Core IT
Core IT
| Subject | ICT |
| Qualification & Level ( e.g. GCSE, BTEC, Level 1,2) |
OCR Level ½ Cambridge National Certificate in ICT requires 120 GLH in total |
| Assessment ( e.g. % coursework / exam) | 25% Exam: 75% Coursework ( TBC) |
| Board (e.g. Edexcel) | OCR |
| Course Description | From personal computers to smartphones, from apps to websites, all of our lives, every day, are enhanced through the use of ICT. The new Cambridge Nationals in ICT reflect this and provide students with a solid foundation for understanding and applying this subject in their future working lives. The course consists of 2 Mandatory Units and 2 optional units and is equivalent to 1 GCSE. Mandatory Units 1& 2 Unit 1: Understanding computer systems Will give students a solid base to develop knowledge and understanding of computer systems and the implications of working with data to enable them to use computers effectively. Unit 2: ICT for Business Solutions Students will refine their existing knowledge of computers to reflect the working practices of the commercial world. This includes using a wide range of software efficiently. This unit is assessed through an exam which counts for 25% of the overall grade. Optional Units 5 & 6 ( TBC) Unit 5: Creating An Interactive Product Students will be able to develop and demonstrate their creative flair by combining multimedia components to create a vibrant energetic or stimulating webpage or interactive product. This unit is assessed through coursework in which pupils have to complete tasks relating to a chosen scenario. Unit 6: Creating digital Images This unit will enable students to acquire the underpinning knowledge and skills to enable them to create, edit, enhance and save different types of digital image. |
| What kind of pupil would suit this course? | One who wishes to build on basic ICT skills already learned. |
Curriculum Plan
Year 9 – Autumn Term
|
Problem Solving Activities??? |
|
Course intro & key concepts. Intro to Python & Programming |
|
Problem solving: ways of describing problems |
|
Develop Code: error messages, debugging etc. |
|
Problem Solving – decomposition. Input/Output |
|
Problem Solving: analyse problem, design solution using decomposition |
|
What is a computer: H/ware vs S/ware. Input/process/output model |
|
Problem Solving Activites??? |
|
Python IDLE and programming |
|
Operators: arithmetic operators, order of precedence and parenthesis |
|
Data Types, Variables and Input |
|
Formatting input/output .format |
|
Selection Constructs and relational operators: if, then, else |
|
Programming: input-process-output model. Selection constructs, writing readable code: elif, randint() |
|
Binary: introduction and representation of unsigned integers |
|
Binary: consolidate previous lesson, computational thinking |
|
Binary: representation of unsigned integers, binary arithmetic (addition) |
|
Binary: representation of signed and unsigned integers |
|
Hexadecimal: what is it and why is it used? Converting hex-binary-hex |
|
Techniques to improve code readability and understanding |
|
Flowcharts and Boolean operators |
|
Boolean operators, logic, and truth tables |
|
Pseudo-code |
|
Data types: string manipulation and string methods |
Year 9 – Spring Term
|
High and low level programming languages |
|
Translating programming languages |
|
Hardware: the function of internal components |
|
Operating systems: files, hardware and the user interface. |
|
Operating Systems: processes |
|
Networks. LANs & WANs |
|
Client-server and Peer-to-Peer |
|
Network Data Speeds. Wired and Wireless Connectivity |
|
Network Topologies |
|
Repetition construct: for loops, range function |
|
Repetition construct: for loops, continued |
|
Repetition construct: while loop, flowcharts |
|
Pseudo-code and built-in subprograms: random function |
|
Data types & structures: 2 dimensional arrays & nested ‘for’ loops |
|
Validation: try |
|
Subprograms: procedures, functions, return, passing parameters |
|
Local and global variables |
Year 9 Summer Term
|
Introduction to protocols |
|
Protocols |
|
Layered protocol stacks (TCP/IP) and packets |
|
Boolean Logic |
|
Boolean Logic |
|
Boolean Logic |
|
Data Representation: Text |
|
Data Representation: Text |
|
Constants |
|
Environmental impact of technology |
|
Environmental impact of technology on society |
|
Errors and debugging tools in an Integrated Development Environment |
