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ICT & Computer Science

Welcome to the ICT & Computer Science Department

"If we teach today as we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow." - John Dewey

Head of Department:

Mrs Kerai
e-mail: s.kerai@parkhighstanmore.org.uk

Key Stage 3

Computer Science and ICT are taught together at Key Stage 3, and include practical elements, such as programming, video making, image editing, game development, as well as theoretical elements to help students to understand the key concepts and be able to apply them. Students are also taught to be confident and safe users of commonly used digital technology (mobile phones, social media, the internet), and know what a crucial role computer science plays in our everyday lives. Key Stage 3 units of work aim to prepare: 

  • Students to be effective users of digital technology, and efficient in its use; 
  • Students to be able to use basic office applications, such as word processing and presentation software; 
  • Students to know how technology impacts individuals, society and the environment; 
  • Students to know how technology is used in the real world; 
  • Students to be able to analyse computational problems, and plan and write computer programs. 

Year 7

In Year 7, students are taught six units of work, which develop their skills and knowledge in ICT and Computer Science.

Students receive one lesson of ICT& Computer Science per week.

Autumn Spring Summer

Computer Crime and Cyber Security

Spreadsheet modelling

Encryption

Block programming using Scratch

Word processing skills

Game making using Kodu

Computer Crime and Cyber Security

Students begin with this unit to ensure that all students are familiar with the dangers involved with the use of technology, and know how to protect themselves from them. Students will learn about a variety of malware and computer threats. This unit also looks into the legal, and social aspects as well as the health & safety aspects of using computers and the internet.

Block programming using Scratch

Students are taught block programming to create simple games and animations using Scratch software. In this unit, students gain the basic programming skills of logically planning steps, using sequence, selection and loops, and knowing how to use variables in a program.

Spreadsheet modelling

In this unit, students learn the concept of spreadsheets and why spreadsheets are useful.  They will learn the basic features of a spreadsheet and skills such as populating cells, carrying out calculations and understanding cell referencing. They will collect, analyse, and manipulate data, before turning it into graphs and charts.

Word processing skills

Students will start the unit by using word processing software to explore a range of formatting tools, and then they will be given a document to format using these tools. For the rest of the unit, the students will develop a deeper understanding of information technology and digital literacy by using their skills across the unit to create a blog post about a real-world cause that they are passionate about and would like to gain support for.

Encryption

In this unit students will learn a few ways of encrypting messages and the importance of encryption. The main focus will be to learn about how computers use binary. They will use their newly acquired skills to translate to and from binary codes.

Game making using Kodu

The year culminates in students learning about game development, utilising their previously acquired knowledge from the second

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KS3 Assessment:

Home learning is allocated on a weekly basis by the department. It may be an isolated piece of work, a project, research or an alternative task which challenges the students to solidify their knowledge and / or extend it.

In the Summer Term, each student will sit a formal, internal exam which will consist of all elements taught throughout the course.  Appropriate preparation in the form of revision should be taken seriously with sufficient planning and organisation to ensure each student fulfils their potential.

Year 8

In Year 8, students are taught six units of work, which develop their skills and knowledge in ICT and Computer Science. Some units build on the Year 7 units.

Students receive two lesson of ICT & Computer Science per week.

Autumn Spring Summer

Computing systems

Digital graphics

Creating mobile apps

Programming in Python 1

Spreadsheet modelling

Creating digital video

Computing systems

This unit teaches the students about different layers of computing systems: from programs and the operating system to the physical components that store and execute these programs, to the fundamental binary building blocks that these components consist of. 

Digital graphics

Through this unit, students will be able to better understand the processes involved in creating vector graphics, which can be used to design anything from logos and icons to posters, board games, and complex illustrations. Students will be provided with the knowledge and tools to create their own vector graphics.

Programming in Python

This unit introduces the students to text-based programming with Python. Students will practice using variables, operators, inputs, outputs and assignments. They will use the three basic programming constructs used to control the flow of a program which they learnt about in Year 7. They will design programs through algorithms, then develop and test them.

