BTEC INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
UNIT 6: WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT
UNIT 6: WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT A+
GRADE
Delivery guidance
Approaching the unit
This practical-based unit allows learners to understand the principles of designing and creating
a functional website to meet the requirements of a client. Learners should be encouraged to
seek out real-life situations where a website is required. For example, learners (or you) could
approach local businesses. They could then explore the specific requirements, and begin to
design and develop a website for that particular business. By using real-life scenarios, learners
should be encouraged to design and develop interesting and creative websites. If this is not
possible, you could develop simulated scenarios.
When approaching the unit, it is important to allow practical web-based exercises to hone
learners’ web design skills. Tutorials on hypertext markup language (HTML), cascading style
®
sheets (CSS) and JavaScript will enable learners to learn the necessary skills involved in
developing a website.
Learners should be encouraged to explore different software packages – for instance, rapid
application development tools such as Dreamweaver.
Alternatively, where this type of software is not available, learners should work from a text editor
and a web browser.
This delivery guide does not cover everything that needs to be delivered for completion of
this unit but gives examples of delivery methods. You should refer to the specification for
full details of all the content that needs to be covered.
Delivering the learning aims
For learning aim A, you could start by introducing the principles of website development.
Begin with a class discussion that introduces the purpose and principles of website
products. There are various concepts that learners need to understand, so there will be
elements of tutor-led delivery where key ideas and principles will need to be explained.
The delivery, however, should be predominantly practical-based. Therefore, tutor-led
delivery should be accompanied with exercises and independent research. Within learning
aim A, there is scope for learners to research websites and give feedback on the purpose
and principles of website products, as well as the different factors that affect website
performance. Learners need to understand that website development is influenced by many
Pearson BTEC International Level 3 Qualifications in IT - Delivery Guide
Issue 1 – May 2020 © Pearson Education Limited 2020
1
, BTEC INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
UNIT 6: WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT
factors and this can have a bearing on a website’s overall performance and success.
Encourage learners to present their research findings through class discussions, via online
tools such as blogs or wikis, and as reports.
Learning aim B will need tutor-led instruction about the design concepts involved in producing
websites. Design tools are crucial for showing clients what their website will look like when
completed. Failure to produce a coherent design may mean that the end result will not meet
the client’s requirements. Therefore, when planning the unit, ensure that learners understand
the importance of the design process, and that it should be undertaken in conjunction with
the client. If a local employer in your area has the need for a website, try to arrange for a guest
speaker to discuss what their needs are so that learners can elicit requirements from them. In
addition, try to arrange technical workshops involving staff from local
organisations/businesses or opportunities for learners to observe working practice through
visits or work experience.
Having discussed the requirements, learners should be able to develop appropriate designs to meet the
client’s needs. Teaching and learning should focus on developing learners’ ability to produce clear and
coherent designs and being able to articulate these. This will not be limited to a single design.
Learners should produce and document a range of different designs for creating their websites. Learners
will need to justify their final choice of design. You should also guide learners to identify the target
audience and their requirements.
Learning aim C is a natural extension of learning aim B. Learners must be capable of
developing a website to meet the needs of a client. It is important that learners fully
understand the different skills needed to develop a website and have sufficient practice at
applying them. One approach to delivering the content is for learners to work individually
through exercises, for example workbook exercises on HTML, CSS and JavaScript ®. This will
ensure that learners are confident using the necessary skills. Allowing learners to work in
pairs may help them to develop their skills quickly as they will be able to share their existing
knowledge with others.
It is important that learners understand how to optimise a website and test its usability,
interactivity and compatibility. To help with learners’ understanding of these elements, they
could ask for feedback on their designs from their peers and could give feedback to others.
Learners should evaluate the feedback and make improvements, as necessary, to meet
client needs.
Learners may work at different paces and their progress will need to be tracked and monitored.
Differentiation opportunities are available for learners with prior knowledge: for instance, you
could introduce and develop client-side scripting or HTML5.
You could encourage learners to apply the project management skills that they acquired in Computing,
Unit 3: Planning and Management of Computing Projects, to their projects.
For learning aim C, you could invite back the guest speaker to appraise the work in progress.
