Knightswood Secondary School

National 3/4/5

The Computing Science Courses aim to develop learners’ knowledge of the digital world – it brings together elements of technology, science and creative digital media – to develop computer-based solutions to problems.

Each Course aims to enable learners to:

• Introduce and develop computational thinking
• Develop knowledge and understanding of key concepts and processes in computing science
• Develop skills and knowledge in software and application-based development tools
• Apply skills and knowledge in analysis, design, implementation, testing and evaluation – to a range of digital solutions
• Communicate computing concepts and behaviour using appropriate terminology
• Develop an understanding of the role and impact of computing science in changing and influencing our environment and society

Computing Science comprises of 2 units:

• Software Design and Development
• Information System Design and Development

Each Course encourages learners’ to be successful by being responsible and creative in their use of technologies.  Leaners acquire many transferable skills including: creativity, problem solving, working independently and collaboratively; confidence and enterprise.

National 6/7 (Higher/Adv Higher)

The purpose of the Course is to encompass an advanced range of computational processes and thinking, and to apply a rigorous approach to the design and development process across a variety of modern-day contexts.

The Course aims to enable learners to develop and extend their understanding of:

• Develop and apply aspects of computational thinking
• 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 concisely, using appropriate terminology
• Develop awareness of current trends in computing technologies and their impact in transforming and influencing our environment and society

A number of unifying themes will exist across the Course, including technological progress and trends, the relationship between software, hardware and system performance, and information representation and transfer, as a core component of any computation. These are used to explore a variety of specialist areas through practical and investigative tasks.