Spreadsheet modelling

In this unit, students learn the concept of spreadsheets and why spreadsheets are useful.  They will learn the basic features of a spreadsheet and skills such as populating cells, carrying out calculations and understanding cell referencing. They will collect, analyse, and manipulate data, before turning it into graphs and charts. Note: Since Year 8s did not learn about spreadsheets last year, it has been included in their curriculum this year.

Creating mobile Apps

With the App market being so popular, this unit will take students through the entire process of creating their own mobile app. Building on the programming concepts used in previous units, they will perform user research, design their app, write the code for it, before finally evaluating and publishing it for others to use.

Creating digital video

In this unit, the students will be taught about basic filming skills, which include positioning and camera movement techniques. They will be taught how to plan, film and edit their own video and will learn about the technical aspects to consider when publishing videos for varying platforms and purposes.

Knowledge Organisers:

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KS3 Assessment:
Home learning is allocated on a weekly basis by each department. It may be an isolated piece of work, a project, research or an alternative task which challenges the students to solidify their knowledge and / or extend it.

In the Summer Term, each student will sit a formal, internal exam which will consist of all elements taught throughout the course.  Appropriate preparation in the form of revision should be taken seriously with sufficient planning and organisation to ensure each student fulfils their potential.

Year 9 

In Year 9 students will build on their knowledge from Year 7 and 8 with the units Cyber security, Programming in Python and Digital literacy.

Students receive two lesson of ICT & Computer Science per week.

Autumn Spring Summer

Cyber security

Physical computing using Micro:bits

Animation

Programming in Python 2

Digital literacy

Audio editing

Cyber security

In this unit, students learn about how cyber criminals use to steal data, disrupt systems, and infiltrate networks. The learners will start by considering the value their data holds and what organisations might use it for. They will then learn about social engineering and other common cybercrimes, and finally look at methods used as protection against these attacks.

Programming in Python 2

This unit builds on the programming skills which the students learnt in Year 8. Students will learn how data can be represented and processed in sequences, such as lists and strings. The lessons cover a range of operations on sequences of data, which range from accessing an individual element to manipulating the entire sequence.

Physical computing using Micro:bits

In this unit, students apply and enhance their Python programming skills in a new engaging context: physical computing, using the BBC Micro:bit. Students will learn about the components built into the Micro:bit, and will write simple programs that use these components to interact with the physical world. Students will also build a physical computing project. They will be required to select and design their project and apply what they have learnt by building a prototype.

Digital literacy

In this unit, students learn about digital literacy where some of the content taught in Year 7 and 8 is integrated into this unit to remind them how to be safe and efficient users of technology. Students are taught about: Digital footprints, causes of data loss, preventive measures for data loss, data security and related laws, basic email skills, storage units, digital memory, computer processors and mobile phone features.

Animation

In this unit students will discover how professionals create 3D animations using the industry-standard software package, Blender. Students will gain a greater understanding of how this important creative field is used to make the media products that we consume. They will learn basics of modelling, texturing, and animating.

Digital images and sounds

In this unit, students will make digital images and sounds, and discover how media is stored as binary code. They will compose images out of individual elements, mix elementary colours to produce new ones, take samples of analogue signals and then put their creations together as a final audio-visual product.

KS3 Assessment:

Home learning is allocated on a weekly basis by the department. It may be an isolated piece of work, a project, research or an alternative task which challenges the students to solidify their knowledge and / or extend it.

At the end of each unit the students are assessed either through a written paper, a practical task, or through a combination of both.

Key Stage 4

The department offers two courses at KS4: ICT and Computer Science. The students get taught both aspects in Year 7 -9, and have the option to pick one area to specialise in as they reach KS4.

In ICT, students learn how to use various application software, understand how pre-production documents are used in planning media products, and how to use digital tools to create different digital products.  Students also learn how to research, design, create and test their creations for projects.

In Computer Science, students learn how to thinking rationally and logically, solve programming tasks, learn how the insides of a computer work(hardware/software), be aware of where computing technology is used, and learn how to program.

ICT

Year 10 & 11

Students who choose ICT as an option at KS4 undertake the vocational course: Cambridge Nationals in Creative iMedia, offered by OCR.

The Cambridge Nationals in Creative iMedia will equip learners with a range of creative media skills and provide opportunities to develop transferable skills such as research, planning, and review, working with others and communicating creative concepts effectively. Through the use of these skills, learners will ultimately be creating fit-for-purpose creative media products.

