Taken from Nationals in a Nutshell from The National Parent Forum of Scotland
2 units + added value unit
- SOFTWARE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
- INFORMATION SYSTEM DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
- ADDED VALUE UNIT: COMPUTING SCIENCE ASSIGNMENT
What skills will my child develop?
- understanding the technologies that underpin the digital world
- essential skills for everyday life
- understanding and applying computational processes and thinking across straightforward contexts
- knowledge and understanding of key facts and ideas in computing science
- analysing, designing, modelling, implementing and testing digital solutions to straightforward problems
- programming skills
- communicating basic computing concepts
- planning, researching, organising and problem-solving
- understanding the impact of computing science on our society
- understanding the relationship between software, hardware and system performance
- understanding information representation and transfer
What will my child experience during the course?
- Active and independent learning through self and peer evaluations, reflecting on learning, setting targets, evaluating progress, making independent decisions
- A blend of classroom approaches including problem-solving in teams with specific roles, sharing learning through group and class discussion
- Collaborative learning: the subject brings aspects of technology, science and creative digital media together, providing the opportunity for cross curricular learning and team-work
- Space for personalisation and choice: learning activities can link to learners’ own interests and learners can choose their issue for their Added Value Unit (Assignment)
- Applying learning
- Embedding literacy and numeracy skills: researching and presenting information; evaluating; discussing; listening; talking; number processes; information handling
- The Assignment will involve learners analysing and solving a computing science problem and gathering evidence of progress (this could be recorded using a blog or a diary)
- The Added Value Unit is an Assignment which requires learners to analyse and solve a computing science problem and to gather evidence of progress (eg in a blog or diary).
ASSESSMENT
- To gain National 4, learners must pass all Units
- Units are assessed as pass or fail by the school/centre (following SQA external quality assurance to meet national standards)
- Unit assessment (or ‘evidence of learning’) could be written evidence, tests, oral evidence, computer-generated class work.
