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Scheme of work – Cambridge IGCSE® Computer Studies (0420)
Overview
This scheme of work provides ideas about how to construct and deliver a course. The 2013 syllabus has been broken down into teaching units with suggested
teaching activities and learning resources to use in the classroom.
Recommended prior learning
Candidates beginning this course are not expected to have studied Computer Studies or ICT previously.
Outline
Syllabus ref
Unit
Unit title
Outline of unit
Section 1.1
1
The range
and scope of
computer
applications
Develop knowledge and understanding of a wide variety of computer applications, including communication and
information systems, online services, remote databases, commercial and general data processing, industrial,
technical and scientific uses, monitoring and control systems, automation and robotics, expert systems, education
and training, entertainment and uses of the internet.
Consider a standard list of relevant aspects for each computer application studied, in order to be able to comment
sensibly on any suggested application and make use of specific relevant examples for illustration.
Section 1.2
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2
The social
and
economic
implications
of the use of
computers
Review the applications studied in Unit 1 to gain a broad knowledge of the economic reasons for, consequences of,
and health and safety aspects of the use of computerised systems; changes in employment and re-training; privacy
and integrity of data; data protection legislation; hacking and other computer crime; computer viruses; internet
security and usage; security and reliability, including consequences of system failure.
Develop critical abilities in balancing the benefits and drawbacks of a computerised system to formulate a reasoned
view of the potential effects of any suggested application or development.
Cambridge IGCSE Computer Studies (0420)
1
Syllabus ref
Unit
Unit title
Outline of unit
Section 2
3
System life
cycle
Principles of the system life cycle, including aspects of analysis (including fact finding methods and feasibility study),
design, implementation (building), testing, documentation, methods of changeover, evaluation and maintenance,
including the use of system flowcharts and dataflow diagrams to describe existing and proposed systems.
This is achieved partly through the study of computer applications, in particular the methods by which a problem has
been analysed to lead to a successful solution for the user, and partly through practical work.
Section 3.1
4
Algorithm
design and
testing
Defining the scope of separate modules, designing algorithms that relate clearly to the requirements of the system
and identifying hardware needs arising from the required output. The use of structure diagrams for top-down design,
program flowcharts and libraries of subroutines. Using dry runs and trace tables to work out the purpose of an
algorithm, suggesting and using suitable test data and identifying and correcting errors in algorithms.
Study of these topics can be illustrated by case studies of existing solutions to problems and reinforced through
practical work.
Section 3.2
5
Programming
concepts
The concepts of sequence, selection and repetition. Input, output, totalling and counting in pseudocode and
structured pseudocode for iteration (repetition) and selection. Writing an algorithm in pseudocode and identifying and
correcting errors in pseudocode.
Low-level languages, reasons for their use and their need to be translated by an assembler. High-level languages,
reasons for their use and their need to be translated by a compiler or interpreter.
Section 3.3
6
Logic gates
and circuits
Truth tables and symbols for two-input NOT, AND, OR, NAND and NOR logic gates. Truth tables for given logic
circuits with a maximum of 3 inputs and 6 gates. Production of a simple logic circuit from a written design brief.
Section 4.1
7
Generic
software
Typical features of, and uses for, generic application software for word processing, database management,
spreadsheets, graphics, communications, multimedia, data-logging, CAD, programming, desktop publishing and web
design. Customisation of generic application software by the use of macros.
The advantages and disadvantages of generic application software compared with bespoke software.
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Syllabus ref
Unit
Unit title
Outline of unit
Section 4.2
8
Organisation
of data
The relationship between information and data; methods of data collection, encoding and preparation; appropriate
methods of ensuring the correctness of data (including validation and verification); the presentation of useful
information from processed data; methods of automatic data capture; analogue-to-digital and digital-to-analogue
conversion.
File organisation: different forms of organisation and storage medium, depending on the data stored and the
requirements for processing; sequential file processing and processing individual records by means of record keys;
sorting and merging; methods of processing and file maintenance.
Data types: numbers, characters, strings, arrays and the need for different data types and structures to represent the
data for a particular application.
Section 5.1
9
Hardware
The main hardware components of a computer. Different types of computer and classes of processor power. The
characteristics and uses of different types of input and output device.
Different types of internal memory and backing storage and their uses.
The capabilities of modern mobile phones.
Section 5.2
10
Operating
systems
The nature of batch, online, multi-access, real-time transaction processing, multitasking, network and process-control
operating systems. Types of interface between the operating system and the user. How folders are structured and
how folders and files can be managed. Peripheral control, including the use of buffers, interrupts and priorities,
polling, handshaking and checksums.
Section 5.3
11
Types of
system
Different types of system: batch processing, interactive, network, control, automated and multimedia.
