SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD:

Explain computer architecture concepts

SAQA US ID	UNIT STANDARD TITLE
14917	Explain computer architecture concepts
ORIGINATOR
SGB Information Systems and Technology
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-
FIELD			SUBFIELD
Field 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences			Information Technology and Computer Sciences
ABET BAND	UNIT STANDARD TYPE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	CREDITS
Undefined	Regular-Fundamental	Level 4	NQF Level 04	7
REGISTRATION STATUS		REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE	SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Reregistered		2018-07-01	2023-06-30	SAQA 06120/18
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30		2027-06-30

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard.

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD

This unit standard is intended:

to provide a fundamental knowledge of the areas covered

for those working in, or entering the workplace in the area of Information Systems & Technology Management.

as additional knowledge for those wanting to understand the areas covered

People credited with this unit standard are able to:

Explain computer architecture elements

Explain the organisation of a computer

Describe the design constraints in the design of instruction sets for computers
The performance of all elements is to a standard that allows for further learning in this area.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

The credit value of this unit is based on a person having prior knowledge and skills to:

Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental mathematics (at least NQF level 3)

Demonstrate PC competency skills (End-User Computing unit Standards, at least up to NQF level 3.)

Demonstrate an understanding of types of computer systems. (SGB-ID= IST004).

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria:

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1

Explain computer architecture elements.

OUTCOME RANGE

Includes, but is not limited to: Virtual machine, Hardware, Software, Firmware, Functional levels within a computer (at least 3).

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. The explanation identifies the functions of elements which make up computer architecture.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. The explanation outlines the functions of elements which make up computer architecture.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. The explanation distinguishes categories of each element and outlines their features.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

4. The explanation identifies examples of the application of architecture elements.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2

Explain the organisation of a computer.

OUTCOME RANGE

Includes, but is not limited to: Motherboard, Power supply, Storage devices, CPU, Memory, PC Cards, BIOS, Battery, Cables and leads (at least 3).

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. The explanation identifies the purpose of computer components.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. The explanation outlines how components achieve their outcomes in terms of their relationships, and the structure of the computer.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3

Describe the design constraints in the design of instruction sets for computers.

OUTCOME RANGE

Includes, but is not limited to: Instruction length, Memory transfer, Word length, Instruction format, Instruction fetch, Operand specification.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. The description identifies the constraints, and outlines the issues involved.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. The description outlines how the constraints have been accommodated, by using examples.

UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS

The relevant Education and Training Quality Authority (ETQA) must accredit providers before they can offer programs of education and training assessed against unit standards.

Moderation Process:
Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures.

UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE

1. Performance of all elements is to be carried out in accordance with organisation standards and procedures, unless otherwise stated. Organisation standards and procedures may cover: quality assurance, documentation, security, communication, health and safety, and personal behaviour.
2. Performance of all elements complies with the laws of South Africa, especially with regard to copyright, privacy, health and safety, and consumer rights.
3. All activities must comply with any policies, procedures and requirements of the organisations involved, the ethical codes of relevant professional bodies and any relevant legislative and/or regulatory requirements.
4. Performance of all elements is to be completed within the normal range of time and cost that would be expected in a professional environment (e.g. In a commercial or government organisation).

Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO):

UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING

Identify, solve problems and make decisions in relation to the current systems development environments.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING

Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written persuasion when engaging with systems development.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING

Contribute to his/her full personal development and the social and economic development of the society at large by being aware of the importance of: reflecting on and exploring a variety of strategies to learn more effectively, exploring education and career opportunities and developing entrepreneurial opportunities.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015.

UNIT STANDARD NOTES

Sub-Sub-Field (Domain):
Computer Operations

QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD:

	ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	STATUS	END DATE	PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
Core	78965	Further Education and Training Certificate: Information Technology: Systems Development	Level 4	NQF Level 04	Reregistered	2023-06-30	MICTS
Core	24294	Further Education and Training Certificate: Information Technology: Systems Development	Level 4	NQF Level 04	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2010-01-23	Was MICTS until Last Date for Achievement
Core	78964	Further Education and Training Certificate: Information Technology: Technical Support	Level 4	NQF Level 04	Reregistered	2023-06-30	MICTS
Core	24293	National Certificate: Information Technology: Technical Support	Level 4	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L4	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2010-01-23	Was MICTS until Last Date for Achievement
Elective	20184	National Certificate: Banking	Level 3	NQF Level 03	Reregistered	2023-06-30	BANKSETA
Elective	61591	National Certificate: Information Technology: End User Computing	Level 3	NQF Level 03	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2021-06-30	As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual
Elective	20185	Further Education and Training Certificate: Banking	Level 4	NQF Level 04	Reregistered	2023-06-30	BANKSETA

