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Computing Science

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Why study Computing Science?

Computing science is vital to everyday life – on social, technological and economic levels. It shapes the world in which we live and its future. Computing is embedded in the world around us, from systems and devices in our homes to our places of work. It has also changed the way we learn, relax, travel and communicate.

Learning computing science will give you many benefits apart from learning about technology. You will learn valuable transferable work and life skills, such as being able to solve problems in a logical way, think creatively and handle information.

The skills you learn in this course are useful in lots of different job areas. These include science, communications, entertainment, education, business and industry.

  • National 3
  • National 4
  • National 5
  • High

    Computing Science shapes the world in which we live and its future. The course brings together elements of technology, science and creative digital media, providing an insight into the challenge, excitement and reward to be found in these areas.

    Levels available -             National 4, National 5 and Higher

    Course Outline

    In both National 4 and National 5, students will study four specific areas:

  • Software design and development
  • Candidates develop knowledge, understanding and practical problem-solving skills in software design and development, through a range of practical and investigative tasks.

  • Computer systems
  • Candidates develop an understanding of how data and instructions are stored in binary form and basic computer architecture.

  • Database design and development
  • Candidates develop knowledge, understanding and practical problem-solving skills in database design and development.

  • Web design and development
  • This allows candidates to apply computational-thinking skills to analyse, design, implement, test and evaluate practical solutions to web-based problems.

    NATIONAL 4 ADDED VALUE UNIT : ADDED VALUE PROJECT/ASSIGNMENT

    Learners will draw on and apply the skills, knowledge and understanding they have gained from across the other Units of the Course. This will be demonstrated by an assignment which is internally assessed and subject to SQA external verification

    Progression

    National 4 learners must have previously been successful at Level 3 and, if successful, can possibly progress onto National 5 (S5) and then Higher (S6)             National 5 learners must have previously been successful at Level 4 or 5 and, if successful, can possibly progress onto Higher (S5) and then Advanced Higher (S6)

    Assessment Requirements

    •             Continuous class and homework assessment

    •             Successful completion of internal assessments – April

    •             Completed Added Value Project

    •             No final SQA examination           

    •             Continuous class and homework assessment

    •             Successful completion of internal unit assessments - April

    •             Completion of an SQA internally assessed assignment (50 marks)

    •             SQA Course Examination (110 marks)

    Possible careers

  • Software Developer.
  • Database Administrator.
  • Computer Hardware Engineer.
  • Computer Programmer.
  • Games developer           
  • Computer Systems Analyst. ...
  • Computer Network Architect.
  • Web Developer.
  • Information Security Analyst

There were over 3000 unfilled computing / digital based jobs unfilled in Scotland last year.  We aim to provide you with a platform to ‘do things digitally’ for future employment  

Further information

All course descriptions from National 4 to Higher are available here -  https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/56923.html

https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/subjects/zfs3kqt  for revision materials.                                                   

Twitter: @STMtechnologies

 

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