Computer Studies / Computing

Course summary

This course, with its emphasis on abstract thinking; general problem solving; algorithmic and mathematical reasoning; and engineering based thinking, is a good foundation for understanding future challenges in this fast moving technological world. Computing is an exciting course that gives you a strong understanding of how computers work and how to write your own programs. There is a clear distinction between ICT and Computing. The two courses have been written to avoid any overlap of content. Computing is about designing new algorithms to solve new problems. Computer Science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes. Many great challenges lie in the future for computer scientists to solve. This course covers the technical side of Computing including ‘Programming' and ‘Computer Architecture'. Full A-level Course contents: Fundamentals of programming Fundamentals of data structures Fundamentals of algorithms Theory of computation Fundamentals of data representation Fundamentals of computer systems Fundamentals of computer organisation and architecture Consequences of uses of computing Fundamentals of communication and networking Fundamentals of databases Big Data Fundamentals of functional programming Systematic approach to problem solving Non-exam assessment - the computing practical project Two years to gain the full A-level.