Stage 1 Digital Technologies

Students develop skills and understanding through practical situations while investigating various topics delivered across the year. Students will have the opportunity to investigate computer networks and social issues surrounding security and privacy. The architecture of the computer is exposed with the study of global protocols for communication and collaboration in digital environments. Students will develop a range of information technology skills and techniques while creating their own systems that can be tested and evaluated. They develop and apply specialised skills and techniques in the use of software in a number of digital technology areas.

Content

Semester 1

This is a one-unit course consisting of two modules; Introduction to Application Development and Programming Principles through digital technologies.

Students investigate various program applications focused around the introduction to programming principles and efficiency of code.. Students develop an understanding of programming by constructing an application program that accepts input from, and interacts with, the user to produce outcomes. Microsoft Access with VBA is used for this project. Students use the problem-solving approach of the systems development life cycle to build an application program. They analyse data from a variety of sources using R Studio.

Semester 2

This is a one-unit course that can be combined with the earlier course to form a full year of study. The second course offers two modules, Advanced Programming and Relational Databases.

Advanced Programming: Students develop an understanding of programming in a server-sided web environment. They also use VBA code that allows interactivity through the input of data and resultant program outputs from a database. The design of the interface, navigation, and finished layout of the product must be user- friendly. Students also learn to use the Python 3 programming language.

Relational Databases: Students develop and maintain data repositories and apply data mining principles to construct a relational database. Students look at various ways to store data efficiently. Students use the problem-solving approach of the systems development life cycle to build their system.

Assessment

Each 10 credit subject (semester) requires students to complete:

Project Skills 70%

· A series of practical tasks which must be retained in a folio.

Digital Solutions 30%

· Students document the design of their chosen product

· Students create the product that they have designed