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Length of Course : The final year of the three year Key Stage 3 Computing course
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 computing, our students follow the national curriculum. In year 9, 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
Data Representation
Digital literacy
Spreadsheets
Logic gates
Programming
Graphics
Web design
Input, output and storage devices
Contents
Term 1
§ Data representation (introduction to binary, hexadecimal and logic gates (how to convert from binary to denary or hexadecimal and vice versa, understand the binary output produced from the AND, NOT, OR, NAND and NOR gates))
§ Digital literacy (personal data, how to keep data safe, social media, phishing, smishing and pharming, authentication methods)
§ Spreadsheets(IF, NESTEDIF, SUMIF, COUNTIF, AVERAGEIF, Combine functions)
Term 2
§ Logic gates (Combine logic gates –up to 3 inputs – to produce outputs. Produce a logic circuit to represent a given problem)
§ Programming (selection, iteration, built-in functions, functions & procedures, string manipulation)
§ Graphics (bitmap and vector images, colour models, lossy & lossless compression)
Term 3
§ Web design (Web layers, difference between Internet & www, table attributes in HTML & CSS)
§ Input, Output and storages devices (types, uses, advantages and disadvantages – compared to others).
Course outcomes
The course empowers our students to
§ use technology safely and responsibly
§ be creative users of technology
§ solve problems by writing computer programs
§ develop problem-solving skills which could be applied to other subjects
Types of assessment
Formative assessment is carried out by the teacher and involves marking of teacher set tasks, observations, questioning and self and peer assessment for each taught unit. In addition to this there is summative assessment for three of the units during the course of the year 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.
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 will produce a report about student progress 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 or the software required 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 work.
Encourage your child to practice touch typing using software or an online typing tutor.
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