| Unit | Content |
|---|---|
| Unit 1 Inside the machine | This unit challenges students to look ‘under the hood’ of a computer, learning about input and output devices and the difference between hardware and software. They are taught about specific parts of the computer, starting with the central processing unit and continuing through the computer, focusing on the relationship between data, instructions, memory and storage. Students learn to understand the specifications of a computer, to identify its strengths and weaknesses, and to compare its performance with that of other types of machine. ‘What does the inside of my computer look like?’ is the key question that is addressed in this unit of work. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Students complete an end of topic assessment in the form of a multiple-choice and short-answer quiz in exam conditions. |
| Unit 2 Algorithms | This unit teaches students the principle of using algorithms to solve problems. Students gain a detailed understanding of the concept of an algorithm and learn to compare the efficacy of using algorithms against that of using heuristics. Students enjoy applying algorithms to problem-solving games, card tricks and real-life map-drawing problems. They encounter advanced content such as bubble and insertion sorts, and linear and binary searches. Students also learn how to use a shortest-path algorithm to get from point A to point B on a map. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Students complete an end of topic assessment in the form of a multiple-choice and short-answer quiz in exam conditions. |
| Units 3 & 4 Representing data and logic | This unit spans Term 3 and 4 and teaches students the concept of binary. How and why do computers use binary? What are the origins of that number system? How is binary converted to and from denary? How it is used in computers to represent our data? How can bits be manipulated using logic gates? How can billions of bits be stored as bytes, kilo-bytes and mega-bytes? Students learn to answers to these key questions in this unit on the representation of data and logic in computers. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Students complete an end of topic assessment in the form of a multiple-choice and short-answer quiz in exam conditions. |
| Unit 5 Networks and encryption | This unit takes students on a journey through the world of networking and encryption. Students learn the basic structure and hardware of commonly used networks, focusing on both smaller, local networks and larger, wide-area networks such as the internet. They also learn how data is kept safe on networks through the use of encryption. Students learn the basics of shift and substitution ciphers and study how the work of Alan Turing helped bring an end to World War II. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Students complete an end of topic assessment in the form of a multiple-choice and short-answer quiz in exam conditions. |
| Unit 6 Developing text-based programming | In this final unit of Year 8, students develop their ability to write code in a text-based programming language. This unit builds on the knowledge acquired in the final unit of Year 7. Students revisit and extend their knowledge of various programming constructs through the creation of programs written in Python. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Students complete an end of topic assessment in the form of a multiple-choice and short-answer quiz in exam conditions. |
