IB ITGS - Will It Be The Right Fit? (Serious Advice Included)

CAUTION -- THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHs WILL HELP YOU THINK CLEARLY ABOUT ITGS AS A SUBJECT!

 

TRUST ME WHEN I SAY THIS. IB ITGS IS NOT FOR EVERYONE; if you want to learn PROGRAMMING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE -- DO NOT TAKE IT, you might regret your decision.

 

Not MIGHT but WILL regret your decision!

 

Also, if you came to this blog with the perspective that it will be easy to score a 7 in ITGS, don't fool yourself; it might sound rude, but I, as your distant well-wisher, want you to know what you are getting yourself into. 

 

It is almost IMPOSSIBLE to get a 7 in ITGS, not because it is a complex subject but because the final papers are more focused on how you write an answer rather than on how good of a critical thinker you are!

 

The last time I checked, only 2-7% of ITGS students scored a 7!!!

 

Stand in front of the mirror and ask yourself this question: 

 

Am I good at ITGS writing?

 

ITGS IS NOT COMPUTER SCIENCE; it does not involve any programming languages or something a future software engineer would need. However, it discusses technology with a social science perspective and may help you while you are doing tech-ethics units in your computer science degrees, which you will come to realize are not fun AT ALL and a complete waste of time :P 

 

But is a requirement in some of the best universities on the planet. They are part of your university coursework because programmers, developers, and coders don't need to know all that stuff, but IT managers SURE DO!

 

If you want to be a CTO or Project Manager in the next 5-7 years, then enroll yourself in ITGS, as it will provide you with a perspective on how good tech can fail and how tech failures can be catastrophic!

 

One plus point of ITGS as a subject is that you only need to study it at the last movement :P

 

General advice, attend your classes, watch youtube videos on learning the Adobe Creative Cloud suit, and you will get a 5 in it, for sure.

 

LEARN HOW TO WRITE THE ITGS PAPER, or else you are not getting more than a 4!!

 

I have covered my general advice on the subject.

 

Now please read on if you are really getting into ITGS, I won't rant about the subject anymore, but all the good stuff will follow!

 

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Let us make it easy for you. If you're looking for something that is a perfect cocktail of technology, social sciences and lots of critical thinking to keep your brain juices pumping, then IB ITGS is the perfect fit for you!

 

To assist and develop the necessary skills required to sustain a dynamic job is what this unique IB course aims to refine in learners. Hence, you must possess excellent high-level reasoning and analytical abilities to succeed in ITGS.

 

Don't worry, though! You do not need to have any experience in ITGS or any unique expertise in courses covered for national or global credentials to enrol for this course. Nonetheless, mastering the arts and tech courses in the IB MYP (Middle Years Programme) and conversing with IT vocabulary, techniques, and applications would indeed be advantages.

 

Before we start, now that you're at the sacred heaven of IB guides, make sure you go through Nail IB's resources, blogs, and of course, the guides. These 3 spaces are here to hold your hand and help you with the entire process of scoring a 7 and ace it all!

 

Coming back, this guide is here to break IB ITGS to the most minor specks of information on the course and help you decide if it is the right fit for you.

 

Let's dig in, then!

The research and assessment of the effects of digital technologies (IT) on people and communities are the focus of the IB Diploma Programme course on information technology in a global society (ITGS).

 

This course examines the benefits and drawbacks of using and having access to digital data on a regional and international scale. Educated judgements and conclusions concerning how to use technology in social situations are made by students using the guidance provided by ITGS.

 

While ITGS uses similar critical research and analytical techniques compared to other cultural studies, it also considers societal and ethical issues relevant to several fields.

 

Individuals are at the heart of the research of ITGS. This is supported by a solid understanding of the technologies the particular IT environment uses. This technological expertise guarantees that the debate on how a revolutionary IT network will affect users and also won't be skimmed over.

 

ITGS only considers an IT program's internal operations to the degree that they help comprehend a societal effect or moral concern. With a focus on the consequences on customers and potential users, it focuses on creating IT services.

 

Ultimately, with the use of already accessible software, ITGS aims to implement a brand-new IT system. ITGS is associated with tasks like picking and utilizing a worksheet, figuring out how to utilize it much more productively, and teaching the public how to operate it. It's indeed focused on the outcomes of utilizing the programme and getting trustworthy results that are advantageous to everyone who will be impacted by them.

When selecting courses, you might stumble across IB computer science and wonder if it's the same as IB ITGS. Trust us when we say this, this needs to be clarified among many.

 

They are not the same! IB ITGS and IB Computer Science sound similar because of their relation to technology and networking, but they're poles apart. 

 

Here is a brief breakdown to make things easier for you.