Requirements to support various types of computer system. The most suitable type of computer system for a given
application. Problems in the management of the various types of computer system, such as conflicting access to
common data or critical timing considerations.
Pages 6–7
and 32–40.
Pages 7–8
and
Section 6
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12
either
Coursework
(Paper 2)
or
Alternative to
Coursework
(Paper 3)
A single piece of coursework of a complex nature, involving the use of a computer to solve a specific problem, to be
carried out over an extended period. Enables candidates to use their skills and experience gained during the course
to analyse, design, implement, test, document and evaluate the solution to the problem.
A written paper containing short-answer and structured questions that refer to a given scenario describing a manual
(usually paper-based) system and its proposed replacement by a computer-based system. There is no choice of
questions. The topics covered are similar to the skills required for Paper 2.
Cambridge IGCSE Computer Studies (0420)
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Teaching order
• Unit 1 should be taught before Unit 2.
• Unit 3 should be taught before Unit 4.
• Units 3 and 4 should be taught before Unit 5.
• Units 1 and 10 should be taught before Unit 11.
• Units 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 should be taught before Unit 12 or alongside appropriate sections of it.
With these provisos, the 12 units could be taught in any order, and taught sequentially or concurrently, depending on the resources available and the preferences of
the teachers involved.
Teacher support
The up-to-date resource list for this syllabus can be found on the University of Cambridge International Examinations website www.cie.org.uk. In addition, the
password-protected Teacher Support website at http://teachers.cie.org.uk provides access to specimen and past question papers, mark schemes and other support
materials. We offer online and face-to-face training; details of forthcoming training opportunities are posted on the website.
Resources
Leadbetter C, Wainwright S, Stinchcombe A. Cambridge IGCSE Computer Studies Coursebook with CD-ROM Cambridge University Press, UK 2011
ISBN 9780521170635 (referred to as LWS coursebook in the scheme of work learning resource column).
The following are reliable websites. Specific sections of some of these have been cited in the schemes of work for individual units.
Please be aware that:
• terminology is not necessarily uniform between different resources, especially if a resource was originally written for an ICT syllabus, or a syllabus with a
different exam board;
• a link that was valid at the time of writing can easily become invalid.
URL
Notes
http://apps.dataharvest.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_21_8&products_id=9
A demonstration version of control software that can be used
with both graphical simulations (Animated Control
Environments) and real control applications with the addition
of suitable control interfaces.
http://atomicinternet.homeip.net/xtra/washer/
Simple JavaScript simulation of a washing machine.
http://download.openoffice.org/
Open Office, open source productivity suite, similar to
Microsoft Office, available for multiple platforms. Recorded
macros are quite hard to modify.
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URL
Notes
http://education.mit.edu/starlogo/
StarLogo, MIT’s free, agent-based simulation language.
Has a 2-D version, OpenStarLogo and a 3-D version,
StarLogo TNG.
http://en.wikipedia.org/
Free, editable encyclopaedia. Often a good source of up-todate information, although the quality of the articles is
variable.
http://gcsecomputing.org.uk/
Links to notes for GCSE Computing (OCR syllabus).
http://igcsecs.blogspot.com/
Blog offering commentary on the Cambridge IGSCE
Computer Studies syllabus and coursebook published by
Cambridge University Press, including analyses of Paper 1
and 3 past papers by topic.
http://info.scratch.mit.edu/Scratch_1.4_Download
Scratch, a free programming language that lets you create
your own interactive stories, animations, games, music, and
art.
http://open-workbench.en.softonic.com/
Open Workbench, free project management program for
Windows. Enables students to get a feel for producing
project management diagrams such as Gantt charts and
PERT charts using software.
http://raptor.martincarlisle.com/
RAPTOR, free program flowchart interpreter software that
allows students to draw a flowchart and check its functioning
by executing it.
http://sketchup.google.com/
Sketchup, free CAD program.
http://teachers.cie.org.uk/community/forum/forums/show/610.page
Cambridge online forum for teachers to discuss teaching and
administration for this syllabus. Account needed to access –
see next item.
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URL
Notes
http://teachers.cie.org.uk/qualifications/academic/middlesec/igcse/subject?assdef_id=844
Cambridge Teacher Support website for this syllabus
containing more than the public website: a wider selection of
syllabus materials, including past exam papers and mark
schemes; teaching materials, including the teachers’ forum,
this scheme of work and support booklets; the resource list.
You need an account to access the Cambridge Teacher
Support website. If you do not have an account, see
http://teachers.cie.org.uk/help_faqs/faqs/pre_login/#answer0.
http://teachers.cie.org.uk/qualifications/academic/middlesec/igcse/subject/?assdef_id=844&view=
tmlst
Support booklets (one per section of the syllabus) containing
notes on the content and practice problems, with answers in
a separate booklet.
www.antaranews.com/en/science
Indonesian website reporting global computing news in
English and Bahasa.
www.atarimagazines.com/compute/issue149/60_Interrupts_made_easy.php
Article that compares interrupts with polling.
