Computer Science

AQA 7517 Mr Bryan Moore Computer Science

Why Computer Science?

The answer is very straight forward! Consider your everyday life – everything that you do now, without you realising it, is either controlled by a computer, supervised by a computer, stored by a computer or processed and used by a computer. From how you play, to how you work, how your house is designed and built, to how you travel, to how your food is grown and delivered, to how you are educated, to how you live your everyday life there is a computer involved somewhere down the line. Those who understand how a computer works, how a computer can be used in research, be it in medicine, exploration, the entertainment world, food and product manufacture, control, organisation or space exploration and how to solve problems by programming, are constantly in high demand. This course will help you develop an understanding of the nature and principles of computing, and knowledge and understanding of the techniques used to design and write programs. I chose Computer Science because I want to be part of the future of technology.

What do I need to know or be able to do before taking Computer Science?

Pupils following this course do not need to have any prior knowledge of computing or ICT. The course is not about learning to use tools or just training in a programming language. Instead the emphasis is on your computational thinking. If you have good mathematical skills you will find both practical programming and many of the theoretical concepts more manageable. We would normally expect you to have a GCSE in Mathematics at grade 6 or higher.

What will I learn?

You will learn about all the components of a computer system (hardware and software), how they work and how they interact. You will do a lot of practical work, gaining skills in using modern software and in particular in learning to write useful, working computer programs in Python. You will also develop an understanding of the consequences of using computers, including social, legal, and ethical issues, an awareness of emerging technologies and an appreciation of their impact on society.

Who is this course suitable for?

Pupils who enjoy problem solving, mathematics and computer programming will be well suited to the subject. The subject is one that works well as a package with maths and/or the sciences, and ideally be combined with A-level mathematics for applicants intending to study a degree related to Computer Science or any other STEM subject at university.

How is the course assessed?

You will be assessed by two 2 hour 30 min on-screen examinations and a non-exam assessment (NEA) programming project. The NEA project represents 20% of the final grade and is worked on independently. Your ongoing progress will be assessed from the following list of diverse topics:

• • • • • • • • • Fundamentals of Programming Fundamentals of Data Structures Fundamentals of Algorithms Theory of Computation Fundamentals of Data Representation Fundamentals of Computer Systems Computer Organisation and Architecture Consequences of Uses of Computing Fundamentals of Communication and • • • • Networking Fundamentals of Databases Big Data Fundamentals of Functional Programming Systematic Approach to Problem Solving

What could I go on and do at the end of my course?

The course has been designed for pupils who wish to go on to higher education courses or employment where knowledge of computing in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics would be beneficial. Having studied Computer Science at A level, pupils can go on to a career in computing, engineering, medicine, law, business, or any type of science. Your problem solving skills developed in this course can also be applied to many situations. It is therefore not surprising that many businesses are managed by people who have studied Computer Science.