FIRST LEVEL TECHNOLOGIES
Experiences and Outcomes Benchmarks
Organiser – Computing Science Demonstrates an understanding that computers take information as input, process and store that information and output the results.
Understanding and analysing computing technology
I understand how computers process information.

TCH 1-14b

 

Progression

I can/am able to I can/am able to I can/am able to
With support, talk about the purpose of the computer as a tool in everyday life. Begin to identify how computers take in information i.e. inputs to computer technology such as the keys on a keyboard, a voice to a microphone, or making a choice on a touch screen. Identify different ways to input information into computers.
Explore & talk about how computers take in & give out information. Begin to identify simple examples of computer outputs e.g. smart speaker answers, words or pictures on a screen or printed page. Describe a range of different outputs from computer technology
Explore & talk about how computers help us find, store & process information. Talk about or show how computers process & store information e.g. different programs, different drives & storage areas. Describe how computers help us store & work with information.

From Education Scotland National Improvement Hub “What digital learning might look like”:

 “When learning about How a Computer Works learners might:

 * Explain that input devices are user-controlled and send instructions to the computer’s ‘brain’, or processor, which then leads to a computer controlled output – a short topic around ‘what a computer is’ would be effective in ensuring learners can identify basic components, such as input and output devices and processors

 * Create content for a wall display, such as a labelled diagram of how popular devices work in terms of input -> process -> output, for example: when you press the volume button on the TV and the TV follows its algorithm to decide it needs to turn the volume up and then the loudspeaker gets louder