CSC Stage 2

Unit 2ACSC: Stage 2

Unit Description
The unit description provides the focus for teaching the specific unit content.

The focus for this unit is developing systems and producing spreadsheet and database solutions. Students are introduced to the internal, interrelating components of computer-based systems in an industry context. They examine a variety of systems, build on spreadsheet and database skills and gain an appreciation of how these concepts and techniques are used in industry.

Unit Content
This unit includes knowledge, understandings and skills to the degree of complexity described below.  This is the examinable content of the course.  Typically 40 percent of the allocated time would be for system analysis and development content and 60 percent for managing data content.

Systems Analysis and Development

  • + Project Management Terms - Planning, Scheduling, Budgeting and Tracking
  • + System Development Methodologies - Prototyping, System Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
  • + Diagrammatic representation of the SDLC - Create Context Diagrams, Create Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs), Detect Errors, Create Level 0 DFD Diagrams, Apply correct symbols and rules, Define system boundaries
  • + Computer System Hardware and Software
  • + Storage: Primary and Secondary - Random Access Memory (RAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), Cache (L1, L2 and L3), Hard Disk Drive (HDD), Solid State Drive (SSD), Disk Storage
  • + Storage Capacities – Bit, Byte, Kilobyte, Megabyte, Gigabyte, Terabyte
  • + Appropriate hardware components for a computer system designed for a specific purpose – Input, Output, Processing, Storage
  • + Standard Operating Environment (SOE)
  • + Role of components in the Central Processing Unit (CPU) – Arithmetric Logic Unit (ALU), Control Unit (CU), Registers, Program Counter, System Clock, Data Bus, Address Bus and Control Bus.
  • + Machine Cycle (Fetch-Execute Cycle)
  • + Trouble-Shooting – Diagnosis, Solutions and Process
  • + Preventative Maintenance – Physical measures
  • + Purpose of an ICT code of conduct
  • + Ethics in the development and use of ICT systems – Privacy and Digital Communication etiquette

 

Managing Data

  • + Spreadsheet terms – Cell, Formula, Label and Worksheet
  • + Creating solutions using a spreadsheet application – Functions (Sum, Average, Max, Min, Count, CountIF), Charts, Lookups (HLookUp, VLookup), Sorting
  • + Hierarchical Structure of Data – Character/Byte, Field/Attribute, Record/Tuple, Table/Entity/Relation
  • + Data Protection Methods – Encryption (Private Key and Public Key), Authentication (Passwords, Biometric and Digital Signatures)
  • + Data Types – Number, Date/Time, Currency, Text (String), Boolean (True/False)
  • + Database Terms – Data, Field, Record, Relation, Atomicity, Data Integrity, Data Redundancy
  • + Issues relating to ethics in the storage of personal data
  • + Resolve simple many-to-many (M:N) relationship in a multi-table relational database system (maximum three entities)
  • + Create Entity Relationship Diagrams (ER) for a simple database solution (maximum three entities)
  • + Create a working relational multi-table database, which includes – data types, relations, primary and foriegn keys, relationships, cardinality (1:1, 1:M, M:1, M:N), Validation Rules, Forms, Reports, Queries
  • + Produce a visual interface to assist users of a database
  • + Produce user database documentation

 

 

Unit 2BCSC: Stage 2

Unit Description
The unit description provides the focus for teaching the specific unit content.

The focus for this unit is developing systems solutions and communication. Students are introduced to networking concepts, as applied to industry. Through the use of algorithms, students develop programming skills.  Students create solutions exploring the ethical, legal and societal implications of industry-based applications.

Unit Content
This unit includes knowledge, understanding and skills to the degree of complexity described below.  This is the examinable content of the course.  Typically 20 percent of the allocated time would be for developing software content, 60 percent for programming content and 20 percent for networks and communications content.

Developing Software

  • + Evolution of programming languages - Machine, Assembler, Procedural, Non-procedural, Object Oriented
  • + Purpose and function of software to operate a computer system - Operating Systems, Utility Software (File compression, defragmenter, anti-virus, anti-malware)
  • + Application Software
  • + Requirements for Software Licensing - Freeware, Open Source, Shareware
  • + Develop a system solution using the Software Development Cycle (SDC) – State the problem, plan and design, develop, test, evaluate
  • + Apply software development requirements – user needs, user interface

 

Programming

Apply the SDC to create solutions using psuedocode and an approved programming language.

  • + Characteristics of data types – Integer, Real (Floating Point Number), Boolean, Character
  • + Type of Code – Source, Executable
  • + Control Structures – Sequence, Selection (If-Then, If-Then-Else, Case or Nested If, Iteration While, repeat-until, For), Syntax and Logical Errors, Run-Time Errors
  • + Use flow charts to plan solutions
  • + Apply control structures – Sequence, Selection (One-Way, Two-Way, Multi-Way), Iteration (Test-First, Test-Last, Fixed)
  • + Apply programming code – constants, variables
  • + Applying Programming Techniques – Internal and External Documentation, Select and Apply Suitable test data for checking for solutions, use trace tables to test for a debug logic errors
  • + Use of number systems within a computer – binary, decimal and hexadecimal

 

Networks and Communications

  • + Functions of computer hardware components required for industry networks – router, switch, bridge, firewall, modem, Network Interface Card (NIC), Wireless Access Point (WAP)
  • + Types of Communication Networks – PAN, LAN, WAN, WiMAX, WAP
  • + Client / Server and Peer-to-Peer technologies
  • + Diagrammatic representation of network topologies for LAN and WAN
  • + Types of network topologies – Star
  • + Different types of transmission media – Twisted pair (UTP and STP), Fibre Optic, Satellite, Microwave, Cellular, Wireless
  • + Communication Terms – Protocols, Digital, Analogue, Ethernet
  • + Error detection in digital data transmission – parity bit, checksum
  • + Communication Protocols – FTP, HTTP, HTTPS, SMTP
  • + Security of information over the internet including – authentication, encryption, firewalls
  • + Malware types – viruses, worms, trojans, spyware
  • + Use diagrams to represent network topologies for LAN and WAN