Lesson Element
Unit 2: Global information
LO5: Understand the process flow of
information
Information sources and data types
Instructions and answers for tutors
These instructions cover the learner activity section which can be found on page 6. This
Lesson Element supports Cambridge Technicals Level 3 in IT.
When distributing the activity section to the learners either as a printed copy or as a
Word file you will need to remove the tutor instructions section.
The activity
This Lesson Element will allow learners to further develop their understanding of how
holders of information (individuals and organisations) use and process information and data.
In particular, they will learn about the different information sources and data types.
They will also make connections with other parts of this unit, by applying knowledge and
understanding from parts of LO3 and LO4.
Suggested timings
Activity 1: 30 minutes
Activity 2: 45 minutes
Activity 3: 45 minutes
ABC – This activity offers an
opportunity for English skills
development.
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Activity 1
Tutors could start this activity by explaining the following information sources and data types:
 internal source
 external source
 primary data
 secondary data
 qualitative data
 quantitative data.
In addition, tutors could refer back to the ‘data versus information’ and the ‘information
system structure’ sections of LO3, as these are relevant to this activity.
Similarly, so are the ‘quality of information’ and ‘information management’ sections of LO4.
Tutors need to make connections between this and the previous learning.
Tutors should support learners during the research phase and clarify/correct any
misconceptions.
Activity 2
Tutors could provide pairs of learners with a collection of cards carrying descriptions of
pieces of information (e.g. supplier price lists; the names of employees; expiry date of a
medicine; interest rate charged on a loan from a bank). A selection of such cards are shown
below; these have been laid out in groups of three, corresponding to one possible
information source or data type for each card; below them is a set to be given to learners.
In reality, a piece of data will usually fit into more than one such category. For instance, ‘a
price list from a supplier’ will provide an external source, will form secondary data and the
prices could be described as providing quantitative data.
Tutors could display the six information sources and data types from Activity 1 above:
internal source; external source; primary data; secondary data; qualitative data; and
quantitative data. Tutors could then give learners a complete set of individual cards (18 in
all).
Learners, in pairs, should develop their understanding of information sources and data
types, by discussing and agreeing which of these best describe each piece of information
shown on the cards. Learners should write all the ones that apply on the back of each card.
Tutors could answer questions and address misconceptions as the pairs of learners are
carrying out this task.
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Possible categorisations of the Information cards
Internal Sources
Finance department records
used by the sales
department of the same
organisation
Analysis by the marketing
department of three new
products
The contact list on my phone
External sources
Price list from a supplier
Financial report from
your bank
Online survey completed
by customers
Primary data
Foot size measurements
taken by a shoe shop
Number of purchases made
in your shop each day
Attendance register taken at
the start of this lesson
Secondary data
Interest rate on a loan from
your bank
Information given to you by a
market research company
Feedback received from
customers on a third party
review website
Qualitative data
Names of donors to
a charity
The weather at your location
today
The colour of a product
in stock
Quantitative data
Expiry date of medicines in
a pharmacy
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The total number of learners
in a class
3
The speed limit on a
motorway
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Information cards to be printed and cut out. One sheet (18 cards) to be distributed to
each pair of learners.
Foot size measurements
taken by a shoe shop
Number of purchases made
in your shop each day
Attendance register taken at
the start of this lesson
Interest rate on a
loan from your bank
Information given to you
by a market research
company
Feedback received from
customers on a third party
review website
Price list from a supplier
Financial report from
your bank
Online survey completed
by customers
Names of donors to
a charity
The weather at your
location today
The colour of a product
in stock
Finance department records
used by the sales
department of the same
organisation
Analysis by the marketing
department of three new
products
The contact list on
my phone
Expiry date of medicines
in a pharmacy
The total number of
learners in a class
The speed limit on a
motorway
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Activity 3
Learners should now develop their understanding of information sources and data types by
discussing their decisions in larger groups. They should agree which information sources
and data types could be appropriate for each example card.
The agreed responses from each group should be shared with the whole class.
Tutors could facilitate a class plenary to bring this activity to a close noting:
 What does everyone agree on?
 Are there good explanations for areas where groups do not agree?
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Lesson Element
Unit 2: Global information
LO5: Understand the process flow of
information
Learner Activity
Information sources and data types
This Learning Element will allow you to develop your understanding of how holders of
information (individuals and organisations) use and process information and data. In
particular, you will learn about the different information sources and data types.
Whilst working on the activities you will apply the knowledge and understanding you have
gained from studying LO3 and LO4.
Activity 1
Look at this list of information sources and data types:
 internal source
 external source
 primary data
 secondary data
 qualitative data
 quantitative data.
Based on the explanations of your tutor, you should carry out research into the different
information sources and data types (listed above). You should produce a definition of each
information source and data type, plus find out a few examples of each.
This can be recorded in any way that suits you best, but remember that you might need this
for revision, later on.
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Activity 2
For this activity you will be working in pairs.
You will be provided with a collection of cards carrying descriptions of pieces of information
(e.g. supplier price lists; the names of employees; expiry date of a medicine; interest rate
charged on a loan from a bank).
You should discuss and agree which of the headings below best describes each piece of
information:
 internal source
 external source
 primary data
 secondary data
 qualitative data
 quantitative data.
You should write all of the headings that apply, on the back of each card, as most cards
could fit in with more than one heading. If you have any questions when you are working on
this task, your tutor will be able to help you.
Activity 3
You should now discuss your decisions from the paired work in Activity 2 in larger groups.
What do you all agree on and where do you disagree?
Then you should agree which information sources and data types could be appropriate for
each piece of information that you were given.
Finally you should discuss all of your ideas as a whole group. Your final decisions should be
fed back to the rest of your class.
What do you agree about?
If you disagree, why is that? Can you explain the reasons?
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