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/ict
Activities, revision and tests for ICT.
www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/education/bitesize/standard/computing/
Revision and tests for Scottish Standard Grade Computing
Studies.
www.briggs.net.nz/log/writing/snake-wrangling-for-kids/
Snake Wrangling for Kids, a free, printable electronic book
that covers the basics of programming in Python 3.
www.cedar.u-net.com/
Interactive tuition package for ICT with clear detailed pages.
www.cedar.u-net.com/demo4/demox.htm has a link to the
demo version www.cedar.u-net.com/ict6/demoidx.htm, which
provides free access to 40% of the available material. Hint:
search for terms in the singular.
www.computernews.in/
Website reporting computing news from North India.
www.computernewsme.com/
United Arab Emirates website reporting computing news
from the Middle East.
www.computerweekly.com/
UK website reporting daily news from the computing
industry.
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URL
Notes
www.computingatschool.org.uk/
UK-based organisation that promotes the teaching of
Computing in schools worldwide, particularly those in the UK
education system. As part of its support to teachers offering
this syllabus as Cambridge Teachers, University of
Cambridge International Examinations encourages teachers
in the UK and overseas to apply for free membership, which
gives access to a forum and a wiki for sharing enthusiasm,
experience and ideas.
www.funderstanding.com/coaster
Roller coaster applet.
www.gimp.org/downloads/
GIMP, open source graphics program for a variety of
operating systems. It differs from many other programs in the
way that a selected graphical object is moved and each text
box is its own layer.
www.howstuffworks.com/search.php
Descriptions and demonstrations.
www.ico.gov.uk/for_organisations/data_protection/the_guide.aspx
Information about the UK’s Data Protection Act for
organisations that control other people’s personal data.
www.ictgcse.net/
Links to teaching topics and downloads for Computer
Studies, IT & ICT, including a coursework guide for this
syllabus.
www.ida.liu.se/~her/npp/demo.html
Applet simulating of manual control of nuclear power station.
www.igcseict.info/
Links to illustrated notes and resources for Cambridge
IGCSE ICT.
www.itedgenews.com/
Website reporting IT news from Africa.
www.jessrules.com/jessdemo/
A demonstration expert system program written with a rule
engine called Jess. This expert system plays a simple game
called Sticks.
www.justbasic.com/download.html
A free version of the BASIC programming language. Help
requires download in Windows Vista and 7 and does not
include the tutorial mentioned in the Welcome screen.
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URL
Notes
www.kids-online.net/learn/c_n_l.html
The parts of a computer.
www.logiccircuit.org/
Free program for drawing and simulating logic circuits.
www.mathplayground.com/mathprogramming.html
Applet for programming a turtle in Logo.
www.mstracey.btinternet.co.uk/pictutorial/picmain.htm
Tutorial on programming a microcontroller, illustrating the
suitability of assembly language for dealing with input and
output devices.
www.nolimitscoaster.com/Download/download.html
Demo version of a roller coaster design application and
simulator.
www.pythonsummerschool.net/course.php
A free teacher’s course in the Python programming
language.
Prerequisite resources:
www.pythonsummerschool.net/get_ready.php.
www.sibelius.com/cgi-bin/download/get.pl?com=sh&prod=first
Download a 30-day trial of music notation software.
www.smartdraw.com/resources/tutorials/#/resources/tutorials/Entity-Structure-Diagrams
A tutorial on how to draw structure diagrams using
SmartDraw, of which a free, trial version is available.
www.teach-ict.com/gcse_computing.html
Links to teaching and revision topics for GCSE Computing
(OCR syllabus).
Some GCSE, AS and A2 ICT parts of the same site also
have useful material.
www.tes.co.uk/ResourceDetail.aspx?storyCode=6048963
Animated depiction of the control of oxygen level in a fish
tank.
www.unf.edu/~broggio/cop2221/2221pseu.htm
Examples of an approach to pseudocode that is very close to
plain English.
www.v3.co.uk/search
A searchable UK IT news website.
www.valiant-technology.com/archive/freebies/cdsamples/datalogger/logger.swf
Flash simulation of the operation of a data logger.
www.virtualrealitytrainingsystem.com/
Website includes video on training workers to work in a
hazardous environment.
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URL
Notes
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I8Raa9XH4Y
Animation of a robot manipulator.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3szimINR48
A high-quality, animated, architectural fly through.
® IGCSE is the registered trademark of University of Cambridge International Examinations.
© University of Cambridge International Examinations 2012
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