Second Year Computing Science

Computers are now a major part of everyday life. It is important that students have the confidence and skills of  using IT effectively. The Computing course offers students up to date skills in using applications to solve problems using IT.

Course Content

This course involves the study of computer software packages and hardware and their use for solving problems.

The course covers the following areas:

  • Database system covers the design, creation and use of database software to store and retrieve information using Microsoft Access
  • Web Authoring covers designing and building a website using WebplusX4
  • Computer Animation covers the design and creation of computer animation using both keyframe and stopframe animation
  • Online Safety  covers the how to protect yourself on line
  • Computer programming covers designing and writing problems in smallbasic.
  • Computer systems covers how hardware such as scanners, video cameras and networks operate
  • Computer Graphics covers how computers store and manipulate graphics and is used to provide and edit graphics which are used in both multimedia authoring and web authoring. Serif DrawplusX4 is used for this section of the course
  • Games Design unit. This covers how computer games are designed and written. It involves designing , implementing and testing  a 3D action / adventure games. Finished games can be downloaded from the website and played at home. This unit will cover programming concepts which will be familiar to S1 students who used SCRATCH. Progression

At the end second year pupils will follow a course based on their strengths.

The following paths are available:

  • National 3 Computing Science
  • National 4 Computing Science
  • National 5 Computing Science

Downloads

The following sites link to free or trial versions of some of the software we use on this course. This information is provided should pupils wish to practise further with the software at home. This is not compulsory for any course.  In all cases, a responsible adult should read and agree to any terms and conditions associated with downloading software from external commercial sites.