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

1.	Absa Learning & Development
2.	Academy of Training and Development
3.	AccTech Systems (PTY)LTD
4.	Acol Computer Training PTY LTD
5.	Act of Grace 97
6.	Added Advantage Academy (Durban)
7.	Afedile M Learning Centre (Pty) Ltd
8.	Affirmations Training
9.	All Connections cc
10.	Amitek Business College
11.	Anderson College (Pty) Ltd
12.	Ankalite (Pty) Limited
13.	Artshub Institute (Pty) Ltd
14.	Aspirations Communication Training CC
15.	ATTI Nelspruit Pty Ltd
16.	AUM IT Solutions
17.	Bantsho Marketing & Management Strategies
18.	Beth Horner & Associates
19.	Bidvest Bank
20.	Birnam Business College (Pty) Limited
21.	Bophelo Tota ICT Driving Academy (Pty) Ltd
22.	Broadband College of Technology
23.	BTC Campus (Pty) Ltd
24.	Bytes People Solutions A Division of Altron TMT (Pty) Ltd
25.	Calandra Trading 523(PTY)
26.	Cape Town Society for the Blind
27.	Certified Workforce Trainers cc.
28.	Chartall Business College
29.	Claas Illustration
30.	College Africa Group (Pty) Ltd
31.	Columbus Consulting Pty Ltd
32.	CompEd IT Training
33.	Competence computer and business management
34.	Compuscan Academy
35.	Cornerstone Performance Solutions (Pty) Ltd
36.	CTU Training Solutions
37.	CYBER MINDS (PTY) LIMITED
38.	Daily Training Cc
39.	DC Dynamic College of Commerce & Further Training (Pty) Ltd
40.	Ditlotlo Trading Enterprise Cc
41.	DVG Property (Pty)Ltd
42.	Eagle Computer Training
43.	Eastern Cape Academy of Technology
44.	Ekasi IT Solutions CC
45.	Ekurhuleni Computer College
46.	Elangeni Training Institute
47.	Fakazani Management Services
48.	Falcon Business Institute (Pty) Ltd
49.	Far-Ahead Computer Training Centre Cc
50.	Felix Risk Training Consultants
51.	Forek Institute of Technology (Pty) Ltd
52.	Fort Hare Solutions (PTY) LTD
53.	Gabasega Consulting and Training Centre
54.	Gauteng College of Engineering and Technology (PTY) LTD
55.	GDE Science Education Centre
56.	Gegana Computer Academy and Business Solutions cc
57.	Golden Step Campus (Pty) Ltd.
58.	Goldfields TVET College
59.	Goodwill Institute Of Technology
60.	Gurandbuilt Management Development
61.	Hazyview Computer College
62.	Hectic Productions cc
63.	iLearn Corporate Services PTY LTD
64.	Indonsa Consulting and Training cc
65.	Information Technology Resource Centre
66.	Institute of Training and Education for Capacity Building
67.	ISAMON VOCATIONAL COLLEGE OF EXCELLENCE
68.	iSolve Business Solutions (Pty) Ltd
69.	Jeppe College of Commerce and Computer Studies
70.	John Taolo Gaetsewe Developmental Trust
71.	Keybase Training Solutions Cc
72.	Kezla Investments
73.	King Sabata Dalindyebo TVET College
74.	Kumani Computer College
75.	Lephalale Core Skills Academy (Pty) Ltd
76.	Leseding Computer Systems (Pty) Ltd
77.	LGIT Smart Solutions
78.	Limco Consulting and management (Pty) Ltd
79.	Loja Trading cc
80.	Mackeys Computing (Pty) Ltd
81.	Malope IT Solutions
82.	Masana Brainstorm Conferencing cc
83.	Mash Computer Training
84.	Mass Computer Training And Printers
85.	Mokk Consultants Cc
86.	Mosadikago Trading Cc
87.	Mourema Computer Training Centre
88.	Mpisholo Training Solutions
89.	Mthonyama Technologies cc
90.	National Computer College Carletonville
91.	National Computer College Cc
92.	NCM Computer and Business Academy
93.	Ndabezitha Life Skills Training Institute
94.	Nedbank Ltd
95.	NetCampus (Pty) Ltd.
96.	New Era Computer Training Centre (Hidobyte CC)
97.	Ngubeni Corporation
98.	Ntamunde Investment
99.	Ocule IT cc
100.	On the Ball College Pty ltd
101.	Overcomers Training College (Pty) Ltd
102.	Pillays Computer and Careers
103.	Prophesy Training College (Pty) Ltd
104.	PROSERV SA (PTY) LTD
105.	Protech Business and Computer College Pty Ltd.
106.	Qhakaza Management Services
107.	Rand Training College
108.	Reaithuta Computer Academy
109.	Regent-Comp
110.	Rorisang Computer (Pty) Ltd
111.	Sankin Computer Training Pty Ltd
112.	Sebata Municipal Solutions (Pty) Limited
113.	SEDIBENG
114.	Setlagole Telecentre
115.	Sivile Housing Association RSA
116.	Siyabonga Multi - Purpose Centre
117.	Siyafunda Community Technology Centre
118.	South Africa Advanced Skills Institute (Pty) Ltd
119.	Southern Africa Youth Project NPC
120.	Sovereign Skills Development Institute (Pty)
121.	Springfield Training (Pty) Ltd
122.	Standard Bank Personal and Business Banking
123.	Star Light Consulting
124.	Success Christian Training Centre
125.	Taal-Net Training Institute
126.	Terry Computer Services cc
127.	The Facilitation Workshop
128.	The Graduate Institute of South Africa
129.	Tira Telecoms
130.	Titan Trade Technologies (Pty) Ltd
131.	Tshwane College of Commerce and Computer
132.	Tumelo Education and Training
133.	Turnstone Trading 183 (Pty) Ltd
134.	Umbuso Training Services (Pty) Ltd.
135.	Vukani Solutions
136.	Vuthlari Marketing Consulting (PTY)LTD
137.	Waterberg TVET College
138.	Whitestone College
139.	Y2K COLLEGE
140.	Zealot Business College cc
141.	ZJ Africa Learn (Pty) Ltd