|
Library sub-programs: import modules |
|
Understanding the ethical impact of using technology (privacy, inclusion, professionalism) on society |
|
Understanding the ethical impact of using technology (privacy, inclusion, professionalism) on society |
|
Reading and writing to files |
Software
- Audacity (free open source, cross-platform software for recording and editing sounds) available to download from www.audacity.sourceforge.net
- Python (free open source software) available to download from www.python.org/getit/
Python resources
- Official Python documentation (also available through help in IDLE): www.docs.python.org/3/
- Python summer school from Anglia Ruskin University is an excellent resource with videos and programming challenges: https://www.pythonschool.net/
- Python code for kids is a clearly written summary of the Python language written in accessible language: www.pythondictionary.code-it.co.uk/
- ‘Python in 10 minutes’ is a quick run through of the basic concepts: www.korokithakis.net/tutorials/python/
- ‘Quintin Cutts – Too much doing, not enough understanding’ is a 20-minute video containing useful ideas and concepts on how to teach programming: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pim4aYfiZiY
Free online books
- Think Python How to Think Like a Computer Scientist is a free online book with programming challenges at the end of each chapter: www.greenteapress.com/thinkpython/thinkpython.pdf
- A Byte of Python is an excellent online book, though it does not use IDLE as the editor: www.swaroopch.com/notes/Python/
Books
- Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner, M. Dawson (published Course Technology 2010) (ISBN 9781435455009) is an excellent book with clear explanations of each bit of code together with free downloads and example games built into each chapter.
- Python for Kids: A Playful Introduction to Programming, J. Briggs (published No Starch Press 2013) (ISBN 9781593274078).
Year 10 – Autumn Term
|
Problem Solving Activities |
|
What is a computer: H/ware vs S/ware. Input/process/output model |
|
Binary: introduction and representation of unsigned integers |
|
Binary: consolidate previous lesson, computational thinking |
|
Binary: representation of unsigned integers, binary addition |
|
Binary: representation of signed and unsigned integers |
|
Hexadecimal: what is it and why is it used? Converting hex-binary-hex |
|
High and low level programming languages |
|
Translating programming languages |
|
Hardware: the function of internal components |
|
Operating systems: files, hardware and the user interface. |
|
Operating Systems: processes |
|
Networks. LANs & WANs |
|
Client-server and Peer-to-Peer |
|
Network Data Speeds. Wired and Wireless Connectivity |
|
Network Topologies |
Year 10 – Spring Term
|
Introduction to protocols |
|
Protocols |
|
Layered protocol stacks (TCP/IP) and packets |
|
Boolean Logic |
|
Constants |
|
Environmental impact of technology |
|
Environmental impact of technology on society |
|
Errors and debugging tools in an IDE |
|
Library sub-programs: import modules |
|
Boolean Logic |
|
Data Representation: Text |
|
Data representation: bitmaps |
|
Data representation: sound |
|
Understanding the ethical impact of using technology |
|
Reading and writing to files |
|
Dictionaries |
|
Programming: decomposition, error checking and testing |
|
Programming challenge 2, part one: Maths quiz |
|
Programming challenge 2, part two: Maths quiz |
|
Problem solving: standard algorithms |
|
Problem solving: standard algorithms 2 – linear search |
|
Reading CSV files |
|
Writing CSV Files |
Year 10 – Summer Term
|
Hardware: internal components |
|
Understanding the ethical impact of using technology |
|
Reading and writing to files |
|
Dictionaries |
|
Programming: decomposition, error checking and testing |
|
Programming challenge 2, part one: Maths quiz |
|
Problem solving: standard algorithms |
|
Problem solving: standard algorithms 2 – linear search |
|
Reading CSV files |
|
Writing CSV Files |
|
Network security: overview |
|
Network security: cyberattacks, social engineering, phishing and shoulder surfing |
|
Network security: USB devices, digital devices and eavesdropping |
|
Protect software from cyberattacks: Design & code reviews |
|
Protect software from cyberattacks: Secure Operating systems |
|
Protect software from cyberattacks: audit trails |