AS/A LEVEL COMPUTING - PapaCambridge
Transcript of AS/A LEVEL COMPUTING - PapaCambridge
AS/A LEVEL COMPUTING This modern qualification gives an insight into a range of computing systems, including an understanding of the principles of programming and the solving of problems.
THROUGH THIS QUALIFICATION, STUDENTS CAN DEVELOP:• Thecapacitytothinkcreatively,innovatively,analytically,logicallyandcritically
• Anunderstandingoftheorganisationofcomputersystems
• Theabilitytoapplyskills,knowledgeandunderstandingofcomputing,includingprogramming,inarange of contexts to solve problems
• Thecapacitytoseerelationshipsbetweendifferentaspectsofthesubject
• Anunderstandingoftheconsequencesofusingcomputers,anawarenessofemergingtechnologiesandan appreciation of their potential impact on society.
WHY CHOOSE OCR A LEVEL COMPUTING?• ItincludesmorecomputersciencethantraditionalICT
• Itincludesapracticalcourseworkunit–whichisthebestwaytoassessastudent’slevelofpracticalskillsincomputing
• Thereisasimpleassessmentmethod,andexaminationpapersareexternallyassessed
• Itisexcellentpreparationforstudentslookingtotakecomputingstudiesatdegreelevel, orforanyoneconsideringanykindofcareerincomputing.
ASLEVEL
Unit title Description
Computer Fundamentals
Studentsgainanappreciationofcomputingfundamentals,includinghardware,software,thepresentation,structureandmanagementofdata,howdataistransmittedandnetworked,thelifecycleofsystemsdevelopment,thecharacteristics of information systems, and the implications of computer use.
Programming Techniques and Logical Methods
Studentsgainanappreciationofdesigningsolutionstoparticularproblems,howprocedural programs are structured, the types of data and data structures, the commonfacilitiesofprocedurallanguages,howtowritemaintainableprograms,andhowtotestandrunsolutions.
ALEVEL
Unit title Description
Advanced Computing Theory
Studentsunderstandthefunctionofoperatingsystems,thefunctionandpurposeoftranslators,howcomputerarchitecturesarestructured,howdataisrepresented,howdataisstructuredandmanipulated,highlevellanguageprogrammingparadigms,lowlevellanguagesandhowdatabasesfunction.
Computing ProjectThroughcoursework,studentsgainanunderstandingofdefinition,investigationandanalysis,systemdesign,softwaredevelopmentandtesting,documentation,evaluationandhowtoproducewrittenreportscoveringthesetopics.
HOW IS THIS QUALIFICATION ASSESSED?ComputerFundamentals,ProgrammingTechniquesandLogicalMethods,andAdvancedComputingTheoryareallexternallyassessedthroughtimetabledwrittenexamination.TheASpapersare1.5hoursinlength,theA2paperis2hours.
TheComputingProjectisinternallyassessedandexternallymoderatedcoursework.
WHAT SUPPORT WILL I RECEIVE?PUBLISHERS
OCRendorsestextbookspublishedbyHodderforASComputingandtheareasofA2specialisedcomputingtopics.
RESOURCES
YoucandownloadallthefollowingresourcesfromtheOCRwebsite–ocr.org.uk
•LessonplansforbothASandA2areavailable
•Specimenassessmentmaterialsareavailableforallunits
•SchemesofworkareavailableforbothASandA2level.
CHANGES TO AS/A LEVELSFromSeptember2013,studentsinEngland,WalesandNorthernIrelandwillonlybeabletositASandA2LevelexamsinJuneastherewillbeonlyoneexaminationserieseachyearforbothASandA2units.
ThiswillaffectthosewhostartedtheirAScoursesinSeptember2012,forwhomtherewillbenoopportunitiesforASresitsorA2unitsinJanuary2014,andalsostudentswhobeginALevelcoursesinSeptember2013.
FULL PROGRESSION FROM ENTRY LEVEL TO GCSE AND A LEVELALevelComputingisjustpartofourComputerSciencesuiteofqualifications,whichalsoincludesEntryLevelComputing andGCSEComputing(partoftheEnglishBaccalaureate).Whatevertheagesorabilitiesofyourstudents,thisinnovativeprogrammeisdesignedtotrulyengagewiththem.FindoutmoreaboutourComputerSciencesuiteofqualificationsat ocr.org.uk/computerscience
CONTACT USKeepuptodateonthelatestnewsbyregisteringtoreceivee-alertsatocr.org.uk/updates
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