Digital Technology

SPECIFIC AIMS OF THE DEPARTMENT

The ICT Department aims to:

develop, maintain and stimulate pupils’ curiosity, interest and enjoyment in using ICT;
develop pupils’ ability to formulate problems logically through the development of programs;
encourage pupils to develop personal qualities such as initiative, self-confidence and independence;
develop pupils’ ability to manage and present information effectively through the use of ICT; and
enable pupils to develop transferable ICT skills that can be applied to problem solving situations across all subjects.

OVERVIEW OF KEY STAGE 3 CURRICULUM

At Key Stage 3, Digital Technology is delivered over three lessons per fortnight. The course aims to introduce pupils to a programming as well as equipping pupils with appropriate ICT skills in a wide range of application areas.

YEAR 8 CURRICULUM

In Year 8, pupils study the following topics:

Basic Programming
Moviemaking
Word Processing

YEAR 9 CURRICULUM

In Year 9, pupils study the following topics:

Programming
Presentations
Spreadsheets

Year 10 CURRICULUM

In Year 10, pupils study the following topics:

Game Development
Web Design
Databases

OVERVIEW OF KEY STAGE 4 CURRICULUM

At Key Stage 4, the ICT Department offers Digital Technology (Programming and Multimedia) at GCSE Level. Pupils follow the CCEA specification. Digital Technology is delivered over six lessons per fortnight.

Unit 1: Digital Technology (30%)
This unit aims to equip pupils with knowledge and understanding of a range of technologies available for data storage, manipulation, presentation and transfer. Pupils will also evaluate the importance of data security and data legislation.

In this unit, pupils are required to study the following topics:

Digital data
Software
Database applications
Spreadsheet applications
Computer hardware
Network technologies
Cyberspace, network security and data transfer
Cloud technology
Ethical, legal and environmental impact of digital technology on wider society
Digital Applications

This unit is assessed in the form of a written examination. Pupils will have 1 hour to complete the assessment for this unit. Assessment of this unit will take place at the end of Year 11. Pupils’ work in this unit will be externally assessed.

Unit 2: (Multimedia): Digital Authoring Concepts (40%)
This unit aims to develop pupils understanding of the concepts involved in the development of digital systems.

In this unit, pupils are required to study the following topics:

Digital Solutions
Digital Development considerations
Multimedia applications
Data Development
Significance of testing and developing appropriate test plans
Evaluation of digitally authored systems against a set of user requirements

This unit is assessed in the form of a written examination. Pupils will have 1 hours 30 minutes to complete the assessment for this unit. Assessment of this unit will take place at the end of Year 12. Pupils’ work in this unit will be externally assessed

Unit 3: (Multimedia): Digital Authoring Practice (30%)
This unit aims to develop pupils’ skills in designing, developing and testing digital multimedia systems. In this unit, pupils are required to develop their practical skills by creating a website and relational database. This unit is assessed in the form of Controlled Assessment. Pupils will have 36 hours to complete the assessment for this unit. Assessment of this unit will take place at the end of Year 12. Pupils’ work in this unit will be internally assessed and externally moderated.

Unit 4 (Programming): Digital Development Concepts (40%)
This unit aims to develop pupils understanding of the trends in software development and the concepts involved in designing and building digital system using coded solutions.

In this unit, pupils are required to study the following topics:

Contemporary trends in software development
Digital data
Digital design principles
Programming constructs
Simple error handling techniques
Developing test plans and testing a solution
Evaluation of digitally authored systems against a set of user requirements

This unit is assessed in the form of a written examination. Pupils will have 1 hour 30 minutes to complete the assessment for this unit. Assessment of this unit will take place at the end of Year 12. Pupils’ work in this unit will be externally assessed.

Unit 5 (Programming): Digital Development Practice (30%)
This unit aims to develop pupils’ skills in designing, developing and testing coded solutions.
In this unit, pupils are required to create a digital solution using C#.
This unit is assessed in the form of Controlled Assessment. Pupils will have 36 hours to complete the assessment for this unit. Assessment of this unit will take place at the end of Year 12. Pupils’ work in this unit will be internally assessed and externally moderated.

OVERVIEW OF KEY STAGE 5 CURRICULUM

At Key Stage 5, the ICT Department offers Digital Technology and Software Systems Development at AS and A2 Level. Students follow the CCEA specification. Both courses at AS and A2 level, are delivered over eleven periods per fortnight. At AS Level, students must successfully complete two modules. A further two modules must be successfully completed at A2 Level.

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

AS Digital Technology
Unit 1: Approaches to Systems Development (50% of AS, 20% of A Level)
This unit aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the various approaches to the development of complex systems, the key stages in the development process and the outputs produced at each stage.

