IB Application to Scenarios

Strand 2: Application to specific scenarios

The scenarios listed here are divided into themes as an organizational tool. Examination papers assess scenarios related to these themes. Individual examination questions may address one, some, or all of the themes.

•            Every theme must be studied.

•            Every topic within each theme must be studied.

•            Each topic must be taught using real examples. Some of the examples shown in the tables suggest possible approaches for study.

•            Students will be expected to apply their knowledge from the topics taught in class or researched independently to the stimulus material in the externally assessed components. This may include discussing ethical issues and social impacts as well as demonstrating an understanding of the IT systems involved.

•            For each of the scenarios addressed, students will be expected to identify relevant stakeholders and to discuss, where relevant, potential stakeholder conflict.

2.1 Business and employment

Topic	Examples
Traditional businesses	Banks, including ATM (automatic teller machines), EFT (electronic funds transfer), hotels, supermarkets, travel agencies.
Online businesses (e-commerce)	Working practices such as teleworking and home working.
Transportation	Airline reservation systems, navigation, package tracking, traffic control systems, IT systems in cars.

The coverage of business and employment should address the IT systems that exist as well as the ethical issues and social impacts that arise from the increased use of information technologies for both employers and employees. Students should be aware of the range of different business environments, ranging from a traditional (offline) business to businesses that are exclusively online.

2.2 Education and training

Topic	Examples
Distance learning over large areas	Hospitals, prisons, retirement homes, schools.
Use of IT in teaching and learning	Educational software, online research and forums, virtual learning environments (VLE), e-books, Web 2.0 educational networks, use of mobile devices, game-based learning, fully immersive environments, filtering and monitoring of students’ internet use, 1-to-1, m-learning.
Hardware and network technologies in the classroom	Laptop computers, handheld devices, interactive whiteboards.
Topic	Examples
Provision for special needs	Inclusive software, Braille keyboards, accessibility.
School administration	Record-keeping of staff and finances, libraries, student records, EDI (electronic data interchange).

The development of new IT systems is revolutionizing the delivery of education and training. Technological advances have led to an increase in the dependency of students, staff and administrators on the supporting IT systems.

2.3 Environment

Topic	Examples
Modelling and simulations	Climate change, forecasting natural events or demographic changes.
Data logging	Sensors, probes, real-time data collection.
Satellite communication	Remote sensing devices, satellite imagery, tagging.
Mapping, virtual globes	Geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS), cell/mobile phone tracking, online journey planning, online maps.
E-waste	Development, disposal and recycling of IT equipment, monitoring organizations such as the Basel Action Network.
Resource depletion	Use of non-renewable resources for manufacturing components, electrical consumption of IT systems.

The environmental theme covers a wide range of topics. The increasing processing capability of mobile devices has enabled almost universal access to information, but the increased number of devices has impacted on health and the environment.

2.4 Health

Topic	Examples
Diagnostic and therapeutic tools	Surgery, prosthetic devices, diagnostic technology, rehabilitation, patient monitoring, individualized IT solutions for disabled people, accessibility.
Medical information, administration, marketing and sales	Medical advice, e-prescriptions, telemedicine, electronic health records, international health cards.
Medical research	Global collaboration, database for the Human Genome Project, improving patient rehabilitation.
Psychological and physical considerations	Internet addiction, repetitive strain injury (RSI), ergonomics.

IT has revolutionized medicine. With the increasing size of the world’s population, the effective management of health care using IT systems will become even more important.

2.5 Home and leisure

Topic	Examples
Homes and home networks	IT management of home systems: for example, lighting, security, entertainment centres.
Digital entertainment	Films, photographs, music, arts, online and digital games, gambling, virtual worlds.
Social networking	Chat rooms, messaging, blogging, file sharing, wikis.
Published and broadcast information	Books, newspapers, digital radio and TV, e-books, podcasts.
Digital policing	Monitoring organizations such as the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).
Hardware, software and networks	Portable digital devices and their ability to remotely control other devices, IT-enabled appliances.

The growth of the internet and the ability to transfer information globally in real time has revolutionized the way in which increasing numbers of people live. The global online society, the development of English as the dominant online language, and the constant availability of information may lead to a homogenization of peoples, with some cultures being subsumed into others or lost. 

2.6 Politics and government

Topic	Examples
Political processes	Online campaigning, voting, lobbying, fund-raising and advertising.
Government information sites	For example, travel warnings, tourist information, environmental information and warnings, government policies, city government websites.
Access to, and updating of, personal information held on government databases	Collection, storage and updating of personal data: for example, driving licence, TV licence, tax returns, passport applications and renewals, medical records, military service records, social security information, online police records.
Government control and use of information	Censorship, data matching across agencies, archiving, biometric data, national identity cards.
Law and order	Police surveillance, terrorist monitoring, DNA data.
Military	Cyberwarfare, smart weapons, espionage, battlefield technology.

The importance of IT is becoming increasingly evident in political campaigns. With increased amounts of information available to governments, ethical issues relating to its possible misuse are becoming more and more important.