Regents Review Summer '18

The Regents Review Summer 2018

DEPARTMENTAL NEWS

ICT

KS3 - Year 7 & Coding Students have now completed the first year studying all areas within our subject. This term they have been developing their coding skills. Initially developing their techniques using scratch, we have now moved onto their first taste of text based coding. This has been done using “python” programming software. Students have been using terms such as: Strings, integers, variables, selection We have developed programs that have been calculated to solve problems and can combine inputted data. This will be developed further as they progress into Year 8. During that year they will have the chance to pick an IT GCSE, this coding has been a taster of the GCSE computer science. KS4 - Year 11 ICT Our Year 11 completed their Cambridge Nationals GCSE ICT course in May, coursework was submitted for moderation early in May and the students sat their final exam on the 14th May. We celebrated the completion of the course with a dose of doughnuts. We wish our Year 11 students all the best and we are hoping to keep our high standard results like previous years.

Year 8 - Logic & Trends Students have been completing their experience of GCSE computer science by developing their skills in logic, creating solutions to problems using both algorithms and flowcharts, identifying correct symbols and using logic to sequence correctly. To deepen understanding of the language of computers, we have been looking at both binary and hexadecimal. To finish off the year we have been investigating and debating the effect of technology on society as a whole, examining positive and negative effects of devices on our lives, for example: Trends – How have devices evolved in design? Where will they be going in the future? Ethical – What does “good” use of technology look like? What are the consequences? Legal – What are the laws we have to do with the digital world? Why do we have them? Social – How has technology changed the way that we communicate? Environmental – What should happen to devices when we are done using them? Year 10 Our Year 10 are doing well with the two new courses we introduced this year, computer science and CiDA. The computer science group have completed a range of units in preparation for the final Year 11 exam and are about to complete their practice work for non exam assessment. They have also done their mock exam at the end of June. The CiDA group have been working on their coursework and recently were preparing for the mock exam, and after a few weeks of practising website skills, the students had a final lesson where they became teachers and demonstrated the different skills to the class. They have just completed their first mock exam which was a computer based project to make a website. The students worked really well for 2.5 hours to complete it and the class achieved 100% A-B grades.

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