Dawood Public School
Course Outline for 2014-2015
Subject: Computer Science
Class: IX
Study Guide
Reference Book:
Cambridge IGCSE
Computer Studies
Course book by Chris Leadbetter, Stewart Wainwright and Alan Stinchcombe
Dawood Public School’s Computer Department Webpage:
https://sites.google.com/site/olevelcomputers
For CIE Booklets:
https://sites.google.com/site/olevelcomputers/about-me/7010-cie-booklets
Section 1: Theory of Computer Science
1.3
Hardware and software
1.3.2 Computer architecture
1.3.3 Input devices
August
Section1: Theory of Computer Science
1.3 Hardware and software
1.3.4 Output devices
1.3.5 Memory, storage devices and media
1.3.6 Operating systems
September
Section1: Theory of Computer Science
1.1 Hardware and software
1.3.7 High- and low-level languages
1.3.1 Logic gates
October
Section 2 Practical Problem-solving and
Programming
November
2.2 Programming
2.2.1 Programming concepts
2.2.2 Data structures; arrays
December
Mid-Year Examination
Section 2 Practical Problem-solving and
Programming
January
2.1 Algorithm design and problem-solving
2.1.1 Problem-solving and design
2.1.2 Pseudo code
Section 2 Practical Problem-solving and
Programming
February
2.1 Algorithm design and problem-solving
2.1.2 Pseudo code
Section 2 Practical Problem-solving and
Programming
March
2.1 Algorithm design and problem-solving
2.1.2 Pseudo code (continue)
April
Revision Period
May
Final Examination
Month-Wise Distribution of Topics
August
Section 1: Theory of Computer Science
1.2 Hardware and software
1.3.2 Computer architecture and the fetch- execute cycle
1.3.3 Input devices
Learning objectives
Activities or Learning resources
After completion of this lesson, students will
be able to:
1.3.2 Computer architecture and the fetchexecute cycle
 Show understanding of the basic Von
Neumann model for a computer system
and the stored program concept.
 Describe the stages of the fetch-execute
cycle.
History of computer website
www.computerhistory.org/timeline/?category=cmptr
Outline of computer systems and their components at:
www.teachict.com/gcse_computing/ocr/211_hardware_softwar
e/computer_system/home_computer_system.htm
1.3.3 Input devices
 Describe the principles of operation of a
range of input devices including scanners,
barcode readers, digital cameras,
keyboards, mice, touch screens,
microphones.
 Describe how these principles are applied
to real-life scenarios, for example:
scanning of passports at airports, barcode
readers at supermarket checkouts, and
touch screens on mobile devices.
 Describe how a range of sensors can be
used to input data into a computer
system, including light, temperature,
magnetic field, gas, pressure, moisture,
humidity, pH/acidity/alkalinity and
motion/infra-red.
 Describe how these sensors are used in
real-life scenarios, for example: street
lights, security devices, pollution control,
games, and household and industrial
applications
BBC Bite size contains notes, activities, tests, etc.:
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/ict/system/0ict
systemsrev1.shtml
Websites such as
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Input_device
Cambridge O Level Computer Studies Course book
pp.49–66
Cambridge O Level Computer Studies Revision Book
Chp12.3
Covering: 2D and 3D scanners, barcode readers, digital
cameras, keyboards, mice, touch screens, microphones
Level Computer Studies Course book pp. 66–71
Cambridge O Level Computer Studies Revision Book 2.3
Illustrated notes on sensors: www.O
Levelict.info/theory/2/sensor/
September
Section1: Theory of Computer Science
1.3 Hardware and software
1.3.4 Output devices
1.3.5 Memory, storage devices and media
1.3.6 Operating systems
Learning objectives
Activities or Learning resources
After completion of this lesson,
students will be able to:
1.3.4 Output devices
 Describe the principles of operation
of a range of output devices,
including: inkjet, laser and 3D
printers; 2D and 3D cutters;
speakers and headphones;
actuators; flat-panel display
screens.
 Principles are applied to real-life
scenarios for example: printing
single items on demand or in large
volumes; banks of digital displays;
use of small screens on mobile
devices; smart boards.
Websites such as:
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/ and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Output_device
Cambridge O Level Computer Studies Course book pp. 71–9
Cambridge O Level Computer Studies Revision Book Chap 12.3
1.3.5 Memory, storage devices and
media
 Show understanding of the
difference between: primary,
secondary and off-line storage.
Introduction to operating systems:
http://gcsecomputing.net/wpcontent/uploads/2012/01/OCR%20A451%202.1.2%
20CPU%20-%20Summary.pdf
Websites such as:
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/computer-rammemory-channel.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/ which has entries for various related
topics
Cambridge O Level Computer Studies Course book pp. 79–88
Cambridge O Level Computer Studies Revision Book Chap 12.4
Cambridge O Level Computer Studies Course Book
pp. 92–4 Cambridge O Level Computer Studies
Revision Book 13
Several pages describing operating systems and their