This is an opportunity for learners to talk to the guest speaker about what they have
2 Pearson BTEC International Level 3 Qualifications in IT - Delivery Guide
Issue 1 – May 2020 © Pearson Education Limited 2020
UNIT 6: WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT
UNIT 6: WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT A+
GRADE
Delivery guidance
Approaching the unit
This practical-based unit allows learners to understand the principles of designing and creating
a functional website to meet the requirements of a client. Learners should be encouraged to
seek out real-life situations where a website is required. For example, learners (or you) could
approach local businesses. They could then explore the specific requirements, and begin to
design and develop a website for that particular business. By using real-life scenarios, learners
should be encouraged to design and develop interesting and creative websites. If this is not
possible, you could develop simulated scenarios.
When approaching the unit, it is important to allow practical web-based exercises to hone
learners’ web design skills. Tutorials on hypertext markup language (HTML), cascading style
®
sheets (CSS) and JavaScript will enable learners to learn the necessary skills involved in
developing a website.
Learners should be encouraged to explore different software packages – for instance, rapid
application development tools such as Dreamweaver.
Alternatively, where this type of software is not available, learners should work from a text editor
and a web browser.
This delivery guide does not cover everything that needs to be delivered for completion of
this unit but gives examples of delivery methods. You should refer to the specification for
full details of all the content that needs to be covered.
Delivering the learning aims
For learning aim A, you could start by introducing the principles of website development.
Begin with a class discussion that introduces the purpose and principles of website
products. There are various concepts that learners need to understand, so there will be
elements of tutor-led delivery where key ideas and principles will need to be explained.
The delivery, however, should be predominantly practical-based. Therefore, tutor-led
delivery should be accompanied with exercises and independent research. Within learning
aim A, there is scope for learners to research websites and give feedback on the purpose
and principles of website products, as well as the different factors that affect website
performance. Learners need to understand that website development is influenced by many
Pearson BTEC International Level 3 Qualifications in IT - Delivery Guide
Issue 1 – May 2020 © Pearson Education Limited 2020
1
, BTEC INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
UNIT 6: WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT
factors and this can have a bearing on a website’s overall performance and success.
Encourage learners to present their research findings through class discussions, via online
tools such as blogs or wikis, and as reports.
Learning aim B will need tutor-led instruction about the design concepts involved in producing
websites. Design tools are crucial for showing clients what their website will look like when
completed. Failure to produce a coherent design may mean that the end result will not meet
the client’s requirements. Therefore, when planning the unit, ensure that learners understand
the importance of the design process, and that it should be undertaken in conjunction with
the client. If a local employer in your area has the need for a website, try to arrange for a guest
speaker to discuss what their needs are so that learners can elicit requirements from them. In
addition, try to arrange technical workshops involving staff from local
organisations/businesses or opportunities for learners to observe working practice through
visits or work experience.
Having discussed the requirements, learners should be able to develop appropriate designs to meet the
client’s needs. Teaching and learning should focus on developing learners’ ability to produce clear and
coherent designs and being able to articulate these. This will not be limited to a single design.
Learners should produce and document a range of different designs for creating their websites. Learners
will need to justify their final choice of design. You should also guide learners to identify the target
audience and their requirements.
Learning aim C is a natural extension of learning aim B. Learners must be capable of
developing a website to meet the needs of a client. It is important that learners fully
understand the different skills needed to develop a website and have sufficient practice at
applying them. One approach to delivering the content is for learners to work individually
through exercises, for example workbook exercises on HTML, CSS and JavaScript ®. This will
ensure that learners are confident using the necessary skills. Allowing learners to work in
pairs may help them to develop their skills quickly as they will be able to share their existing
knowledge with others.
It is important that learners understand how to optimise a website and test its usability,
interactivity and compatibility. To help with learners’ understanding of these elements, they
could ask for feedback on their designs from their peers and could give feedback to others.
Learners should evaluate the feedback and make improvements, as necessary, to meet
client needs.
Learners may work at different paces and their progress will need to be tracked and monitored.
Differentiation opportunities are available for learners with prior knowledge: for instance, you
could introduce and develop client-side scripting or HTML5.
You could encourage learners to apply the project management skills that they acquired in Computing,
Unit 3: Planning and Management of Computing Projects, to their projects.
For learning aim C, you could invite back the guest speaker to appraise the work in progress.
This is an opportunity for learners to talk to the guest speaker about what they have
2 Pearson BTEC International Level 3 Qualifications in IT - Delivery Guide
Issue 1 – May 2020 © Pearson Education Limited 2020
