Course overview - Study Period 1 - Unit 2A - Programming
Course overview - Study Period 2 - Unit 7 - Computer Systems
Unit 2A - Programming
Learners will continue their GCSE with an introduction to programming. The unit is subdivided into five lessons (plus a test) and learners will start applying the theoretical knowledge of programming to their first experiences of the programming construct Pseudo code as well as Python. The first lesson in the unit covers data types and arithmetic operations. Sequence, selection and iteration are covered in the next two lessons, followed by a lesson on arrays and records, with a final lesson on reading from and writing to a text file. This will be taught once a week incorporating additional topics relative to Paper 1 questions.
Unit 7 – Computer Systems
Learners will also start another theoretical unit of work to gain an understanding and knowledge of how computer systems work. Starting with the building blocks of the microprocessor — logic gates — learners will discover how a computer system works and executes instructions. This will also be taught once a week incorporating additional topics relative to Paper 2 questions.
Key Concept:
Security, Systems
Assessment Points:
Unit 2A - Programming
End of Unit Summative Assessment before half-term in October to complete the Unit of Work.
Unit 7 – Computer Systems
Learners will have a Mid-Unit Summative Assessment, as well as an End of Unit Summative Assessment for the nine weeks Unit of work.
Guidance:
Learners will receive guidance in a variety of ways. These include marked assessments, reports, verbal feedback, written feedback in books, 1:1 interaction, Google Classroom and whole class feedback.
Key Vocabulary:
Data Types, Operations, Integer, Real, Boolean, String, Character, Sequence, Selection, Iteration, Arrays, Records, Files, MOD, DIV, BIDMAS, CPU, Main Memory, Fetch-Decode-Execute, Secondary Storage, Optical Storage, Magnetic Storage, Computer Specifications, Logic Gates, Logic Problems, Assembly Language