Students must complete two compulsory units to gain the Award qualification (equivalent of half a GCSE) and must complete two further units (four in total) to again a certificate (equivalent of one GCSE).

Compulsory units:

  • R081: Pre-production skills

This unit will enable students to understand pre-production skills used in the creative and digital media sector. It will develop their understanding of the client brief, time frames, deadlines and preparation techniques that form part of the planning and creation process.

On completion of this unit, learners will understand the purpose and uses of a range of preproduction techniques. They will be able to plan pre-production of a creative digital media product to a client brief, and will understand how to review pre-production documents

  • R082: Creating digital graphics

This unit will teach the students about the basics of digital graphics editing for the creative and digital media sector. They will learn where and why digital graphics are used and what techniques are involved in their creation. This unit will develop the students’ understanding of the client brief, time frames, deadlines and preparation techniques as part of the planning and creation process.

On completion of this unit, students will understand the purpose and properties of digital graphics, and know where and how they are used. They will be able to plan the creation of digital graphics, create new digital graphics using a range of editing techniques and review a completed graphic against a specific brief.

Optional units:

  • R087: Creating interactive multimedia products

This unit will enable students to understand the basics of interactive multimedia products for the creative and digital media sector. They will learn where and why interactive multimedia is used and what features are needed for a given purpose. It will enable them to interpret a client brief, and to use time frames, deadlines and preparation techniques as part of the planning and creation process when creating an interactive multimedia product.

On completion of this unit, students will understand the purpose and properties of interactive multimedia products, be able to plan and create an interactive multimedia product to a client’s requirements and carry out a review of the final product.

  • R092: Developing digital games

This unit will enable students to understand the basics of creating digital games and their environments for the creative and digital media sector. It will enable them to create a playable game from an existing design or brief. It will enable them to interpret a client brief, and to use time frames, deadlines and preparation techniques as part of the planning and creation process when creating a digital game.

On completion of this unit, students will be aware of different types of digital games creation software, hardware and peripherals. They will be able to plan a digital game, create and edit the digital game and test the digital game with a client or focus group.

KS4 ICT (iMedia) Assessment 

Unit R081 is an examined unit which is externally assessed, and Units R082, R087 and R092 and project-based practical units which are internally assessed and moderated by the exam board.

Percentage of Coursework: 75%

Percentage Exam marks: 25%

Examination Board :

OCR

Course Specification:

Creative iMedia Level 1/2 Award/Certificate - J807, J817

Qualification obtained:

Creative iMedia Level 1/2 Award/Certificate

Useful Websites:

http://teach-ict.com/gcse_new/gcse_ict_home.html

Useful Reading Material:

OCR Cambridge Nationals Level 1/2 Creative iMedia

Computer Science

Year 10 

Students who have chosen computer science will be entered for the OCR GCSE Specification (J277).

KS4 Assessment 

All students who follow this course will be given home learning weekly.  Wider reading is always useful either from the websites offered, the textbook or as directed by their classroom teacher.

The qualification is assessed through external examinations. Students will need to complete the following two units over the course of two years.

  • Computer systems (01). Assessed through external examination worth 50% of their GCSE.
  • Computational thinking, algorithms, and programming (02). Externally assessed and worth 50% of their GCSE.

Year 11

GCSE Computer Science students would have been studying the theory elements for component 01 (Computer systems) worth 50% of the GCSE and component 02 (Computational thinking, algorithms, and programming) worth 50% of the GCSE. All theory elements of the course are examined in May/June.

KS4 Assessment 

In the Summer Term, each student will sit a formal, external exam which will consist of all elements taught throughout the course.  Appropriate preparation in the form of revision should be taken seriously with sufficient planning and organisation to ensure each student fulfils their potential.

Students completing GCSE Computer Science would be in a strong position to study Computer Science at A Level. It is complementary with Mathematics as well as the Sciences.

Examination Board :

OCR

Course Specification:

OCR J277 GCSE Computer Science (9-1) 

Qualification obtained:

GCSE Computer Science (9-1)

Additional Information

Useful Reading Material

OCR GCSE(9-1) Computer Science (PG Online)