The distinctions should be clear from the groupings they are a part of, even though there will undoubtedly be some intersection in ITGS and CS, where sometimes redundancy is needed for sound.

 

The intersection of ethical and social concerns, as well as how they affect society and people, is the emphasis of ITGS. It is, by definition, multidisciplinary and stakeholder-oriented. Hence, it is the best fit for individuals committed to a career that deals with automated systems and those who desire to enter the administration of IT networks.

 

In computer science, the teacher's linguistic choice makes a real difference in the expertise. IB Computer Science is all about improving your capacity for programming. A capable problem-solver who uses computation will benefit highly from IB Computer Science. Hence, if you're looking to be a software engineer, IB Computer Science is the course for you! 

 

Need further clarification about the course and some tips to crack the IB computer science IA? We have the perfect blog for you. 

 

Check out this guide especially curated to save your day!

Like every tall building, ITGS, too, has pillars it sustains on. These pillars, famously called the 3 strands of ITGS, can make or break your IB score as they lie at the core of this course. You should be able to assess societal and moral dilemmas in particular settings while also having a solid grasp of computer technology.

 

So, pay attention here!

The moral and social issues related to certain IT advances are a part of the 1st strand. You need to address the following aspects of technology here:

• Authenticity and dependability
• Cybersecurity
• Discretion and privacy
• Privately owned property
• Authenticity
• Accessibility to equal as well as the availability of internet
• Monitoring
• Ethnic variety and globalization
• Regulations
• Norms and procedures
• Computers and humans
• Electronic identity

When tackling certain IT advances, real-world problems must be applied, which is exactly what needs to be addressed in the 2nd strand. The following topics play a significant role here:

• Employer and enterprise
• Education and instruction
• Digital environment
• Healthcare
• Home and recreation
• Governments and economics.

Lastly, the 3rd strand is about concepts, ideas, and resources related to certain IT advancements. Here it would be best if you emphasized the following:

• Software and Hardware
• Networking
• World wide web
• Private and open conversations
• Virtual and multi-media
• Informatics
• Charts and tables, models, and programming
• Overview of managing projects

 

This triangle serves as a perspective by which students see and understand the course material. The way technology impacts individuals and society is at the heart of discussions and arguments within ITGS. 

 

Most sub-topics are supported by concepts like industrialization, consumerization, and the 'have or have not gap.' These conversations are often sparked by recent news articles. Together, the 3 strands form the ITGS triangle, with the stakeholders as their focal point.

 

You might be wondering who the stakeholders are and why they are at the focal point.

 

A stakeholder in an organization is a part of a community without which the organization cannot function. Examples of classic stakeholders are investors, workers, consumers, vendors, neighbourhoods, authorities, and trade groups. In the absence of stakeholders, IT systems would cease to exist. As they have the ability to participate in judgement calls and have an impact on organizational behaviour, it benefits the team of IT project managers.

 

Stakeholders are placed in the centre of the ITGS pyramid because all the IT systems are checked to keep the stakeholders' preferences and convenience in mind. Regardless of how fantastic the new IT program is, it is a waste if people don't like it. This is exactly what you need to analyze in ITGS, hence making it a beautiful blend of IT networking and human sciences.

Here we will look at how ITGS skills are broken down in the 2-year term. The learning capabilities vary from each individual to the other. However, if you keep up with the pace, you're bound to excel!

 

If you need a detailed outline of things expected in the ITGS, the IB gods have everything served on a platter for yeh! 

 

Here is the golden document ready for your convenience. Keep everything in tune with this handbook curated by IB to stay on the right track.

 

The first year of ITGS will mainly comprise the introduction of this course and help you grow familiar with the subject's core. You will understand and/or do the following:

 

• Introduces Strand 1 (Social and ethical significance) in broad terms using examples.
• Get acquainted with the used Web 2.0 technologies for gaining exposure to interactive technology
• Understand Strand 3 (IT systems) via public and private interactions (mainly through assumed knowledge of the internet).
• Grasp basics of machinery and communications as a part of Strand 3.
• Merge the applicability of strands 1 and 2 to deal with applying specific situations.
• Social and ethical themes are developed further through applying particular situations where you learn how to implement them in business.
• ITGS will develop concepts and abilities you will learn to apply in your assignment. Exercises in Paper 2 will illustrate how well the three components of the topic relate to one another.
• You will also discuss three additional strands and 2 topics which will connect them with the other strands.
• By the end of it all, you will master the technological aspect of every business release and also analyze how and why a particular technology release benefits society.

 

The IBDP topic ITGS has two elements, similar to all other IBDP courses.

 

The first among them is the theoretical and hands-on research imparted within lectures, and will be tested in the final exam. IB inspectors evaluate the final test papers that have been provided to them.

