Getting ready for GCSE

“Learning objectives” ;)

Give you confidence about teaching GCSE Computing for the first time - it is like driving or downhill skiing – all about confidence!

We will provide you with Info on where you can get help with

resources and support with curriculum development

Info on the 3 board offerings To show you how we do it

Introduction

GCSE – an important step to confident A-level pupils

3 examinations boards: AQA OCR WJEC

Although the assessment procedure for each board is slightly different each has a controlled assessment element which makes up 60% of the final grade + an end-of-course examination.

What’s in common? Theory on computer hardware (types of

memory, buses, binary, etct) and major algorithm concepts (pseudocode, flowcharts, good design flow, etc)

Big exam in the end Controlled Assessments Pupils need to program to the standard

that wouldn’t be out of place at A-level a couple of years ago (perhaps, even now)

Age compression!

What’s different

OCR has more “troops on the ground” OCR first mover advantage WJEC have on-screen activities WJEC are not part of the EBACC

Teacher’s secret weapons? Know your theory Scratch/BYOB/Blockly Structured English+pseudocode for:

Assignment Iteration Selection Input/Output

Progranimate HTML+Javascript One text-based language: Python, DotNet,

Delphi, Java, JavaScript, Visual Basic, VBA, Small Basic

If you have to stay 1 pageahead of the pupils… Year 10:

Buy yourself time: start with the ICT bits: usage, society impact, safety, design

Progranimate for flowcharts and pseudocode http://www.progranimate.com/launch/launchMain.html?VB6

Use CAS resources, a lot of them are aimed for self-study (ie. Most pupils don’t need you to complete these)

Identify the pupils who might have done some programming, etc before and give them some of these resources to present to class and put them in charge of delivering them – warning - lots of stars, recognition and chocolate will be needed!

Year 10…

Get the easier task activity started – determined by your skills level

Get them started on the write-ups, etc.

Year 11

You have now taught computing for a year, you know how your pupils are

Get to the hard topics Start on the remaining activities That’s it!

Top Tips for Success

You are not alone- look out for resources on • CAS online • Exam board resources and material • Speak to people either here on

communicate through CAS online. There always seems to be a expert there only to eager and willing to help

• Visit a school already delivering it and work with them – they will be happy to help!

OCR Computing Computing Guide (Mark Clarkson)A451 Written Examination 40%Theory topics• 2.1.1 - Fundamentals of Computer Systems• 2.1.2 - Computing Hardware• 2.1.3 - Software • 2.1.4 - Representation of data in computer

systems• 2.1.5 – Databases• 2.1.6 - Computer communications and

networking

A452 Practical Investigation 30%20 hoursOCR Scheme of Work on (ocr.org.uk)Practical InvestigationEfficient and effective use of techniquesTechnical understandingConclusions and Evaluation

A453 Programming Project 30%20 hoursPlanningDevelopmentTestingEvaluation

AQA Computing Component 1: Practical Programming 50 hrs 60% of marksComponent 2: Computing Fundamentals 1hr 30mins exam, 40% of marks

WJEC Computing Unit 1 (45%) - 90 min examUnit 2 (30%) - 2 hour external assessment through a series of on-screen tasks.Unit 3 (25%) - internally assessed and externally moderated 15 hour controlled assessment

OCR

AQA This specification has one tier of assessment, with a single paper that

covers all of the grades A*–G. Component 1 – Practical programming / Approx 50 hrs of

controlled assessment (2 tasks of 25 hours each) 60% of the marks / 126 marks (63 marks for each task) / 180 UMS Internally assessed, externally moderated. Different tasks will be provided by AQA each year. Each student should complete two tasks from a choice of four. Component 2 – Computing fundamentals 1 hour 30 minutes 40% of the marks / 84 marks / 120 UMS Externally assessed. Schools/colleges can choose to enter students for

either a paper-based or on-screen version. All questions will be compulsory and will be taken from across the subject

content. This component will include a range of types of questions from very short

to extended answer.

AQA theory

AQA practical tasks

Link to AQA sample task scenario

WJEC fully accredited from Sept 2012.  Linear specification is available in both England and Wales for first

assessment in summer 2014 Assessment is divided into three units: Understanding Computer Science (45%) - 90 minute

examination to assess understanding of the theory content of the specification.

Solving Problems Using Computers (30%) - 2 hour external assessment to assess the practical application of knowledge and understanding through a series of on-screen tasks.

Developing Computing Solutions (25%) - internally assessed and externally moderated 15 hour controlled assessment to develop a piece of work using programming software following a task brief issued by WJEC. There is a choice of two task briefs which can be found here.

WJEC On-screen activity

WJEC onscreen activity 2

Getting StartedProgramming – With BYOB and Programinate

http://www.progranimate.com/launch/launchMain.html?VB6

GCSE Programming

Input/Output Sequencing Selection Iteration Processing

That’s it!

A mind map of GCSE Programming

Algorithm

Interacting with user/memory

Branching and choices

Working with data

Repetition and automation

Exercises:

Custom functions: Unit converter: km2miles Then with validation Then with choice of direction Find average/min/max

Same as above but with interface GUI widgets Writing to cells and files

How to deliver a successful curriculum resources

http://www.progranimate.com/launch/launchMain.html

1) Progranimate

How to deliver a successful curriculum resources

1) Progranimate

Very good at showing the introduction to programming concepts and skills. Develops skills in developing pseudocode and writing algorithms

Algorithm for each of the following set out as a flowchart or pseudocodeFind the difference between two numbers.Find the product of two numbers (this means to multiply the two numbers).Change the time in seconds to minutesChange a volume in pints to litres (there are 2.2 pints in every litre).Find the volume of a cone given its diameter and heightTo find the volume of a cube given the length of a side.To find the volume of a pyramid, given the length and breadth of its base and its height.To find the average speed of a car given the journey time and the distance travelled.Find the average of four numbersFind the largest of four numbersFind the smallest of four numbers

