GCSEComputing

Course Aims• This course will help you understand

the latest technologies & how they work.

• You will lean how to develop computer programs to solve

problems.

The average salary for jobs in Computing is

£37,500That is a VERY GOOD salary!

Course Content• Unit A451: Computer Systems and

Programming Exam – 90 mins – 40%

• Unit A452: ComputingControlled Assessment – Approx. 20 hours – 30%

• Unit A453: ProgrammingControlled Assessment – Approx. 20 hours – 30%

You can get an A*-G grade

Your writing is also marked!

Make sure your writing can be read and your spelling, punctuation and grammar are accurate

Unit A452: Computing

Practical Investigation• Practical activity

• Investigate real world examples of computers in use

• Technical understanding• Creatively solving problems

• Testing, evaluation and conclusions

Unit A453: Programming

Programming project• Programming techniques

• Programming solutions to problems • Design

• Development• Testing & Evaluation

Unit A451: Computer Systems

& Programming Representation of data in computer systems• Units• Number• Character• Images• Sounds• Instructions Databases

• The database concept

• The DBMS• Relational databases

Computer systems• Legal issues• Reliability

Computing hardware and software• The Central

Processing Unit (CPU)• Binary logic• Memory• Input and output

devices• Secondary storage

Programming• Algorithms• Programming languages• Control flow in imperative

languages• Handling data in algorithms• Testing

Computer communications and networking• Networks• The internet

Computer Systems• Computers are all around us in one shape or another

• How many different types of computer systems can you find in this room? Don’t forget anything that might be in your bag!• Mobile phone• Calculator• Projector• Laptop• Computers• Printer• Watch

• MP3 players, digital television sets, satellite navigation systems

• etc.

How do we input data?

What happens when data in

input?

How is data stored?

How is data output?Can we share

data?

Input devices are used to enter data. E.g Mouse, Keyboard, Webcam.

When data is entered it is

converted to binary (1s and 0s) and then processed

Data can be stored in hard disk drives, or portable media

such as USB Drive

Information can be output on the screen, speaker,

projector etc

Networked computers can

share information and resources. We can also use the

internet

In groups• Use the A3 sheet to complete the mind map.

• Each group is given a different computer system. Discuss and explore• How data is input• How data is processed• How data is stored• How information in output• How we can communicate with other devices

Computer Systems• A system is a collection of parts that work together for a

common purpose. • For a system to be useful, it must produce something – an

output.• It needs to receive and process inputs in order to produce

outputs.

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

Embedded Systems• 5 minutes

• Use the internet to search for a definition of an Embedded System

• Share with the class

Embedded Systems• Software that is programmed to carry out a number of

dedicated functions. For example, the software to run a washing machine is stored on a computer chip and embedded into the system.