Students will study several aspects of basic programming, gaining a sound understanding of text based coding, knowledge they could use to progress onto the GCSE with a smoother transition. They will study:-
The use of Modules within Programming Languages
Students will gain a range of knowledge in several key theoretical topics, in this topic they will be looking at how data is used in a computer system and the relationship between hardware components and software. Looking into how integral they both are for a functioning computer system.
Students will develop an understanding of binary in a computer system, how binary relates to switches and those switches being on or off. Students will develop an understanding of binary addition and binary shifts to gain a head start of the GCSE content.
Students will discover how text and images are stored in a file and what metadata goes along with that file. Students will gain an understanding they are not just taking a photo but that photo also stores key information and where they were, file size, resolution. There will also be a focus on what happens to files when the picture contains more colours.
Communication with computers is a worldwide technique and there are many ways this can be accomplished. Students will gain a basic understanding of how and why you would use a network of computers to communicate. They will also gain an understanding to how this is achieved in home and at school.
Students will study binary logic and logic gates, looking into some of the GCSE logic gates and how they function. This will also link to programming and how sometimes you need to utilise true or false scenarios to achieve your outcome.
Algorithms are an everyday part of life, from brushing your teeth to playing a video game. Sorting data into a specific order is a vital skill used in databases, spreadsheets and programming. Students will discover the concept of why you might want to do this, looking into a few sorting algorithms, which one might be best to use for a specific role and why that might be