Cambridge

TECHNICALS

OCR LEVEL 3
CAMBRIDGE TECHNICAL
CERTIFICATE/DIPLOMA IN

IT

MAINTAINING COMPUTER
SYSTEMS
J/601/7329

LEVEL 3 UNIT 11

GUIDED LEARNING HOURS: 60

UNIT CREDIT VALUE: 10

MAINTAINING COMPUTER SYSTEMS
J/601/7329
LEVEL 3 UNIT 11

AIM OF THE UNIT

This unit will give learners an understanding of the role of
an IT services practitioner. Learners will identify that in the
role the IT services practitioner has to be able to make good
judgement based on advantages and disadvantages of any
planned changes to a company system. The practitioner will
have to be able to monitor and balance the improvements/
maintenance to the computer system, without the company
having too much disruption.

The aim of this unit is to introduce learners to the role and

responsibilities of an IT practitioner with a focus on the field
of computer systems maintenance.

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 Maintaining Computer Systems Level 3 Unit 11

ASSESSMENT AND GRADING CRITERIA

Learning Outcome (LO) Pass Merit Distinction

The assessment criteria are To achieve a merit the To achieve a distinction
the pass requirements for evidence must show that, the evidence must show
this unit. in addition to the pass that, in addition to the pass
criteria, the learner is able to: and merit criteria, the
The learner will: The learner can: learner is able to:

1 Understand the P1 explain the issues

organisational issues organisations must
related to computer consider when planning
system maintenance computer systems
maintenance

P2 assess the health and M1 identify the precautions

safety risks facing the that should be
practitioner when taken during routine
maintaining computer maintenance procedures
systems

2 Know how to plan P3 describe a planning M2 create a plan for D1 explain the benefits to an
computer system technique that can scheduled maintenance organisation of regular
maintenance be used to schedule activities maintenance activities
maintenance activities

3 Be able to perform P4 perform routine

routine housekeeping on housekeeping on a
computer systems computer system

4 Be able to monitor P5 use monitoring tools

and improve systems to assess system
performance performance

P6 improve a system by M3 test the functionality of D2 compare the

upgrading hardware and the system after upgrade improvements and
software restrictions of the
upgraded system against
the original installation

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TEACHING CONTENT
The unit content describes what has to be taught to ensure that learners are able to access the highest grade.
Anything which follows an i.e. details what must be taught as part of that area of content.
Anything which follows an e.g. is illustrative, it should be noted that where e.g. is used , learners must know and be able to apply
relevant examples to their work though these do not need to be the same ones specified in the unit content.

LO1 Understand the organisational issues related • back-up procedures

• online
to computer system maintenance
• offline
• organisational considerations: • backup media
• procurement (e.g. supplier, sources) • archiving and deletion
• sustainability and environmental issues • defragmentation.
• documentation and problem escalation procedures (e.g. • cleaning:
log, help desk) • hardware (e.g. keyboard, mouse, screen, printers,
• responsibilities (e.g. employer, employee, contractor) processors)
• legislation (e.g. health and safety) • cleaning methods (e.g. materials, tools).
• testing. • maintenance:
• health and safety considerations: • consumables (e.g. ink or toner cartridges)
• minimising risk (e.g. electrocution, fire, electrostatic • component upgrades
discharge (ESD)) • hardware (e.g. cards, memory, drives)
• safety equipment (e.g. ESD wrist-strap, ESD mat, fire • software (e.g. applications, drivers, patches)
equipment) • precautions (e.g. health and safety, compatibility)
• training (e.g. safety and first-aid). • approved disposal methods (e.g. organisational and
regulatory requirements).

LO2 Know how to plan computer system

maintenance LO4 Be able to monitor and improve systems
• planning: performance
• documents • monitoring:
• route maps • diagnostic tools and utilities
• maintenance schedules • server management.
• upgrade paths • improving:
• upgrade schedules, • techniques
• Gantt charts/project plans • Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) settings
• operational planning • firmware updates
• scope of maintenance • operating systems
• frequency (e.g. routine, non-routine) • memory management
• other e.g. use of maintenance specialists. • disk optimisation
• benefits • anti-virus
• updates maintained • antispyware
• reduced risk of viruses • consideration (e.g. data integrity, costs, timescales).
• equipment clean and dust free • test the functionality of the system:
• maximised efficiency of equipment. • test table/plan
• upgrade working
LO3 Be able to perform routine housekeeping on • device drivers are installed
computer systems • applications open and work
• prepare and complete documentation
• file management: • review.
• file locations and naming

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 Maintaining Computer Systems Level 3 Unit 11

DELIVERY GUIDANCE
If possible learners would benefit from visits to or from and discussions. Learners will also need to investigate what
organisations with the focus on gaining insight to the problems could occur without regular maintenance which
operational procedures, issues and planning. It might be could involve looking at what happens if updates are not
possible for the learners to shadow the IT technicians to see regularly updated, virus protection not updated, dust build
procedures and housekeeping in action. up without regular cleaning, loss of space without careful
organisation of files and how these could relate to the
Understand the organisational issues related to computer not performing correctly and how the regular
computer system maintenance maintenance of equipment would help the organisation. This
An introduction to this unit could be the tutor delivering an could be an exercise where they create small presentations
introduction to the organisational issues relating to computer explaining the cost savings and benefits to an organisation.
maintenance.
This could be delivered as presentations by the tutor The learners will benefit from a mixture of case studies and
and/or group discussions. The learners should research detailed investigations to provide scope to their learning.
organisational policies relating to computer systems
maintenance and the aspects of the process, sharing findings Be able to perform routine housekeeping on computer
with the larger group. They would benefit from speaking to systems
IT practitioners currently in the role who maintain computer This should be a hands on exercise where learners will have
systems and also managers who can relate to policies and the opportunity to perform the routine housekeeping on a
procedures, and why they are important. The learners will live system; a virtualised environment will also benefit the
need to be able to relate to the issues to both the larger and learners giving them some experience before working on
smaller organisations and should consider how the criteria for the live systems. This may be completed in groups with all
each may vary. learners taking an active role.