 

… and finally, the IB ITGS IA!

 

The second element of ITGS is the coursework, which is simply an internal assessment, AKA the IA. Whoa, whoa, don't run away already! IB ITGS IA is the best IA you could ever give because it is interactive, dynamic and super fun.

 

Your IB ITGS IA will be a year-long assignment in ITGS wherein the students need to develop an IT solution in response to the requirements of a "customer." Now this customer can be anybody and everybody. A staff member at the institution, too, can be your customer!

As a course, the learning outcomes of IB ITGS are broadly divided into 4 parts. Hence, while composing the IA and completing the projects, keep them in mind and highlight these particular aspects repeatedly. This trick will help your work outstand from the rest!

 

The IB gods are looking for the following in your work:

• The student's ability to assess issues of society and ethics brought about by the broad adoption of information technology by people in households, governments, organizations, and communities at both the international and national levels.
• Increase the learner's knowledge of the characteristics of modern and developing IT platforms and assist them in assessing how they will affect various constituencies.
• Motivate learners to use their understanding of IT system applications and practical IT skill sets to defend IT workarounds for a specific client or end-user.
• Facilitate students to think critically about existing computer networks in diverse circumstances and make educated decisions about the impacts of IT advancements on them.

It's crucial to remember the words from Strand 1 and the ITGS pyramid. 

 

Just do that. Believe me. These will appear frequently, so be aware of what they all imply and also be capable of telling them apart. Examine the many ways in which they may be used in a situation.

 

Recall the words of each section. I advise creating term note cards or using active learning techniques to aid with studying. 

 

Keep a steady tempo and refrain from devoting excessive time to test questions that only receive 1 or 2 points.

 

Make sure to pay heed to the directive phrase while answering lengthy topics. If the term "discuss" is used, a different response than what you would provide in response to a "identify" query is required. If the topic contains the terms "outline" or "define," I suggest providing a concrete example in addition to your explanation and relating your response to the situation presented in the questions. Familiarise yourself with the commanding phrases and format your responses to the IB's problems from previous exams.

 

After reviewing an article, note the topic and the related stakeholders (IT users). Each and every argument must relate to the given content. Once you start writing, consider the issue and potential fixes. Avoid focusing excessively on the requirements that aren't significant because that would be a waste of time and energy.

 

When addressing the criteria, DON'T forget to cite the article and make use of the ITGS pyramid and terminology.

In general, you must approach new tech from the standpoint of an individual eager to acquire knowledge yet not grasp much about it. 

 

You could undoubtedly consider the impact of technology on our civilization after completing ITGS. 

 

You would also gain enough expertise to examine the pros and cons of the expanding IT industry and its ongoing influence on people, mainly via the lens of healthcare, commerce, or governance.

 

Unlike other well-known educational topics, ITGS is multidisciplinary by nature. Even though ITGS focuses on social and moral quandaries, it needs a certain level of technical expertise to make decisions regarding technological applications. ITGS is engaging for students because of its varied focus on fundamental challenges of the twenty-first century.

 

ALWAYS REMEMBER - It is a challenging path to complete the IB Diploma. However, selecting the right mix of subjects depending on their complexity and your personal talents might make it simpler.

 

IB topic selections are influenced mainly by four variables, which are as follows:

• Accessible tuition of high calibre
  • Do you have enough people around you to rely on for this particular course?
  • Does the course come easy to you? How much time are you willing to spend on topics related to the course?
• Relevance to your future career
  • Will the course and its subjects contribute to productive growth in your future?
  • Does the course help you gain further knowledge on related aspects?
  • Is the course's base theme resonating with your professional inclinations?
• Your talents and preferences
  • Does the course help expand your area of hobbies and/or skills?
  • Do you wish to take your strong points as an academic course?
• Complexity
  • Is the course too challenging for you?
  • Do you have friends or relatives that can help you with the course subjects if needed?

 

These 4 factors should be applied to every course you decide to pick in IB. If a course is too challenging for you to pursue but still interests you, see the coursework through the lens of these 4 variables, and you will have the answer ready.

You should never be alarmed by a course's "complexity." Go ahead and enrol in IB ITGS if you're considering it. We recommend pursuing it if you are genuinely fascinated by the topics. Educated judgements and choices concerning the use of technology in everyday interaction may be made by students using the framework provided by ITGS. Motivate yourself to demonstrate IT systems for a specific customer or end-user by using their understanding of IT infrastructure and pragmatic IT abilities.

 

Now, you know what IB ITGS is. You also learn how to measure its usability through the abovementioned variables. 

 

Now, what do you think? Is ITGS the right fit for you?

 

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