Computing

The aims of the Computing department at Key Stage 3 are:

• To develop the relevance of Computer Science, Digital Literacy and Information Technology to students’ lives, personal experiences and futures, to give them motivation to succeed in the subject and make learning enjoyable for them.
• To help students follow enquiries and solve problems, and enhance their skills in logical reasoning, questioning, analysis and research.
• To enable students to try out ideas, seek innovative alternatives, take risks with their thinking and make new connections without fear of failure.
• Encourage reflection on the growing use of technology and on its social, ethical and cultural implications for individuals and society.

Year 7

• Baseline assessment
• Introduction to the school network and good working practices
• eSafety Briefings
  – Cyberhygiene
  – Online grooming
  – Online reputation / digital footprints
• Termly projects
  – Impact of computers on our lives
  – Augmented / Virtual Reality
  – Robotics
• Discrete programming lessons
  – Advanced problem solving and Scratch Programming
  – BBC Microbits and physical computing
• Unit A : How Computers Work
  This unit will provide an introduction to different types of computer systems and the components which are used to make them. We will consider the difference between hardware and software and take a brief look at operating systems, system and application software. We will introduce data storage and data handling techniques involving binary encoding and character sets. This unit will have a Digital Literacy focus on basic Word Processing techniques. This unit will be assessed through a terminal multiple choice test and a ‘Takeaway’ homework task.
• Unit B : Algorithms to Live By
  In this second unit, we will focus on some of the algorithms which drive our lives, mainly searching and sorting plus a little foray into the world of ‘Big Data’. The unit will have a Digital Literacy focus on basic Spreadsheet usage. This unit will be assessed through a terminal multiple choice test and a ‘Takeaway’ homework task.
• Unit C : Networks
  Without networks, the worlds ICT infrastructure would simply not function. This unit introduces a straightforward treatment of networking hardware, some of the common protocols in use on the Internet, compression and encryption techniques and why we use them plus an introduction to the software services like email, document collaboration and the structure of the Internet and the relationship to the World Wide Web. There will be a Digital Literacy focus on basic Presentation software. This unit will be assessed through a terminal multiple choice test and a ‘Takeaway’ homework task.

Year 8

• Recap Assessment
• Good practice reminders
• eSafety Briefings
  – Online Gaming
  – Sexting and media sharing
  – Screentime and the effect on health
• Termly projects
  – Artificial Intelligence
  – The effect of gaming on society
  – Autonomous vehicles
• Discrete programming lessons
  – Small Basic text and graphics based programming
  – Raspberry Pi and physical computing
• Unit D : The World Wide Web
  In this unit, students will look carefully at the design and use of the World Wide Web and effective use of web browsers. We will learn how to create simple and slightly more complex web pages by editing HTML, CSS and Javascript code before moving onto consider attribution and accreditation of resources and recapping compression and encryption techniques. There is a Digital Literacy focus on advanced Word Processing techniques during this unit. This unit will be assessed through a terminal multiple choice test and a ‘Takeaway’ homework task.
• Unit E : Sound, Camera, Action
  This is a more creative unit which will teach students about digital images, video and sound. We will learn about vector and bitmap graphics including common filetypes and use images, video and sound to produce digital artefacts. We will recap compression techniques, attribution and accreditation and create some funny animations. There is a Digital Literacy focus on Desktop Publishing in this unit. This unit will be assessed through a terminal multiple choice test and a ‘Takeaway’ homework task.
• Unit F : Cyber Security
  Finally, at KS3, we will take a lot at the very hot topic of Cyber Security including the threats we are faced with and some of the potential solutions. There is a mixed Digital Literacy Focus on word processing, spreadsheets, presentation and desktop publishing techniques. This unit will be assessed through a terminal multiple choice test and a ‘Takeaway’ homework task.

Key Stage 3 Assessment

Each unit (A through F) will end with a straightforward multiple choice quiz which will provide immediate feedback to the students on their attainment. Each term, there is also a longer term project which focuses the students on research and analysis techniques which are important to develop for further study at GCSE Computer Science and beyond. Finally, each term, there will be a ‘Takeaway Homework’ style activity which relates to each of the main taught units and a broader project based task.

Extra Curricular Opportunities

The department will offer the following extra curricular activities at Key Stage 3 …

• Codeclub (https://www.codeclub.org.uk/)
• iDEA Duke of York Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award (https://idea.org.uk/)
• Bebras UK Junior / Intermediate Challenges (http://www.bebras.uk/)

How you can help to support their son’s / daughter’s learning

• Regular checking of homework
• Ask your child questions about what they are learning
• Encourage your child to use computers to enhance their learning
• Encourage the use of the Internet for its educational purpose
• Keep up to date with technological advances

One of the key aims of Key Stage 3 Computing is to provide your son / daughter with an understanding of Computer Science, Digital Literacy and Information Technology, equip them with some of the core skills necessary to allow them to be successful in the digital world and prepare them for further study beyond the key stage.

If you have any queries, please contact Mr M Mills – m.mills@eatonbank.org