SCOTTISH QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY – MAY 2012 CURRICULUM EVENTS – COURSE AIMS AND STRUCTURE
SUBJECT:
COMPUTING SCIENCE
The purpose of the Course is to develop learners’ knowledge of the technological world and to develop their
skills in developing computer-based solutions to problems.
PURPOSE:
National 3
National 4
National 5
Higher
The aims of the Course are
to enable learners to:
 develop computational
thinking skills across a
range of contemporary
contexts
 develop knowledge and
understanding of key
concepts and processes
in computing science
 apply skills and
knowledge in analysis,
design, implementation
and evaluation to a
range of digital solutions
 communicate computing
concepts and explain
computational behaviour
clearly and concisely
using appropriate
The aims of the Course are to
enable learners to:
 develop and apply aspects of
computational thinking in a
range of computing contexts
 extend and apply knowledge
and understanding of
advanced concepts and
processes in computing
science
 apply skills and knowledge in
analysis, design,
implementation and
evaluation to a range of digital
solutions with some complex
aspects
 communicate advanced
computing concepts and
explain computational
behaviour clearly and
COURSE AIMS
The aims of the Course are to
enable learners to:
 introduce and develop aspects
of computational thinking in a
range of contexts
 develop knowledge and
understanding of basic facts
and ideas in computing science
 develop skills and knowledge
in software and applicationbased development tools
 apply skills and knowledge to
develop and implement simple
digital solutions
The aims of the Course are
to enable learners to:
 introduce and develop
aspects of
computational thinking
across a range of
contemporary contexts
 develop knowledge and
understanding of key
facts and ideas in
computing science
 apply skills and
knowledge in analysis,
design, implementation
and testing to a range of
digital solutions
 communicate computing
concepts clearly and
concisely using
appropriate terminology
National 3
National 4
 develop an
understanding of the
impact of computing
science in changing and
influencing our
environment and society
National 5
terminology
 develop an
understanding of the
role and impact of
computing science in
changing and
influencing our
environment and society
Higher
concisely, using appropriate
terminology
 develop awareness of current
trends in computing
technologies and their impact
in transforming and
influencing our environment
and society
STRUCTURE, ASSESSMENT AND HIERARCHIES
Course Structure:
Course Structure:
Course Structure:
Units:
 Building Digital Solutions
1) Develop simple digital
solutions using appropriate
development software
2) Identify some of the key
features of development
software
Units:
 Software Design
and Development
1) Explain how simple
programs work,
drawing on
understanding of
basic concepts in
software
development
2) Develop short
programs using a
software
development
environment
3) Produce a short
factual report on a
contemporary
Units:
Units:
 Software Design and
 Software Design and
Development
Development
1) Explain how
1) Explain how programs
programs work,
work, drawing on an
drawing on
understanding of
understanding of
advanced concepts in
concepts in software
software development and
development and
computer architecture
basic computer
2) Develop modular
architecture
programs using one or
2) Develop short
more software
programs using one
development
or more software
environments
development
3) Produce a detailed report
environments
on the impact of
3) Produce a short
contemporary computing
detailed report
technologies
 Information Solutions
1) Develop simple information
solutions using appropriate
applications
2) Identify some of the key
features of applications
Course Structure:
National 3
Hierarchies:
Each Unit is hierarchical with
corresponding Unit at National 4.
i.e. Building Digital Solutions with
Software Design and
Development,
Information Solutions with
Information System Design and
Development
National 4
software-based
application
 Information System
Design and
Development
1) Develop simple
information systems,
using appropriate
development tools
2) Consider a number
of basic factors
involved in the
design and
implementation of
an information
system
 Computing and
Information Science
Assignment (Added
Value)
1) Develop, with
guidance, a digital
solution which will
draw on and apply
skills and knowledge
of software and
information systems
design and
development
National 5
comparing two
contemporary
software
development
languages or
environments
 Information System
Design and
Development
1) Develop information
systems, using
appropriate
development tools
2) Consider the factors
involved in the
design and
implementation of
an information
system
Course Assessment:
Assignment and Question
Paper
Hierarchies:
Each Unit is hierarchical
with corresponding Unit at
National 4 and Higher.
Higher
 Information System
Design and Development
1) Develop information
systems using appropriate
development tools
2) Consider the factors
involved in the design and
implementation of an
information system
Course Assessment:
Assignment and Question Paper
Hierarchies:
Each Unit is hierarchical with
corresponding Unit at National 5.
National 3
National 4
National 5
Higher
Hierarchies:
Each Unit is hierarchical
with corresponding Unit at
National 3 and National 5.
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
 applying, with guidance,




aspects of computational
thinking across a range of
simple contexts
analysing, with guidance,
simple problems within
computing science across a
range of contemporary
contexts
creating, implementing and
testing, with guidance, digital
solutions to simple problems
across a range of
contemporary contexts
using a range of tools and
applications to create, share
and locate information
basic knowledge of key facts
and ideas related to building
digital solutions and
information solutions
 applying, with guidance,
 applying aspects of
aspects of
computational thinking
across a range of
straightforward contexts
 analysing, with
guidance,
straightforward
problems within
computing science
across a range of
contemporary contexts
 designing, implementing
and testing, with
guidance, digital
solutions (including
computer programs) to
straightforward
problems across a
range of contemporary
contexts
 developing skills in
computer programming
computational thinking
across a range of
contexts
 analysing problems
within computing
science across a range
of contemporary
contexts
 designing, implementing
and testing digital
solutions (including
computer programs) to
problems across a
range of contemporary
contexts
 developing skills in
computer programming
and the ability to
communicate how a
program works by being
able to read and
interpret code





applying computational
thinking to understand
problems across a range of
contexts
analysing problems with some
complex aspects within
computing science across a
range of contemporary
contexts
designing, implementing,
testing and evaluating digital
solutions (including computer
programs) to problems with
some complex aspects across
a range of contemporary
contexts
developing skills in computer
programming and the ability to
communicate how a program
works by being able to read
and interpret code
communicating understanding
of advanced concepts related
National 3
National 4
National 5
and the ability to
 communicating
communicate how a
understanding of key
program works by being
concepts related to
able to read and
software design and
interpret code
development and
 communicating basic
information system
understanding of key
design and
concepts related to
development, clearly
software design and
and concisely, using
development and
appropriate terminology
information system
 understanding of the
design and development
legal implications and
clearly and concisely,
environmental impact of
using appropriate
contemporary
terminology
information system
 basic knowledge of the
technologies
impact of contemporary  applying computing
software-based
science concepts and
applications on the
techniques to create
environment or society
solutions across a range
 applying basic
of contexts
computing science
concepts and
techniques to create
solutions
Higher


to software design and
development and information
system design and
development, clearly and
concisely, using appropriate
terminology
investigating and evaluating
the legal, environmental,
economic, and social impact
of contemporary computing
technologies
applying computing science
concepts and techniques to
create solutions across a
range of contexts