Describe the principles of operation
of a range of types of storage
devices and media including
magnetic, optical and solid state.
Describe how these principles are
applied to currently available
storage solutions, such as SSDs,
hard disk drives, USB flash memory,
DVDs, CDs and Blu-ray.
Calculate the storage requirement
of a file.
functions:
www.howstuffworks.com/operating-system1.htm
Windows, Linux, Android could be used as examples
Cambridge O Level Computer Studies Course book pp. 102–5
1.3.6 Operating systems


Describe the purpose of an
operating system.
Show understanding of the need
for interrupts.
October
Section1: Theory of Computer Science
1.2 Hardware and software
1.3.7 High- and low-level languages and their translator
1.3.1 Logic gates
Learning objectives
Activities or Learning resources
After completion of this lesson,
students will be able to:
1.3.7 High- and low-level languages
and their translators
 Show understanding of the need
for both high-level and low-level
languages.
 Show understanding of the need
for compilers when translating
programs written in a high-level
language.
 Show understanding of the use of
interpreters with high-level
language programs.
 Show understanding of the need
for assemblers when translating
programs written in assembly
language.
Cambridge O Level Computer Studies Course Book pp. 255–9
Cambridge O Level Computer Studies
Revision Book Chap 8.1
An introduction to different levels of programming language:
www.teachict.com/gcse_computing/ocr/216_programming/programming
_languages/home_programming_language s.htm
Cambridge O Level Computer Studies Course book pp. 257–9
Introduction to high-level language:
www.teachict.com/gcse_computing/ocr/216_programming/programming
_languages/miniweb/pg4.htm
Extension work:
 History of compiler writing:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_compiler_ writing
 First high-level language to have a complete compiler:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortran
1.3.1 Logic gates
 The first programming language to express operations
 Use logic gates to create electronic
using English-like statements:
circuits.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FLOW-MATIC
 Understand and define the
functions of NOT, AND, OR, NAND, Cambridge O Level Computer Studies Course Book
pp. 277–281
NOR and XOR (EOR) gates,
including the binary output
Cambridge O Level Computer Studies Revision Book
produced from all the possible
Chap 9
binary inputs.
 Draw truth tables and recognize a Some solutions here: http://nrich.maths.org/5967/solution
logic gate from its truth table.
 Recognize and use the following
standard symbols used to
represent logic gates.
 Produce truth tables for given
logic circuits.
 Produce a logic circuit to solve a
given problem or to implement a
given written logic statement,
such as IF (switch A is NOT on) OR
(switch B is on AND switch C is
NOT on) then alarm, X, sounds.
November
Section 2 Practical Problem-solving and Programming
2.2 Programming
2.2.1 Programming concepts
2.2.2 Data structures; arrays
Learning objectives
Activities or Learning resources
After completion of this topic,
students will be able to:
Cambridge O Level Computer Studies Course Book
pp. 39–42
2.2.1 Programming concepts
Theory notes on data types:
www.teachict.com/gcse_computing/ocr/216_programming/handling_data/
home_handling_data.htm




