S3 Computing:
Reporting Window 1

Topics Overview

Web Design

Pupils have been learning how to create complex websites using HTML code to create content and CSS to provide style. This has involved pupils learning about the structure of a webpage, how to manage files for a website and how HTML ‘tags’ allow browsers to load and display content. Pupils have created websites on their favourite movies / tv shows and have learned how to link multiple pages together to allow for website navigation.

Computer Programming

Pupils in S3 have been introduced to the Python programming language, learning simple commands such as input / output and selection. Pupils will be returning to Python after the Christmas holidays for a more in-depth look at programming whilst creating a text -based adventure. Pupils have also looked at programming using Micro-bits to learn about loops and sending messages between devices.

Video Game Design

Pupils completed a unit of work on video game design, constructing multiple games using Microsoft’s code arcade block coding language. This allowed pupils to learn about sprite creation, tile-maps, level-design and involved consolidating key programming concepts such as variables, if statements, input/output and touched on the creation of functions and loops.8 Pupils showcased their learning by creating a custom maze game and some pushed onto looking at platformers introducing concepts such as gravity, velocity, and acceleration.

After Xmas Topic: Mobile App Design

Pupils will learn about the history of mobile technology, looking at Operating System functionality and how we can compare the hardware of different mobile devices. Pupils will create their own apps using MIT App Inventor, learning about emulation during the process. This will involve looking at block programming to handle events such as button clicks and learning about customising the user interface to create interesting features for the user to experience. This will also act as an introduction to computer hardware, discussing processors, memory and storage.

The reports for Computing Science have been generated by analysing how well pupils have coped with the various topics and looking at the benchmarks that coincide with these units of work. Summative assessment has included looking at pupil’s submissions such as their created website, mobile timeline and in class research tasks. Formative assessment has been used in class to check pupils progress/understanding of programming / logic exercises and recently how they have started with app creation.

The course in S3 is designed around the CfE level 4 Outcomes and Benchmarks and most pupils are working at level 4 with a grade of C or above. This does not mean that pupils below this level are not making progress but may be requiring more support to complete and understand content.

Es and Os Covered

Working Level and Working Grade descriptions for S3 Computing:

Third A: A pupil achieving this level- will be making excellent progress at CfE Level 4, is achieving well against all the outcomes covered. They will be demonstrating these key skills in the work that they have so far completed. There will be evidence that they have taken the project further than was required.

Third B: A pupil achieving this level- will be making good progress at CfE Level 4, is achieving well against most the outcomes covered. They will be demonstrating these key skills in the work that they have so far completed.

Third C: A pupil achieving this level- will be making reasonable progress at CfE Level 4, is achieving well against some the outcomes covered while finding others challenging. They will be demonstrating these key skills in the projects that they have so far completed.

Third D: A pupil achieving this level- will be making some progress at CfE Level 4, is achieving against a few of the outcomes covered while finding others challenging. They will be demonstrating these key skills in the projects that they have so far completed.

Second A to D: A pupil achieving these levels- will be making some progress at CfE Level 3, is achieving against a few of the outcomes covered while finding most challenging. They will be demonstrating these key skills in the tasks that they have so far completed.