COMPUTing &
Creative Imedia

OCR GCSE Computer Science (9-1), Code J277

OCR Cambridge Nationals in Creative iMedia, Code J217

Head of Computing: Mr. E. Geronimo

VISION

“Those who can imagine anything, can create the impossible.” Alan Turing

Studying Computing at Debenham High School will help our learners enhance their learning across the whole curriculum. We aim to equip our learners with a wide range of computing skills that will empower their future and ensure their success in this ever-changing world.

The Computing Curriculum will also help them become responsible citizens in a modern world. We want to ensure that our learners have the knowledge, skills and resilience they need to thrive online.

We aim to teach our learners to become well-rounded individuals who can safely use technology independently, creatively and confidently.

INTRODUCTION

This school has a policy of encouraging the use of ICT in every subject of the curriculum in every year of a student's school life here. Computing is also taught in discrete lessons, one lesson per week in Years 7 and 8 and two lessons per week in Year 9.

programme of study

Each subject programme of study will:

Provide a clear and coherent learning journey
Foster subject-based understanding of new knowledge, concepts and methods
Ensure students acquire knowledge and give opportunities for recall and application of this knowledge so that fluency is developed
Require students to think and reason for themselves
Explanations and resources enable students to engage with and master learning
Learning should develop a depth of understanding that brings richness to the subject but also a breadth of understanding that enriches wider life and learning
Develop a readiness for the next stage: be this the next lesson, the next unit of work, the next year or key stage; it prepares students for both academic, A Level, and future degree study, or vocational learning
Contain appropriate, regular and robust assessment methods for measuring student progress and to allow intervention where progress is not as expected.

In order to see an overview of the sequence and progression of learning please see their Programme of Study:

Computing Programme of Study

TRIPS AND VISITS

GCSE ICT – visit to the Information Age Exhibit at the Science Museum in London and

Think Computer Science – hosted by Microsoft Research Cambridge, Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire

CLUB

The Computer Club runs every Monday after school and is open to anyone wishing to learn additional computer skills and knowledge. Activities include: working with Raspberry Pi, Scratch programming, Image manipulation using Photoshop, game making etc.

KEY STAGE 3

KS3 pupils follow the National Curriculum in Computing.

Year 7

We aim to give all students a foundation of skills and understanding on which to build with one lesson per week of Computing.

Topics include:

Impact of Technology – Collaborating online respectfully
Modelling data – Spreadsheets
Networks from semaphone to the Internet
Programming essentials in Scratch
Using Media – Gaining support for a cause

Year 8

Computer systems
Developing for the web
Introduction to Python programming
Media – Vector graphics
Mobile app development
Representations – from clay to silicon

Year 9

Cybersecurity
Data science
Media animations
Physical computing
Python programming with sequence of data
Representations – going audio-visual

KEY STAGE 4

AWARD LEVEL1/2 CAMBRIDGE NATIONALS IN CREATIVE IMEDIA

CODE: J817 (120GLH)

LEVEL 2 CAMBRIDGE NATIONALS IN CREATIVE IMEDIA

Creative iMedia Options 2021 Final Version - YouTube

This qualification will assess the application of creative media skills through their practical use and one external exam.

This course will provide learners with essential knowledge, transferable skills and tools to improve their learning in other subjects with the aim of enhancing their employability when they leave education. The qualification will encourage independence, creativity and awareness of the digital media sector.

Level 2 Certificate in Creative iMedia will appeal to learners interested in working in the creative and digital media sectors. It provides them with the core skills for scoping, planning and creating products and assets for each piece of coursework and encourages creativity and originality with a vocational focus.

Students who are thinking of this course must have an excellent home learning record, good time management skills and good ICT skills.

WHAT WILL I STUDY?

The Cambridge Nationals in Creative iMedia will equip learners with a range of creative media skills and provide opportunities to develop, in context, desirable, transferable skills such as research, planning, and review, working with others and communicating creative concepts effectively. Through the use of these skills, learners will ultimately be creating fit-for-purpose creative media products such as websites, digital video or audio.

It is vital that students who opt for this course have good computer skills to complete the Non-Assessment (NEA) tasks and good time management, as they will only have a set time to complete each controlled assessment, of which the topic is set by the exam board and not the school. Literacy is a very important part of the NEA as this impacts on students’ overall mark.

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?

Students will complete the following mandatory units:

R081 – Pre-production skills (External exam)
R082 – Creating digital graphics (Internal controlled assessment)

Followed by optional controlled assessments which may include digital animation or interactive multimedia products.

One unit is assessed externally with a written examination, the other three units are internally assessed. The externally assessed unit is worth 25% of the qualification. Those internally assessed will be assignment tasks and could include reports, presentations and other portfolio assessments.

An overall grade for the qualification is awarded to all students who successfully complete all units. Grades awarded are Pass at level 2 (P2), Merit at level 2 (M2), Distinction at level 2 (D2) or Distinction * at level 2 (*2). Students must complete all units to a level 2 to achieve a level 2 qualification overall.

By the end of the course students are expected to produce three Non-Examination Assessment (NEA) pieces which are all timed at 10 hours each, which must be completed in class supervised. The external exam is a hand written paper examination taken in Year 11.

RECOMMENDED resources:

Revision Guide
Access to a PC at home (desktop or laptop), with a good internet connection, with the ability to download software.

For more information please visit https://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/115888-specification.pdf

GCSE Computer Science (9-1)

CODE: J277 (120GLH)

GCSE Computer science (9-1)

This course encourages learners to:

understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of Computer Science, including abstraction, decomposition, logic, algorithms and data representation
analyse problems in computational terms through practical experience of solving such problems, including designing, writing and debugging programs
think creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically
understand the components that make up digital systems, and how they communicate with one another and with other systems
Understand the impacts of digital technology to the individual and to wider society apply mathematical skills relevant to Computer Science.

Overview

Unit 1 Computer Systems

This component will introduce learners to the systems architecture, computer memory and storage, computer networks and protocols, network security and systems software. It is expected that learners will become familiar with the impact of Computer Science in a global context through the study of the ethical, legal, cultural and environmental concerns associated with Computer Science.

Unit 2 Computational Thinking, Algorithms and Programming

This component incorporates and builds on the knowledge and understanding gained in unit 1, encouraging learners to apply this knowledge and understanding using computational thinking. Learners will be introduced to algorithms and programming fundamentals, how to produce robust programs, Boolean logic and programming languages and Integrated Development Environments. Learners will become familiar with computing related mathematics.

Assessment

Unit 1 - 50% of GCSE, Exam in Year 11, 80 marks, 1.5 hours

Unit 2 - 50% of GCSE, Exam in Year 11, 80 marks, 1.5 hours