In this unit, pupils are required to study the following topics:

Approaches to systems development
Programming

This unit is assessed in the form of a written examination. Pupils will have 1 hour 30 minutes to complete the assessment for this unit. Assessment of this unit will take place at the end of Year 13. Pupils’ work in this unit will be externally assessed.

Unit 2: Fundamentals of Digital Technology (50% of AS, 20% of A Level)
This unit aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of any system, such as data representation, computer architecture, software and the user interface.
In this unit, pupils are required to study the following topics:

Data representation
Data and information
Hardware and software
Web technology and multimedia

This unit is assessed in the form of a written examination. Pupils will have 1 hour 30 minutes to complete the assessment for this unit. Assessment of this unit will take place at the end of Year 13. Pupils’ work in this unit will be externally assessed.

A2 Digital technology
Unit 1: Information Systems (40%)
This unit aims to develop knowledge and understanding of information systems.

In this unit, pupils are required to study the following topics:

Networks
Databases
Applications of digital technology
Individual, social and legal considerations

This unit is assessed in the form of a written examination. Pupils will have 2 hours 30 minutes to complete the assessment for this unit. Assessment of this unit will take place at the end of Year 14. Pupils’ work in this unit will be externally assessed.

Unit 2: Application Development (20%)
This unit aims to develop pupils’ practical skills to produce a solution and associated detailed documentation for a client.

In this unit, pupils are required to demonstrate their skills in:

Analysing a problem
Designing an appropriate solution
Developing a solution
Testing a solution
Evaluating a solution
Developing user support documentation

This unit is assessed in the form of coursework. Pupils will have 60 hours to complete the assessment for this unit. Assessment of this unit will take place at the end of Year 14. Pupils’ work in this unit will be internally assessed and externally moderated.

SOFTWARE SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT

AS Software Systems Development
Unit 1: Introduction to Object Oriented Development (50% of AS, 20% of A Level)
This unit aims to develop knowledge and understanding of object-oriented systems.

In this unit, pupils are required to study the following topics:

Software
Defining data
Program control structures
Objects
Data structures
Exception handling
Managing input/output
Testing an object-oriented application

This unit is assessed in the form of a written examination. Pupils will have 2 hours to complete the assessment for this unit. Assessment of this unit will take place at the end of Year 13. Pupils’ work in this unit will be externally assessed.

Unit 2: Event Driven Programming (50% of AS, 20% of A Level)
This unit provides pupils with an opportunity to implement and develop object-oriented technologies in an event driven environment.

In this unit, pupils are required to demonstrate their skills in:

Defining GUI objects
Understanding events
Using multiple forms
Designing an event driven application
Linking an object application to simple files
Testing an event driven application
Evaluating an event driven application

This unit is assessed in the form of coursework. Assessment of this unit will take place at the end of Year 13. Pupils’ work in this unit will be internally assessed and externally moderated.

A2 Software Systems Development
Unit 1: Systems Approaches and Database Concepts (30%)
This unit aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the reasons for systems development and relational database concepts.

In this unit, pupils are required to study the following topics:

Reasons for systems development
Systems methodologies
Managing projects
Testing
Database concepts
ER models
Normalisation
SQL

This unit is assessed in the form of a written examination. Pupils will have 2 hours to complete the assessment for this unit. Assessment of this unit will take place at the end of Year 14. Pupils’ work in this unit will be externally assessed.

Unit 2: Implementing Solutions (30%)
This unit provides pupils with an opportunity to design and implement a Relational Database Management System through an event driven programming environment.

In this unit, pupils are required to demonstrate their skills in:

Applying project management techniques to the development process
Selecting a systems approach to the solution of a business problem
Defining and documenting user requirements
Documenting the design of the solution
Testing the design
Developing and implementing a desktop solution using an RDMS through an event driven programming environment
Testing the solution
Evaluating the solution

This unit is assessed in the form of coursework. Assessment of this unit will take place at the end of Year 14. Pupils’ work in this unit will be internally assessed and externally moderated.

ADDITIONAL SUBJECT INFORMATION

EXTRA-CURRICULAR PROVISION

The ICT Department contributes extensively to the schools extra-curricular provision. Extra-curricular activities include:

Annual UK Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge
Hour of Code Week
Coding Club

FACILITIES AND RESOURCES

The ICT Department has four fully equipped ICT suites. All ICT classes are taught in one of the suites. Each suite provides access to an extensive range of both hardware and software.

CAREERS INFORMATION

Careers associated with IT/Programming include: