Computer Science ATAR


What is ATAR Computer Science all about?

The Computer Science ATAR course focuses on the fundamental principles, concepts and skills within the computing field, and provides students with opportunities to develop problem-solving, practical and technical skills that will assist them to understand the roles of developers and users. The underpinning knowledge and skills in this course are practically applied to the development of computer systems (databases) and software (programming), and the connectivity between computers, peripheral devices and software (maintenance and networking).

 

Who should select these units in Year 11?

There are no pre-requisites for this course. While studying computers in lower school is advantageous, it is not required.

 

Pathway

Successful completion of these units will enable students to move onto Computer Science Units 3 & 4 in year 12 and continue into fields of Computer Science, Database Management and Programming.

Areas of Study

UNIT 1 – Developing computer-based systems and producing spreadsheet and database solutions

  • System Analysis and Development – project management, system development methodologies, data flow diagrams and computer hardware components
  • Managing Data – spreadsheets and relational databases

UNIT 2 – Developing computer-based solutions and communications

  • Developing Software – software, programming languages and software development lifecycle.
  • Programming – control structures, errors, data validation, algorithms and programming a solution.
  • Networks and Communications –types & hardware, protocols and security

To provide for different learning styles a variety of assessment tasks are used.  For each course of study tasks are selected from:

  • Project (40%)
    • Spreadsheet Development
    • Relational Database Development
    • Programming
    • Software Development
  • Theory Test (20%)
    • System Analysis and Development
    • Managing Data
    • Software Development
    • Networks and Communication
  • Practical Test (10%)
      • Spreadsheet
      • Databases
      • Programming
    • Examination (30%)
      • Semester 1
      • Semester 2

What is ATAR Computer Science all about?

The Computer Science ATAR course focuses on the fundamental principles, concepts and skills within the field of computing and provides students with opportunities to develop flexibility and adaptability in the application of these, in the roles of developers and users. The underpinning knowledge and skills in computer science are practically applied to the development of computer systems and software, and the connectivity between computers, peripheral devices and software used in the home, workplace and in education is examined. Students develop problem-solving abilities and technical skills as they learn how to diagnose and solve problems in the course of understanding the building blocks of computing.

 

Who should select these units in Year 12

Students need to have completed Computer Science ATAR 11 to select this course

UNIT 3 – Design and development of computer-based systems and database solutions

+ Design concepts and tools used to develop relational database systems. They consider the complex interactions between users, developers, the law, ethics and society when computer systems are used and developed.

Unit 4 – Design and development of communication systems and software solutions

+ Creation of software. They use algorithms and structured programming to design and implement software solutions for a range of problems using the Software Development Cycle.

+ Computer-based systems and their effect on society. Students consider networks, communication systems, including security and protocols.

 

 

 

 

 

 

To provide for different learning styles a variety of assessment tasks are used.  For each course of study tasks are selected from:

+ Project (30%)

  • Spreadsheet Development
  • Relational Database Development
  • Programming
  • Software Development

+ Theory Test (20%)

  • System Analysis and Development
  • Managing Data
  • Software Development
  • Networks and Communication

+ Practical Test (10%)

  • Spreadsheet
  • Databases
  • Programming

+ Examination (40%)

  • Semester 1
  • Semester 2

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