Learning aim A: Examine the computational thinking skills and principles of computer programming

A1 Computational thinking skills

Application of computational thinking skills involved in analysing problems and processes,

in order to identify solutions that can be developed into software applications.

• Decomposition:

o identifying and describing problems and processes

o breaking down problems and processes into distinct steps

o describing problems and processes as a set of structured steps

o communicating the key features of problems and processes to others as relevant.

• Pattern recognition:

o identifying common elements or features in problems or systems

o identifying and interpreting common differences between processes or problems

o identifying individual elements within problems

o describing patterns that have been identified

o making predictions based on identified patterns.

• Pattern generalisation and abstraction:

o identifying information required to solve an identified problem

o filtering out information required to solve an identified problem.

• Representing parts of a problem or system in general terms by identifying:

o variables

o constants

o key processes

o repeated processes

o inputs

o outputs

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 A2 Uses of software applications

The uses and implications of software applications in solving problems and fulfilling needs,

including:

gaming and entertainment

productivity

information storage and management

repetitive tasks or dangerous tasks

social media

search engines

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A3 Features and characteristics of programming languages

• The uses and applications of different types of high and low-level programming languages,developed to assist in the solution of particular problems, such as:

o procedural, e.g. C, Perl®, PythonTM

o object-orientated, e.g. C++, C#®, Java®

o event-driven, e.g. Visual Basic®

o machine, e.g. Assembler

o mark-up, e.g. HTML.

• Factors to compare and contrast in programming languages, including:

o hardware and software needed for running and developing a program

o special devices required

o performance

o preferred application areas

o development time

o ease of development

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A4 Constructs and techniques and their implementation in different languages

• Programming languages, constructs and techniques, including:

o command words

o constants and variables, local and global variables

o data types – character, string, integer, real, Boolean

o statements – assignment, input and output, sequence, iteration, selection

o logical operations.

• Other constructs, such as:

o subroutines, functions and procedures

o string handling, including examining single characters and substrings

o arrays – two-dimensional and three-dimensional, splitting and joining

o file handling – open, read, write, close, database

o data structures

o event handling.

• Documentation of code.

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A5 Principles of logic applied to program design Principles, including:

• iteration – repetition of a computational procedure applied to the result of a previous application

• mathematical logic – inference, consistency, completeness, verification by truth tables

• propositional dynamic logic to demonstrate the function of algorithms

• use of sets, e.g. properties and interrelationships of sets of data, search/filter sets of data.

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A6 Quality of software applications How the design and implementation of a software application affects quality, including:

• efficiency/performance, e.g. the system resources consumed by the program, CPU cycles, processor time, memory space, accessing storage media

• maintainability, e.g. ease with which a program can be modified by its present or future developer in order to carry out corrective, perfective or adaptive maintenance

• portability, e.g. range of computer hardware, operating systems and platforms on which the source code can be run/compiled/interpreted

• reliability, e.g. accuracy and the consistency of its outputs

• robustness, e.g. quality of coding and testing to ensure that extreme and erroneous data can be processed without causing the program to crash

• usability, e.g. ease with which an end user can use the program. 

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Learning aim B: Design a software solution to meet client requirements

B1 Software development life cycle

Application of the software development life-cycle stages, including:

• assessment of the requirements for an identified problem

• design specification, e.g. scope, inputs/outputs, user interface, timescales

• develop code

• implementation

• test, e.g. white box and black box testing, refinement, optimisation

• maintenance, e.g. corrective, adaptive and increased functionality.

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B2 Software solutions design

• Problem definition statements, to include: intended users, full summary of the problem to be solved, constraints, benefits, nature of interactivity, complexity of problem.

• Purpose and any other requirements as defined in a client brief.

• Features of software:

o description of main program tasks, input and output formats

o diagrammatic illustrations, to include screen layouts, user interfaces, navigation

o algorithms and processing stages, to include flowcharts, pseudocode and events

o data structures

o data storage

o control structures

o data validation

o error handling and reporting.

• Choice of language.

• List of pre-defined programs and/or code snippets.

• List of ready-made and/or original assets such as a digital animation, digital graphic, digital audio and video.

• Feedback from others to help refine alternative design ideas/prototypes and make decisions.

• Test plan with test data to include typical, extreme and erroneous data.

• Technical and design constraints, e.g. connectivity, memory storage, programming languages.

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Learning aim C: Develop a software solution to meet client requirements

C1 Software solutions development

The process of software development, including:

• the development environment to produce code

• the development and refinement of software programs using a suitable programming language

• library routines, standard code and user-generated subroutines used to add to the efficiency of a program.

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C2 Testing software solutions

Testing of the programs, including:

• test plan

• test data – typical, extreme and erroneous data

• selection and use of appropriate types of testing to test part or all of a program, e.g. functional testing, stability, compatibility.

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C3 Improvement, refinement and optimisation of software applications

Methods of improving, refining and optimising, e.g.:

• annotated code to allow effective repair/debugging of the program and maintainability

• program compilation for a designated platform or environment

• review – quality of a program in terms of reliability, usability, efficiency/performance, maintainability, portability

• eliciting feedback from users

• making use of the outcomes of testing and feedback

• documenting changes to the design and solution.

Anonymous Assessment - Learners assess an anonymous piece of work containing deliberate mistakes against given success criteria.

C4 Review of software solutions

Evaluation of software solutions, including:

• suitability for audience and purpose

• ease of use

• quality of the software solution, e.g. reliability, usability, efficiency/performance, maintainability, portability

• constraints of the programming language

• other constraints, e.g. time, programmer knowledge, rules of languages vary with implementation

• strengths and weaknesses of the software solutions

• improvements that can be made

• optimising software solutions, e.g. improving robustness, improving efficiency of the code, adding additional functionality.

Anonymous Assessment - Learners assess an anonymous piece of work containing deliberate mistakes against given success criteria.

C5 Skills, knowledge and behaviours

• Planning and recording, including the setting of relevant targets with timescales, how and when feedback from others will be gathered.

• Reviewing and responding to outcomes, including the use of feedback from others, e.g. IT professionals and users who can provide feedback on the quality of the program and its suitability when assessed against the original requirements.

• Demonstrating own behaviours and their impact on outcomes, to include professionalism, etiquette, supportive of others, timely and appropriate leadership, accountability and individual responsibility.

• Evaluating outcomes to help inform high-quality justified recommendations and decisions.

• Evaluating targets to obtain insights into own performance.

• Media and communication skills, including:

o the ability to convey intended meaning, e.g. written (email, design documentation, recording documentation, reports, visual aids for presentation use); verbal communication requirements (one to one and group informal and formal situations)

o use of tone and language for verbal and written communications to convey intended meaning and make a positive and constructive impact on audience, e.g. positive and engaging tone, technical/ vocational language suitable for intended audience, and avoidance of jargon

o responding constructively to the contributions of others, e.g. supportive, managing contributions so all have the opportunity to contribute, responding to objections, managing expectations and resolving conflict

Anonymous Assessment - Learners assess an anonymous piece of work containing deliberate mistakes against given success criteria.