It is important that the learners understand the health and Before the learners perform any practical exercises on the
safety issues with regards to minimising the risk to users systems they could show they can identify and record any
and equipment and to know what precautions that need potential health and safety issues.
to be taken when working on the systems. They should
consider the centre or their own organisational policies and Learners will need to have some theoretical knowledge on
procedures for general health and safety issues and then what routine and non-routine tasks are followed by practical
discuss as a group the wider implications and considerations exercises on managing file systems, cleaning and ventilation
for the role. and maintain the systems.

Know how to plan computer system maintenance Most of the housekeeping tasks can be performed on a PC
The learner needs to be introduced to the planning but back-up procedures might cause a problem, here a group
techniques that could be used and should be taught and of PC’s networked would be needed or if that is not available
be made aware as to why planning is needed and to look at a virtualised environment could be used.
the different techniques and documents that could be used
such as; route maps, upgrade paths, schedules, Gantt charts. Be able to monitor and improve systems performance
Learners will benefit having practical exercises in creating and Here the learners will need to be taught to how they can
using some of these documents. monitor and improve the systems performance.
Learners will need to be given the opportunity to use
Learners will need to look at the operational and the tactical diagnostic tools and utilities to monitor the system. Learners
planning and to have knowledge and understanding of could use the monitoring tools to demonstrate the before
the differences, this could be reinforced by group working and after situation, i.e. could look at the files system before

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and after defragmentation, deleting temporary internet files,
The learners will need to have experience of upgrading
a system including the hardware and software including
looking any benefits and drawbacks and considerations
for the process. They will need to test the functionality of
the system, and compare the improvements and should
discuss as a group and restrictions from the process or for
the upgraded system. Tutors could also deliver presentations
each followed by practical exercises by the learners.

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 Maintaining Computer Systems Level 3 Unit 11

SUGGESTED ASSESSMENT SCENARIOS AND TASK PLUS GUIDANCE ON

ASSESSING THE SUGGESTED TASKS
There are three suggested scenarios for this unit. These are Assessment Criterion P4
optional for learners but may assist in meeting the assessment Learners should demonstrate they can perform routine
criteria. maintenance procedures. This could be evidenced with
observation records, witness statements, photos with notes, etc.
Assessment criteria P1, P2, M1 They will need to evidence a house keeping activity from each
For P1 the learners should explain the issues that category in the teaching content;
organisations need to consider when they are planning • file management
computer system maintenance. • cleaning
For P2 the learners should assess the health and safety issues • maintenance.
that face the IT practitioner when maintaining computer
systems in addition to standard health and safety issues Assessment criteria P5, P6, M3, D2
within the workplace. These assessment criteria could be Here the learner needs to use monitoring tools to assess the
evidenced in the form of a presentation, leaflet, poster or given system and to recommend, implement, test and evaluate
report. hardware and software upgrades.

For merit criterion M1 learners need to identify what precautions For P5 the learner should evidence the use of monitoring tools
need to be taken when looking at a number of routine to assess the system performance and identify how well the
maintenance procedures. The precautions that need to be looked system is functioning
at include the use of specialist equipment, training etc; this could For P6 the learner should upgrade hardware and software to
be evidenced with leaflets, presentations, reports etc. make identified improvements to a system.
P5 and P6 could be evidenced using observation records or
Assessment Criteria P3, M2, D1 witness statements including photographic/ screenshots
For P3 learners should describe a planning technique that could together with explanations. Videos including documentary
be used by an organisation to schedule their maintenance would support the evidence.
activities. This could be in the form of a report supported by
examples and details of the technique that could be used and For merit criterion M3 learners must show they can test the
why this is the best option; alternatively it could be evidenced functionality of the upgraded system. They will need to evidence the
as a presentation. use of test plans/tables one for each of the software and hardware
upgrades. Screenshots, photographs with details will support the
For merit criterion M2 learners should create a detailed plan that evidence.
shows the activities for the scheduled maintenance. This could be
evidenced showing the planning documents with route maps, For distinction criterion D2 learners should compare the
upgrade paths, schedules, Gantt charts etc. improvements and restrictions of the upgraded system against
the original installation. They could use monitoring tools to
For distinction criterion D1 learners will need to give detailed demonstrate this, they could look at the before and after situation
explanations of the benefits to an identified organisation of regular showing at least two comparisons one for the software upgrade
maintenance activities identifying the problems that can be and one for the hardware upgrade. This could be evidenced in the
avoided. This could be evidenced with detailed explanations of what form of a report or table to compare the improvements and screen
problems could occur without regular maintenance, to include a shots would support the evidence.
range of problems for hardware and software.

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MAPPING WITHIN THE
QUALIFICATION TO THE OTHER
UNITS
Unit 4: Managing networks
Unit 7: Computer networks
Unit 8: IT technical support

LINKS TO NOS
7.5 IT Technology Management and Support

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