Computer science basics

Units

1. 1

   How computers work

   3 lessons

   1. Hardware and softwareName the five parts of a computer (input, output, processor, memory, storage) and tell hardware, the parts you can touch, from software, the instructions that run on them.
   2. Designing for usersDesign a small project that joins hardware and software, and improve it by asking what real people need and watching them use it.
   3. Troubleshooting a computerFind and fix a computer problem systematically: describe it, try the simplest causes first, change one thing at a time and record what happened.
2. 2

   Algorithms and problem solving

   3 lessons

   1. What an algorithm isExplain that an algorithm is a precise sequence of steps, and write one as a flowchart and as pseudocode.
   2. Breaking a problem into partsDecompose a big problem into smaller subproblems, solve each one, and put the solutions together.
   3. Comparing algorithmsCompare two algorithms for the same task by counting their steps, using linear search and binary search.
3. 3

   Programming: sequences, variables and loops

   3 lessons

   1. VariablesCreate variables that store data, read their values, and change them as a program runs.
   2. Sequences and loopsWrite programs that run steps in sequence and use repeat and forever loops to avoid writing the same steps again.
   3. Events and inputWrite programs that respond to events such as clicks and key presses, and that ask the user for input and use the answer.
4. 4

   Conditionals, functions and debugging

   3 lessons

   1. ConditionalsUse if, else and boolean conditions to make a program choose between actions.
   2. Functions and parametersCreate and call functions, and use parameters so one function can do a job with different values.
   3. Testing and debuggingTest a program with chosen cases and debug it with a systematic process: reproduce, locate, fix and retest.
5. 5

   Data and how computers store it

   3 lessons

   1. Binary and representing dataShow how numbers, text and images are stored as bits, reading and writing small binary numbers and explaining how letters and pixels become 0s and 1s.
   2. Collecting and organizing dataCollect data with a clear question, put it in a table with fields and records, and choose a chart that shows it well.
   3. Finding patterns in dataUse data to find patterns, make a claim backed by evidence, and say why a pattern does not prove a cause.
6. 6

   Networks, the internet and cybersecurity

   3 lessons

   1. How the internet worksDescribe how data moves across the internet as packets that travel through routers and are put back together at the other end.
   2. Protocols and addressesExplain IP addresses, how DNS turns a name into an address, and how protocols such as HTTP set the rules for a conversation.
   3. CybersecurityDescribe threats such as phishing and protections such as strong passwords, two-step sign-in and encryption.
7. 7

   Designing and building a project

   3 lessons

   1. Planning a projectDefine a problem, gather requirements from users and plan the steps of a program before writing it.
   2. Building and testingBuild a project in small stages, test each stage, and fix problems before adding more.
   3. Presenting and reflectingPresent a finished project clearly, explain the choices made, and reflect on what to improve.
8. 8

   Artificial intelligence and machine learning

   3 lessons

   1. What artificial intelligence isDescribe what AI does, give everyday examples, and explain how it differs from an ordinary program that follows rules a person wrote.
   2. How machines learn from dataExplain training data, patterns and models in machine learning, and why a model is tested on data it has not seen.
   3. Limits, bias and responsible AIDescribe bias and errors in AI, explain where they come from, and say why human judgment matters.
9. 9

   Computing and society: ethics and privacy

   3 lessons

   1. Computing and cultureExplain how computing has changed work, school and daily life, and weigh one benefit of a change against one cost.
   2. Equity and accessExplain the digital divide, name what causes it, and describe how a designer can make a tool work for people with different needs.
   3. Privacy and ethicsExplain how personal data is collected and used, and use simple ethical questions to decide what to share and what to do with other people's data.