Computing Science BGE

All S1 pupils at Mackie Academy receive one period a week of Computing Science, taught by either of our two Computing Science teachers (Mr Duff and Mr Strachan).

Computing Science is not currently studied by pupils in S2.

When pupils are making their choices for S3 they have the option to select Computing Science as one of their course options.  If they do so then when they begin their S3 timetable they will receive two periods a week, again either with Mr Duff or Mr Strachan.

The main topics studied in S1 are:

• online safety

• basic web design (using Google Sites)

• basic programming (using Scratch)

• spreadsheets (using Microsoft Excel)

Alongisde this pupils will also spend time getting to grips with:

• logging in to the school network

• logging into Glow

• organising their digitial work using Google Drive

• using Google Classroom to access/submit homework tasks

• other general bits of "computer know-how"

The main topics studied in S3 Computing Science mirror those that will be covered in S4 as part of the National 4 and National 5 Computing Science courses.  They are:

• Web Design & Development (building websites using HTML and CSS)

• Software Design & Development (writing programs uing the Python programming language)

• Database Design & Development (designing databases and constructing queries using Microsoft Access)

At the end of each of these main units of work pupils will be given the chance to show what they have learned in an assessment task.