Systems and Networks

In this unit, we will learn about the World Wide Web as a communication tool. First, you will learn how we find information on the World Wide Web, through learning how search engines work (including how they select and rank results) and what influences searching, and through comparing different search engines. We will then investigate different methods of communication, before focusing on internet-based communication. Finally, we will evaluate which methods of internet communication to use for particular purposes. 

You will utilise the following skills from previous units and year groups:

1. How to search for something online

2. Being safe online (SafeSkills) and our digital footprint

3. Problem solving skills

4. Resilience

You will learn the following skills:

1. How searches are influenced & ranked 

2. How systems of computers work together

3. The impact of computer systems on our everyday lives

Where this will/could take you:

1. Networks units in years 6, 7 and 8

2. GCSE Computer science

3. Building your own home system!

4. A large and diverse number of IT jobs...

• Network manager...

• Web Developer...

• Search engine developer...

• Computer engineer..

• Network engineer...

• Software Application Developer...

Week 1:

• I can explain that systems are built using a number of parts

• I can describe the input, process, and output of a digital system

• I can explain that computer systems communicate with other devices

Week 2:

• I can identify tasks that are managed by computer systems

• I can identify the human elements of a computer system

• I can explain the benefits of a given computer system

Week 3:

• I can make use of a web search to find specific information

• I can refine my web search

• I can compare results from different search engines

Week 4:

• I can explain why we need tools to find things online

• I can recognise the role of web crawlers in creating an index

• I can relate a search term to the search engine’s index

Week 5:

• I can order a list by rank

• I can explain that a search engine follows rules to rank results

• I can give examples of criteria used by search engines to rank results

Week 6:

• I can describe some of the ways that search results can be influenced

• I can recognise some of the limitations of search engines

• I can explain how search engines make money