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Knowledge & Skills

The Knowledge and Skills overviews show the specific computer science content students will learn in each unit of study throughout the year. These documents outline both the substantive knowledge (programming concepts, hardware systems, and computational theory) and the disciplinary skills (coding techniques, algorithmic thinking, and digital problem-solving) that students will develop. Each unit is broken down to clearly identify what students need to know and what they should be able to do upon completion. Through the systematic development of both knowledge and skills, students build digital literacy, logical reasoning capabilities, and creative computing approaches appropriate to their stage of learning.

Select a unit to find out more... 

E-Safety
 

Unit Progress Criteria
Knowledge Skills
  • Students understand the dangers and risks of online activity including
    -Grooming
    -Predatory Adults
    -Sexting
    -Cyberbullying
    -Insecure passwords
    -Viruses
    -Phishing
    -Excessive screen time
  • Students know a variety of techniques for managing their online risks
  • Students know how to report dangers
  • Students know about the different kinds of online relationships and how these compare with real life relationships
  • Students know about some of the pressures that are associated with online activity
  • Use correct language in an approproate manner
  • Engage in open, respectful and mature discussion
  • Have a realistic understanding of size of risk of the dangers
  • Access a number of different online sources to find further information as appropriate to need
  • Access a number of different reporting lines as appropriate to need
  • Demonstrate the ability to assess and reduce risk
  • Able to identify potential warning signs of grooming activity
  • Able to set a secure password
  • Able to correctly use privacy settings
  • Able to manage different types of online relationships
  • Are able to take steps to build their Digital Resilience and improve their digital well being
  • Use correct language in an appropriate manner
  • Engage in open, respectful and mature discussion
  • Have a realistic understanding of size of risk of the dangers
  • Access a number of different reporting lines as appropriate to need
  • Demonstrate the ability to assess and reduce risk

Digital Literacy
 

Unit Progress Criteria
Knowledge Skills
  • Basic computer literacy: Knowing the names of the basic parts of the computer (mouse, keyboard, monitor, machine)
  • Functional skills: Know that technology is a took to solve problems and complete tasks effectively. 
  • Windows Explorer: Know what windows explorer is and that it is used to navigate the computer's file system, create folders, and organise files. 
  • Network navigation: Know the names and uses of the key network locations (shared documents, my documents, pictures, downloads, desktop)
  • File management: Know the steps to take to copy, move, and delete files or folders.
  • Email communication: Knowing the steps to compose, send, and reply to an email effectively.
  • Document creation: Know the uses of the different Microsoft packages
  • Image use: Know the importance of using appropriate, high-quality images.
  • Spreadsheet basics: Know the basic spreadsheet terminology (cells, rows, columns, formula, functions)
  • Formatting skills: Know the importance of applying fonts, colours, and layouts to make work more presentable.
  • Feedback and evaluation: Awareness if how to give and receive constructive feedback to improve digital work.
  • Self-directed learning: Understanding the importance of trying out new ideas and problem-solving independently. 
  • Quality standards: Knowing the characteristics of high-quality digital products
  • Creative thinking: recognising the value of creativity within constraints or specifications. 
  • Navigate file systems: Navigate the computer and network folders using Windows Explorer
  • Create and manage folders: Create, rename, move, and organise folders.
  • Submit assignments: Access Google Classroom, attach files and submit assignments. 
  • Document creation: Create and edit documents with appropriate formatting (fonts, sizes, colours)
  • Collaboration: Share documents with peers and teachers and manage permissions
  • Email skills: Compose, send, reply to, and forward emails. 
  • Download and save: Save images, documents, and other resources from the internet to appropriate locations. 
  • Insert and format images: Inset high-quality, relevant images and adjust their size and position.
  • Use autoshapes and text boxes: Add and customise shapes, text boxes, and WordArt.
  • Lists and bullets: create and format bulleted and numbered lists. 
  • Modify layouts: Change the layout of documents to suit the task or audience. 
  • Spreadsheet entry: Enter text and numerical data into spreadsheets accurately.
  • Spreadsheet formatting: Apply formatting to make data more readable (bold, italics, borders)
  • Basic formulas: Perform basic calculations in spreadsheets (e.g. SUM, AVERAGE)
  • Template and theme use: Use and modify templates and themes to meet specific needs.
  • Quality assessments: Evaluate work critically and improve it based on feedback. 
  • Creative development: Develop original idea while adhering to a brief or specification. 
  • Image selection: Select images thoughtfully, ensuring appropriateness and quality.
  • Feedback application: Improve work by implementing constructive feedback from peers and teachers.
  • Self-evaluation: Reflect on and assess personal work to identify areas for improvement. 

