Cotswold_School_Logo_CMYK_100_72_0_0-01

Topic title: Component 1 Contemporary computer systems

Year group: 12/13

When taught: September to May

What are we learning?

  • The characteristics of contemporary processors including different processor architectures and the factors that affect performance.
  • Range of input and output devices for computer systems and embedded systems.
  • The pros and cons of the technology used for storage options including magnetic, optical, solid state and cloud.
  • Application and system software, methodologies for developing software and programming languages.
  • Methods of exchanging data including compression, hashing and encryption.
  • Relational databases including data structure, normalisation, SQL and data integrity.
  • Characteristics of networks, protocols, security, network hardware together with pros and cons of client-server and peer to peer networks.
  • Web technologies including HTML, CSS and JavaScript, search engine indexing and PageRank algorithm.
  • Data representation in binary, data types, data structures and Boolean Algebra.
  • Legislation and ethical issues surrounding the use of computers.

Why is this important to know? 

  • To enable students to understand the factors that affect performance so that they can choose appropriate systems for their applications.
  • To help students to gain background knowledge on the value of different software languages and IDEs.
  • To give students the skills they need to develop their own websites should they wish to in the future.
  • To provide students with an insight into how data is exchanged securely from one computer system network to another.
  • To understand the laws, opportunities, advantages and effects that computer technology has on careers, society and the environment.

Where does this link into our past and future learning? 

  • This links to learning in KS4 when students considered computer system architecture, networks, binary representation as well as legal and ethical issues.
  • Much of this knowledge is needed for component 2 (algorithms and programming and component 3 (NEA project).
  • This theory will give you background knowledge for a range of IT, cyber security and computer science courses at university and apprenticeships.

How will we be assessed on this topic?

  • There will be topic assessments throughout the year and external assessments in May in Yr12 and Yr13.

What makes a strong piece of work in this topic?  What are teachers hoping to see?  

  • An ability to define key components and processes accurately and coherently.
  • Referral to scenarios provided in the questions.
  • The ability to compare and justify the use of computer systems, networks, web technologies and storage devices in different scenarios.

What key words are there in this topic?

Quizlet

What can I try if I want to stretch and challenge myself on this topic?

Develop your problem solving skills using sites such as:-