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Length of Course : The second year of the three year Key Stage 3 Computer Science course
Course description and aims
Computer systems and the people who build and maintain them play a very important role in our lives. This course helps build the foundations for our students to be not only users of technology but to start to understand how computers work so that they could be the future designers of computer applications to help improve the quality of our lives.
In key stage 3 computer science our students follow the national curriculum. In year 8, we build on work done in previous years and begin to prepare students for the GCSE examination. Students have 3 lessons every two weeks. They are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content. Our aim is to ensure that all students can analyse problems in computational terms and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems. We also aim to ensure that students can present information effectively using a variety of media. We teach our students to be digitally literate, responsible and creative.
Main concepts and topics covered
Graphics
Introduction to HTML
Digital Literacy
Data representation
Logic gates
Python
Database
Spreadsheets
Input devices
Python programming Binary
ActionScript Animation Movie making
Contents
Term 1
● Graphics (Bitmap and vector images, how bitmap images are encoded, use vector graphics software (Adobe illustrator), use bitmap software (Adobe Photoshop)
● HTML (Create pages in Brackets, Create anchor and email links, use CSS to style pages)
● Digital Literacy (how to stay safe online, social media etiquette, how to prevent cyber bullying, health and safety issues arising from the use of computers, threats to data)
● Term 2
● Data representation (carry out simple operations on binary and hexadecimal numbers)
● Logic gates (Understand and define the functions of NOT, AND, OR, NAND, NOR & XOR gates and produce truth tables)
● Python programming (input, print, len and INT functions, variables, string manipulation, selection and loops)
● Databases (Data types, creating tables, using queries with one or more criteria, using AND, OR and NOT and <, <=, >, >= in searches)
Term 3
● Spreadsheets (Charts, basic formulae, Functions – INT, ROUND, VLOOKUP, COUNT, IF statements etc )
● Input & Output devices (identify input and output devices and their uses)
Course outcomes
The course empowers our students to
● Be responsible and creative users of technology
● Understand algorithms
● Know the hardware and software that makes up computer systems
● Understand simple Boolean logic
● Carry out binary operations on numbers
● Create and manipulate graphics
Types of assessment
Formative assessment is carried out by the teacher and involves marking of teacher set tasks, observations, questioning and self assessment for each taught unit. In addition to this there is summative assessment at the end of three of the units of work and an end of year examination covering all the topics taught for the year.
Methodology
A variety of techniques and teaching styles are used to cater for the diverse learning styles of our students. They include individual and group activities, research and investigation, and project work to encourage independence and creativity.
Text and materials
We encourage students to work through activities on the following websites to support their learning.
www.w3schools.com www.code.org www.codeacademy.org www.codeschool.com
Grading policy
All formative assessments and summative assessments will be assessed using our Key stage 3 progress maps. Learning objectives will be shared for all lessons in each unit and unit summative assessments will be based on this. Students will be encouraged to set aspirational targets and also self-assess their work before the unit summative assessment.
Teachers report student’s levels once each term to parents.
Additional expectations
Homework is provided once each week lasting about 30 minutes. We set homework tasks which may or may not require the use of a computer. Where computers are not available for students to use at home, they are encouraged to attend one of the lunch time homework clubs in the ICT suite to complete the homework.
Encourage your child to practice programming on some of the websites listed above.
Types of assessment
Formative assessment is carried out by the teacher and involves marking of teacher set tasks, observations, questioning and self assessment for each taught unit. In addition to this there is summative assessment at the end of three of the units of work and an end of year examination covering all the topics taught for the year.
Methodology
A variety of techniques and teaching styles are used to cater for the diverse learning styles of our students. They include individual and group activities, research and investigation, and project work to encourage independence and creativity.
Text and materials
We encourage students to work through activities on the following websites to support their learning.
www.w3schools.com www.code.org www.codeacademy.org www.codeschool.com
Grading policy
All formative and summative assessments are given a level for each unit of work using a levels assessment sheet related to the national curriculum. Students are given the assessment sheet at the start of each unit of work and are encouraged to set a target and self assess their work before the teacher assesses it.
Teachers report student’s levels once each term to parents.
Additional expectations
Homework is provided once each week lasting about 30 minutes. We set homework tasks which may or may not require the use of a computer. Where computers are not available for students to use at home, they are encouraged to attend one of the lunch time homework clubs in the ICT suite to complete the homework.
Encourage your child to practice programming on some of the websites listed above.
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