ICT & COMPUTER SCIENCE

Purpose
Computing education equips our students to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. Computing has deep links with mathematics, science and design and technology, and provides insights into both natural and artificial systems. The core of computing is computer science, in which students are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. Building on this knowledge and understanding, students are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content. Computing also ensures that students become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology – at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.

Aim
The curriculum for computing aims to ensure that all students:

  • Can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
  • Can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
  • Can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.

At Korean International School, the Primary students learn to become critical and increasingly autonomous users of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and use and explore the concepts, tools, and relevant technical terms associated with  ICT systems and software. Aside from internet safety, they will also understand and create engaging computer-based solutions to problems using algorithms and a basic-level block-based programming language.

Computer Science (Following Cambridge Lower Secondary Computing 0860 syllabus) at the Secondary Level plays an important role in developing students’ problem-solving skills and the ability to utilize modern and advanced technological tools for learning and use in daily life. 

For Lower Secondary, the students will explore the process of examining the connection between individual elements to construct operational systems and networks. They will comprehend the efficient and secure transmission and processing of data across various networks. The students will apply computational thinking to devise accurate sets of instructions and break down intricate problems into manageable, straightforward steps. In addition, they will compose concise computer programs that resolve problems in diverse situations.

Moreover, students will examine the utilization of computers in gathering, storing, organizing, and modeling data within spreadsheets and other databases. They will also study basic coding and robotics. Moreover, they will learn how to use more advanced spreadsheets, databases, and document processing skills that will be beneficial for communication, data collection, and data handling.

Then in the Upper Secondary, students will transition to learning the fundamentals of Computer Science where they will develop an interest in computational thinking and an understanding of the principles of problem-solving using computers. They will apply this understanding to create computer-based solutions to problems using algorithms and a high-level programming language. The students will also develop a range of technical skills, and the ability to effectively test and evaluate computing solutions.

The Computer Science curriculum for Key Stage 3 covers two important categories:

  • Computing (0860)
  • Digital Literacy (0082)

In Computing (0860),  students will be able to develop computational thinking skills. Computer Science is basic coding. Put simply, coding is giving instructions to a computer in a language it understands. The students will have an understanding of the main principles of solving problems using basic coding skills.

The students will demonstrate how to:

  • plan an interactive program using abstraction;
  • create and test an interactive program using selection, input, and output;
  • predict the output of an interactive program that uses input and selection;
  • create and formally test an interactive program using selection, input, and output;
  • correct (debug) a short interactive program containing more than one error.

On the other hand, in Digital Literacy, students will learn how to be safe, responsible, and respectful online. They will be able to develop an understanding of the internet as a means of communication and its associated risks.

Furthermore, they will also understand the importance of online privacy. Learning how to be a good digital citizen comes hand-in-hand with learning how to be a considerate person, nurturing a sense of empathy towards others, and developing healthy relationships. They will learn digital literacy skills such as identifying and preventing cyberbullying. Also, In relation to respect, students will learn that anything posted on social media is going to stick around. The old common phrase “think before you speak” is now also the same as “think before you post online”.

(IGCSE / Computer Science 0478 / Optional subject) 

This is an introduction to Computer Science. The objectives are to have a deeper understanding of computer systems, algorithms, programming, and logic. Students will also appreciate current and emerging computing technologies, the benefits of their use, and recognize their potential risks. This will provide the students with the skills necessary to solve computer-based problems using a high-level programming language and an understanding of the component parts of computer systems and how they interrelate. 

The topics that will be covered in detail are data representation, data transmission, hardware, software, the internet and its uses, automated and emerging technologies, algorithm design and problem-solving, programming, databases, and boolean logic. Learning all of these topics will provide an ideal foundation for progression to Cambridge International AS & A Level and is valuable for other areas of study and everyday life.

(AS and A levels / Computer Science 9618 / Optional subject)

AS & A Level Computer Science encourages students to meet the needs of higher education courses in computer science as well as twenty-first-century digital employers. It also encourages them to think creatively, by applying practical programming solutions, demonstrating that they are effective uses of technology.

Students will develop computational thinking & programming skills to solve computer science problems. This curriculum will help them develop a range of skills such as thinking creatively, analytically, logically, and critically. They will also be able to appreciate the ethical issues that arise with current and emerging computing technologies. The key concepts for AS & A Level Computer Science are computational thinking, programming paradigms, communication, computer architecture and hardware, and data representation and structures.