These same exercises can be given using BYOB or a high level language

2) Developing Programs Further

Write an algorithm for a program where the computer randomly generates a number between 1 and 1000. The program then invites a user to make a guess if the guess is too high or low the program will display a suitable message. The program should keep track of the number of guesses and terminate when the user has guessed the number correctly or the number of guesses = 10.You should produce an algorithm showing the design of the programOnce you have completed this then see if you can validate the program so that only accepts numbers will only accept numbers between 1 and 1000will not accept any numbers guessed before (you will need to store previous guesses in a list)will not allow you to make a guess higher or lower than the previous one if the program has told you that the number is too high or low

3) Lottery Program Produce a program for the lottery. The program should select 6 numbers drawn at random between 1 and 49. The program should drawn the numbers and once the numbers are drawn they should not be capable of being drawn again. The program should then sort out the numbers into order

3) Lottery Program Produce a program for the lottery. The program should select 6 numbers drawn at random between 1 and 49. The program should drawn the numbers and once the numbers are drawn they should not be capable of being drawn again. The program should then sort out the numbers into order

Extension Programming Activities At GCSE Computing programming about logic. For the purposes of today we are going to create

a program used for teaching the main concepts The program is going to

Allow the user to enter the number of numbers that they wish the program to generate The numbers of numbers have to be greater than 0 but less or equal to a number decided

by the user The program will a series of numbers generated between the lower and higher boundaries

decided by the user The program will store the numbers generated in an array The program will output the highest, lowest, average and total of the series of numbers

Features of BYOB Use BYOB! – latest version of BYOB, shld be familiar for Scratch-ers May need 2 (3?) paths

New to Scratch Experienced Scratch-ers Experienced BYOB-ers

Three sections – separated by breaks and/or other theory sessions Introduction

Environment Flow of control Variables

Procedures/functions Inc parameters

Data Structures Lists

Following on …. Can then Illustrate examples from e.g. Python or VBA

4) Traditional approach to Hello World with a twist

1) Take a traditional languages like VBA – add in some objects – images, command buttons labels.

2) Mix it with some properties that can be manipulated on the screen – size, position and colour

Starter – talk about properties and events – with a label caption for our hello world

Extension Programming Activities At GCSE Computing programming about logic. For the purposes of today we are going to create

a program used for teaching the main concepts The program is going to

Allow the user to enter the number of numbers that they wish the program to generate The numbers of numbers have to be greater than 0 but less or equal to a number decided

by the user The program will a series of numbers generated between the lower and higher boundaries

decided by the user The program will store the numbers generated in an array The program will output the highest, lowest, average and total of the series of numbers

Features of BYOB Use BYOB! – latest version of BYOB, shld be familiar for Scratch-ers May need these paths

New to Scratch Experienced Scratch-ers Experienced BYOB-ers

Three sections – separated by breaks and/or other theory sessions Introduction

Environment Flow of control Variables

Procedures/functions Inc parameters

Data Structures Lists

Following on …. Can then Illustrate examples from e.g.. Greenfoot (Java), or Python or VBA

Extension Programming Activities At GCSE Computing programming about logic. For the purposes of today we are going to create

a program used for teaching the main concepts The program is going to

Allow the user to enter the number of numbers that they wish the program to generate The numbers of numbers have to be greater than 0 but less or equal to a number decided

by the user The program will a series of numbers generated between the lower and higher boundaries

decided by the user The program will store the numbers generated in an array The program will output the highest, lowest, average and total of the series of numbers

4)b) How many lights do you see with 2 switches?

Introduces on a simple level selection and the idea of value in this case the light must be on or off

This is an example in VBA but this could be produced in any high level language

4c) How about you wanted to use this in a disco

Introduce the idea of looping

Approaching the Assessment Good SourcesResourceswww.python.org/docs/What is Python/Why PythonBasic Python- Python as a calculator- Working with numbers- Numeric and String Variables

AQA ‘Traditional’ Option: Gardening problemOCR Investigation (Little Man Computer)OCR Programming Tasks GCSEComputing.org.ukMark Clarkson the unofficial teachers guide to OCR ComputingText books Susan Robson – has written text books specific to OCR and AQA (Programming)

GCSE Computing a fistful of theory

Underneath the Bonnet

Suggested teaching activities to cover 1.2 Hardware

Role of the CPU – look at the functions of the CPU and processor architecture – Fetch Execute Cycle

Programming in the LMC – how to use the LMC to add, subtract and branching activities linked into a sample or live assessment activity

Look at different types of computer memory – different types of storage – optical, solid state and magnetic

Software – role of the operating system, utilities software, custom made and open source software

For information only

CSUnplugged activity for CPU and instructions e.g. http://cse4k12.org/how_computers_work/index.html

Move into LMC: http://www.atkinson.yorku.ca/~sychen/research/LMC/LMCHome.html

Guide the instructions, relate statements to both Snap! And previous activity

Data Representation

Talking inBinary

Data Representations Converting from Binary to Hex, Hex to Binary Binary addition Logic gates including AND, OR and NOT Look at various approaches and different examination questions

For information only

See: http://csunplugged.org/binary-numbers

And: http://nzacditt.org.nz/244-as91371-plan-of-work-and-accompanying-resources

How to approach the controlled assessment with confidence

A453 – Suggested sample activities to make up the 3 tasks – how can these be used to support the teaching tasks Example program from above Spelling Game Trip Planner program

A452 Suggested sample activities looking at the basic functions of the LMC including addition, subtraction, how to sort using the branching conditions.

Please contact me dtravi1@gmail.com if you require information on these tasks