KS4

ICT KS4

ICT

Unit 1: Understanding computer systems, assessed through a written exam 1 hour in length.

Topics include: Understanding how ICT can be used to meet business needs, know how to work with information and data to meet specified business needs, Know how ICT can be used to support business working practices, understand how legal, ethical, safety and security issues affect how computers should be used.

Unit 2: Using ICT to create business solutions, assessed through a piece of controlled coursework.

In this unit they will show that; they can use advanced features of email software, they understand email etiquette, they are competent in producing advertising materials, they can use common features of Spreadsheet and Database software and that they have a good understanding of standard ways of working when using ICT equipment.

Unit 6: Creating digital images – students use advanced editing tools and features to produce a number of creative and high quality images that they either take themselves, or source off the Internet, to match the brief: “The camera never lies, or does it!”

Unit 7: Creating dynamic products using sound and vision – students use advanced movie editing tools and features in Movie making software to produce a short film to promote a local band. They also add edited audio tracks to enhance the quality of their product.

Each of these units will be assessed through a piece of controlled coursework

Computing

Hardware, Software and Logic

This unit provides a good overview of the workings and functions of a computer, the function of an operating system and different types of software. It also helps develop an understanding of binary numbers, logic gates and sequencing of instructions. This is assessed by a written paper, which has a mixture of short- and long answer questions, some of which require students to write program code.

Programming

Students must plan, write, test and evaluate a simple program. They create solutions to computing tasks chosen from a set of options supplied by OCR (controlled assessment).

Trends in Computing

Students are expected to research a computing-related technology (such as mobile phones, social networks) and communicate these findings through a presentation/report. This will be on a topic chosen from a set of options supplied by OCR (controlled assessment).

Specification

Homework

1 hour per week, often tasks in Computing will involve research of topics prior to a taught lesson so that students have some prior knowledge, there are many videos on You Tube and the GCSE Computing online MOOC (massive open online course)
In ICT often homework will involve students learning skills necessary for a series of lessons.