Declare and use variables and
constants.
Understand and use basic data
types: Integer, Real, Char, String
and Boolean.
Understand and use the
concepts of sequence, selection,
repetition, totaling and
counting.
Use predefined
procedures/functions
Cambridge O Level Computer Studies Coursebook pp. 260-8
Cambridge O Level Computer Studies Revision Book
Book Chap 8.3
Pseudo code in ‘Absolute beginner’s guide to programming’:
http://books.google.co.uk/
2.2.2 Data structures; arrays
 Declare the size of onedimensional arrays, for example:
A[1:n] .
 Show understanding of the use
of a variable as an index in an
array.
 Read values into an array using a
FOR … TO … NEXT loop.
December
Mid-Year Examination
January
Section 2 Practical Problem-solving and Programming
2.1 Algorithm design and problem-solving
2.1.1 Problem-solving and design
2.1.2 Pseudo code
Learning objectives
Activities or Learning resources
2.1.1 Problem-solving and design
For Notes, Practice Questions and Past papers Visit Our own
website for O-level computer studies that is maintained by
Dawood public school’s faculty.
https://sites.google.com/site/olevelcomputers/home










Show understanding that every
computer system is made up of
sub-systems, which in turn are
made up of further sub-systems.
Use top-down design, structure
diagrams, flowcharts, pseudo
code, library routines and subroutines.
Work out the purpose of a given
algorithm.
Explain standard methods of
solution.
Suggest and apply suitable test
data.
Understand the need for validation
and verification checks to be made
on input data (validation could
include range checks, length
checks, type checks and check
digits).
Use trace tables to find the value
of variables at each step in an
algorithm.
Identify errors in given algorithms
and suggest ways of removing
these errors.
Produce an algorithm for a given
problem (either in the form of
pseudo code or flowchart).
Comment on the effectiveness of a
given solution.
For Notes :
https://sites.google.com/site/olevelcomputers/aboutme/7010-notes
For Past Papers P1 :
https://sites.google.com/site/olevelcomputers/aboutme/7010-past-papers-p1
For Past Papers P3:
https://sites.google.com/site/olevelcomputers/aboutme/7010-past-papers-p3
For CIE Booklets:
https://sites.google.com/site/olevelcomputers/aboutme/7010-cie-booklets
February
Section 2 Practical Problem-solving and Programming
2.1 Algorithm design and problem-solving
2.1.2 Pseudo code
Learning objectives
Activities or Learning resources
2.1.2 Pseudo code
 Understand and use pseudo
code, using the following
commands and statements:
INPUT and OUTPUT (e.g. READ
and PRINT) totaling (e.g. Sum
← Sum + Number) counting
(e.g. Count ← Count + 1)
(Candidates are advised to try
out solutions to a variety of
different problems on a
computer using a language of
their choice; no particular
programming language will be
assumed in this syllabus.)
 Understand and use pseudo
code for assignment, using ←
 Understand and use pseudo
code, using the following
conditional statements:
IF … THEN … ELSE … ENDIF
CASE … OF … OTHERWISE …
ENDCASE
For Notes, Practice Questions and Past papers Visit Our own
website for O-level computer studies that is maintained by
Dawood public school’s faculty.
For Video Lectures Visit :
https://sites.google.com/site/computerstudies7010/Home/videos
March
Section 2 Practical Problem-solving and Programming
2.1 Algorithm design and problem-solving
2.1.2 Pseudo code
Learning objectives
Activities or Learning resources

Open Discussion Activity:
The topic will be covered through open discussion
session. Students will be asked to prepare a
presentation to highlight major ethical issues.
Understand and use pseudo code, using the
following loop structures:
FOR … TO … NEXT
REPEAT … UNTIL
WHILE … DO … ENDWHILE
Online quiz Activity:
http://quizlet.co/subject/computer-ethics/
April
Revision
Learning Objectives:




Revision Tests
Practice worksheets
Assignments
Past Papers
May
Final Exams