Computer Science - Year 8

Computer Science Overview

Term 1 & 2: Computing Systems

This unit takes learners on a tour through the different layers of computing systems: from programs and the operating system, to the physical components that store and execute these programs, to the fundamental binary building blocks that these components consist of. Learners will attempt to define the term ‘artificial intelligence’, and explore the kinds of problems that it has traditionally dealt with. They will also focus on machine learning, and investigate its relationship with conventional programming, and the ethical considerations that are tied into building any system that makes decisions.

  1. 30 minute in class assessment
Input

Data which is inserted into a system.

Output

Data which is sent out of a system.

Storage

The part of a computer that stores data.

Processor

Has the electronic circuitry that manipulates input data into the information people want.

Computational Thinking

Using a set of techniques and approaches to help to solve complex problems, so that they can be understood by a human or a machine.

Computer

An electronic device that takes input, processes data, and outputs a result according to the instructions of a variable program. It may also communicate, and store processed data.

Data

Units of information (integers, characters and Boolean).

Operating system

The software that manages the hardware and software resources in a computer system.

Program

Sequences of instructions for a computer.

Artificial Intelligence

AI—any system that performs tasks that typically require intelligence in humans.

Machine learning

Programming computers to learn from experience.

Software

Any parts of a computer system that aren't physical (programs, applications, data)

Hardware

The physical parts of a computer system, e.g. a graphics card, hard disk drive

Logic gates

Circuit components which take one or more inputs, compare the inputs with each other, and provide a single output based on logical functions such as AND, OR and NOT

Boolean

A data type in computing which only has two possible values, true or false.

Truth table

Used to assess possible results of a Boolean algebra statement.

AND

Both input A AND Input B have to be 1 (or ON) in order for the output to be 1

OR

Either input A OR input B has to be 1 (or ON) in order for the output to be 1

NOT

The output of A (1 for ON or 0 for OFF) is opposite the value of the input

  • Spiritual
  • Moral
  • Social
  • Cultural
Develop the individual:

Create a supportive community:

Terms 2 & 3: Representations: From Clay to Silicon

Humans use symbols to record, process and transmit information. This unit introduces binary digits as the symbols computers use to perform these tasks with a focus on the representation of text and numbers.

  1. In class summative end of unit quiz.
Binary Digit (bit)

The smallest unit of data in computing. It is represented by a 0 or a 1. 

Binary Number System

Binary is a number system that only uses two digits: 1 and 0. The binary system is known as a 'base 2' system.

Byte

The basic unit of information in computer storage and processing. A byte consists of 8 adjacent binary digits (bits), each of which consists of a 0 or 1.

Coding Scheme

Associates each character with a sequence of symbols.

Decimal Number System

Decimal is a term that describes the base-10 number system. The decimal number system consists of ten single- digit numbers: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. 

Decoding

The conversion of an encoded format back into the original sequence of characters.

Encoding

The process of putting a sequence of characters into a specialised format for efficient transmission or storage.

Number Base

The number base specifies how many digits are used (Including Zero).

Representation

Refers to the form in which data is stored, processed, and transmitted.

Representation size/length

The number of symbols that a representation contains.

  • Spiritual
  • Moral
  • Social
  • Cultural
Develop the individual:

Create a supportive community:

Terms 4-6: Python programming 1

This unit introduces learners to text-based programming with Python. The lessons form a journey that starts with simple programs involving input and output, and gradually moves on through arithmetic operations, randomness, selection, and iteration.

  1. Summative quiz (30 minutes), number guessing program
Algorithm

a set of step-by-step instructions to solve a problem

Program

a sequence of instructions to perform tasks with computer

Syntax

rules governing how to write statements in a programming language

Syntax error

An error in a programming language caused by not using the correct syntax. These are normally spelling errors or small grammatical mistakes.

Logic error

a fault in the logic or structure of the problem

Programming language

a language used by a programmer to write a piece of software

Python

a high-level programming language

Data type

the format in which a variable or constant holds data, such as ‘integer’ or ‘string’

Bug

an error in a program

Debug

the process of finding and correcting programming errors

Commenting

adding one or more sentences to explain the purpose of a section of code

Execute

to run a computer program

String

A sequence of characters often stored as a variable in a computer program. These characters can include numbers, letters and symbols.

Boolean

a data type in computing which only has two possible values, true or false

Variable

A memory location within a computer program where values are stored.

  • Spiritual
  • Moral
  • Social
  • Cultural
Develop the individual:

Create a supportive community: