Computer Studies / Computing

Course summary

This Advanced Level course will develop an understanding of, and the ability to apply, the fundamental principles and concepts of computer systems plus the ability to analyse problems in computational terms through practical experience of solving problems, including writing programs to do so. In addition, it will enhance your capacity to think creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically and your mathematical skills. It will help you to articulate the individual, social, legal and cultural opportunities and risks of digital technology. Computer Science helps prepare you for the world that you are living in and contributing to. It provides the opportunity to develop skills that can ultimately change the world by creating and enhancing technology rather than just being a consumer or user of it. Topics will include: The fundamentals of computing such as hardware, software and systems development; the implications of computer use; computational thinking; how to design solutions to particular problems and how to write maintainable programs in Python using a range of real-world programming approaches; how computer architectures are structured; Data representation, Boolean algebra and databases.