Introduction
This is an introductory class.
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Chapter-1. Computer architecture
Understand the role of the central processing
unit (CPU) in a computer.
Understand what is meant by a
microprocessor
Understand the purpose of the components
in a CPU, in a computer that has a
Von Neumann architecture
Describe the process of the
fetch–decode–execute cycle including the
role of each component in the process
Understand what is meant by a core, cache and
clock in a CPU and explain how they can affect
the performance of a CPU
Understand the purpose and use of an instruction
set for a CPU.
Describe the purpose and characteristics of an
embedded system and identify devices in which
they are commonly used.
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Chapter-2. Computer Hardware
Understand what is meant by an input device and
why it is required.
Understand what is meant by an output device
and why it is required.
Understand what is meant by a sensor and
the purposes of sensors
Identify the type of data captured by each
sensor and understand when each sensor
would be used, including selecting the most
a suitable sensor for a given context
Understand what is meant by primary storage.
Understand what is meant by secondary storage.
Describe the operation of magnetic, optical and
solid-state (flash memory) storage and given
examples of each
Describe what is meant by virtual memory, how
it is created and used and why it is necessary.
Understand what is meant by cloud storage.
Explain the advantages and disadvantages of
storing data on the cloud in comparison to
storing it locally.
Understand that a computer needs a network
interface card (NIC) to access a network.
Understand what is meant by and the purpose of
a media access control (MAC) address, including
its structure.
Understand what is meant by and the
purpose of an internet protocol (IP) address.
Understand that there are different types of
IP address.
Describe the role of a router in a network.
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Chapter-3. Software
Describe the difference between system software
and application software and provide examples
of each.
Describe the role and basic functions of an
operating system.
Understand how hardware, firmware and an
the operating system is required to run applications
software.
Describe the role and operation of interrupts.
Explain what is meant by a high-level language
and a low-level language, including the
advantages and disadvantages of each.
Understand that an assembly language is a form
of low-level language that uses mnemonics,
and that an assembler is needed to translate an
assembly language program into machine code.
Describe the operation of a compiler and an
interpreter, including how high-level language is
translated by each and how errors are reported.
Explain the advantages and disadvantages of a
compiler and an interpreter.
Explain the role of an IDE in writing program code
and the common functions IDEs provide.
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Chapter-4. The internet and its uses
Understand the difference between the internet
and the world wide web.
Understand what is meant by a uniform resource
locator (URL).
Describe the purpose and operation of hypertext
transfer protocol (HTTP) and hypertext transfer
protocol secure (HTTPS).
Explain the purpose and functions of a web
browser.
Describe how web pages are located, retrieved
and displayed on a device when a user enters a
URL.
Explain what is meant by cookies and how they
are used, including session cookies and persistent
cookies.
Understand the concept of a digital currency and
how digital currencies are used.
Understand the process of blockchain and how it
is used to track digital currency transactions.
Describe the processes involved in, and the aim
of carrying out, a range of cyber security threats.
Explain how a range of solutions are used to help
keep data safe from security threats.
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Chapter-5. Automated and emerging technologies.
Describe how sensors, microprocessors and
actuators can be used in collaboration to create
automated systems.
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of an
automated system used for a given scenario.
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Chapter-6. Robotics
Understand what is meant by robotics.
Describe the characteristics of a robot.
Understand the roles that robots can perform
and describe the advantages and disadvantages
of their use.
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Chapter-7. Artificial Intelligence.
Understand what is meant by artificial
intelligence (AI).
Describe the main characteristics of AI as the
collection of data and the rules for using that
data, the ability to reason, and can include the
ability to learn and adapt.
Explain the basic operation and components of AI
systems to simulate intelligent behavior.
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Chapter-8. Boolean Logic.
Identify and use the standard symbols for logic
gates.
Define and understand the functions of the logic
gates.
Use logic gates to create given logic circuits
from a:
(i) problem statement
(ii) logic expression
(iii) truth table
Complete a truth table from a:
(i) problem statement
(ii) logic expression
(iii) logic circuit
Write a logic expression from a:
(i) problem statement
(ii) logic circuit
(iii) truth table
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Chapter-9. Algorithm design and problem-solving.
Understand the program development life cycle,
limited to: analysis, design, coding and testing.
Understand that every computer system is
made up of sub-systems, which are made up
of further sub-systems.
Understand how a problem can be
decomposed into its component parts.
Use different methods to design and
construct a solution to a problem.
Explain the purpose of a given algorithm.
Understand standard methods of solution.
Understand the need for validation checks
to be made on input data and the different
types of validation check.
Understand the need for verification checks
to be made on input data and the different
types of verification check.
Suggest and apply suitable test data.
Complete a trace table to document a dry-run of
an algorithm.
Identify errors in given algorithms and suggest
ways of correcting these errors.
Write and amend algorithms for given problems
or scenarios, using: pseudocode, program code
and flowcharts.
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Test Yourself
You can test your current situation on this course.
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