Programming 1
 

Unit Progress Criteria
Knowledge Skills
  • An algorithm is an ordered sequence of instructions that is used by humans and computers to complete an activity in the same way every time.
  • Know what a variable is, how to create one (including naming rules) and change its value and why they are needed (both in the real world and on the computer)
  • Know the basic input/process/output model and how this is used in programs (both in the real world and on the computer)
  • Know the basic input/process/output model and how this is used in programs (both in the real world and on the computer)
  • Know the meaning of the key terms sequence/selection/iteration and are able to identify the constructs in a program and in the real world
  • Know what a variable is and why it is used
  • Know what the term decomposition means
  • Know the technical terminology for the elements in the programming environment.
  • Are able to follow and create a simple sequence of instructions and understand the impact of changes (both manually and using a computer)
  • Are able to use basic boolean logic to work out when a simple condition is true and when it is false; know that a true/false can only ever have two values
  • Are able to use selection statements with comparison (<,>,=)
  • Are able to use selection statements with logic operators (AND/OR/NOT)
  • Are able to use, modify and create a selection construct with only two alternatives
  • Are able to test programs, identify and fix errors (debugging)
  • Are able to create, use and modify variables
  • Are able to apply the above skills on numerous projects of increasing complexity.

Fundamentals of computing
 

Unit Progress Criteria
Knowledge Skills
Computing history and context
  • Key early computing pioneers (eg. Alan Turing, Ada Lovelace)
  • Significant milestones in computing development
  • Evolution of computing devices from mechanical calculators to modern computers
  • Describe the contributions of key figures in computing history
  • Explain how computing technology has changed over time
  • Identify major technological breakthroughs in computing
Computer system fundamentals
  • Definition of input (data entering the system)
  • Understanding of processing (manipulation of data)
  • Concept of output (result of processing)
  • Purpose of data storage in computing systems
  • Identify input, process and output stages in different scenarios
  • Explain how data is transformed through computer processing
  • Demonstrate understanding of why each stage is important
Computer Processing Cycle
  • Basic fetch/decode/execute cycle components
  • How instructions are processed by a computer
  • Role of different computer components in instruction processing. 
  • Describe the steps in the fetch/decode/execute cycle
  • Explain how a computer follows a set of instructions
  • Illustrate the basic workflow of computer processing
Hardware and Software
  • Identify different computer hardware components
  • Explain the purpose of each hardware compenent
  • Distinguish between input and output devices
  • Types of software:
    - Office applications
    - Web browsers
    - Email clients
    - Games
    - Mobile apps
  • Role of operating system in managing computer resources.
  • Definition of hardware (physical components)
  • Definition of software (instructions and programs)
  • Differences in how hardware and software function
  • Identify input, process, and output stages in different scenarios
  • Explain how data is transformed through computer processing
  • Demonstrate understanding of why each stage is important
  • Categorise different types of software
  • Explain the purpose of various software applications
  • Understand how an operating system controls program execution
  • Distinguish between hardware and software
  • Provide examples of hardware and software
  • Explain how hardware and software work together
Programs and instructions
  • Concept of a program as a set of instructions
  • Understanding of general purpose computing systems
  • How computers interpret and execute instructions
  • Describe what a computer program is
  • Explain how a computer follows a set of instructions
  • Demonstrate basic understanding of programming concepts.