluation of the **impact** of **information technology** on **individuals** and **society**. It explores the advantages and disadvantages of the use of digitalized information at the local and global levels.

The nature of the subject is defined by the use of fundamental ITGS terms. For the purpose of the ITGS syllabus the following definitions apply:

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 Impac**t includes the economical, 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. 4. An **Information System** is a collection of people, information technologies, data, methods and policies organized to accomplish specific functions and solve specific problems.

How to Approach ITGS
 * 1) ITGS needs to be approached through the Triangle with an emphasis on learning ITGS terminology and acquiring the necessary IT skills to support the understanding of particular scenarios and the social and ethical impacts involved.
 * 2) ITGS teachers and students in today's world must keep abreast of the constantly evolving nature of ITGS and be able to apply the ITGS concepts that they have learned to new situations.
 * 3) It is particularly important that investigations and hands-on opportunities are integrated into learning the topics in the ITGS Guide.

= = =**Big Ideas** =

The following "BIG" ideas are fundamental to ITGS and can be used to understand the overall structure of the course

 * 1) [[file:itgsatschs-2011/ITGS Triangle Template 2012.pdf|ITGS Triangle Template 2012.pdf]] 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) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Command terms need to be used for discussions, assignments, and in-class tests
 * 5) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Students need to follow step-by-step development processes for the Project/Extended Essay
 * 6) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Regularly discussing and analyzing current news items relevant to ITGS needs to be integrated into ITGS lessons
 * 7) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Learner Profile and TOK need to be integrated into ITGS

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">ITGS Guide
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">media type="custom" key="10307717"

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Take the TAKE HOME QUIZ!