Computer Science GCSE Taster Web Course

Copyright © 2010 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

The Assessment and
Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 3644723) and
a registered charity (registered charity number
1073334). Registered address: AQA, D
evas Street, Manchester M15 6EX

1

aqa.org.uk/CPDonline

Version 1.0














08

Fall

Computer Science GCSE

Taster Web Course



Pre
-
course Handbook





To get the most from the web course, please read this document
in advance, carry out the pre
-
course
activities, and have this
handbook with you during the session.







Version 1.0



















Copyright © 2010 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

The Assessment and
Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 3644723) and
a registered charity (registered charity number
1073334). Registered address: AQA, D
evas Street, Manchester M15 6EX

2

aqa.org.uk/CPDonline


C
ontents



Page

Introduction

3



Pre
-
course activities

6



Links


14


























Copyright © 2010 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

The Assessment and
Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 3644723) and
a registered charity (registered charity number
1073334). Registered address: AQA, D
evas Street, Manchester M15 6EX

3

aqa.org.uk/CPDonline

Introduction


The AQA GCSE
Computer Science course is supported by Microsoft and aligned with the
Microsoft Technology Associate certifications (MTA). AQA is a Microsoft Premier Qualification
Partner.



How this will benefit teachers
?


Because of the close alignment between the GCSE and MTA, there are shared resources for
teachers, and extra benefits for students
.



Why ITSkillsman?


The IT Skills Management Company
are

delivering a series of courses to contribute to the skills
development of teachers delivering the Computer Science GCSE. The ten courses will be by
subscription, with this
first
no
-
cost introductory “Taster” course as a vehicle for providing
information a
bout the subscription course
s
, and to provide signposting to no
-
cost or lo
-
cost
support materials.

ITSkillsman are appointed as a Microsoft Academy Service Partner (MASP) a
nd
deliver programs of learning.


Resources


The “Taster” course will signpost learn
ing resources and intro
duce the subscription course that will
begin in October. The content will introduce and revise computing principles for teachers,
especially those delivering the AQA Computer Science GCSE
.



AQA


There are additional resources
available from the AQA website

at:

http://web.aqa.org.uk/

select “GCSE Computer Science”















Copyright © 2010 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

The Assessment and
Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 3644723) and
a registered charity (registered charity number
1073334). Registered address: AQA, D
evas Street, Manchester M15 6EX

4

aqa.org.uk/CPDonline

The Partners





AQA
–

The Awarding Body




The Teachers and the Students




Microsoft
–

The Microsoft Technology Associate
certification (MTA)




ITSkillsman
-

Microsoft Academy Service Partner




Certiport
–

test provider for the MTA













Copyright © 2010 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

The Assessment and
Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 3644723) and
a registered charity (registered charity number
1073334). Registered address: AQA, D
evas Street, Manchester M15 6EX

5

aqa.org.uk/CPDonline

Joining the Free Taster Session on July 17
th

at 1600
-
1800 2012 or on 13
th

September 2012
1600
-
1800


Please join using the following link:


https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/wwe_uk/join?id=THMZ4R&role=attend&pw=FE452893


(Attendee Entry Code: FE452893)



Instructions for ch
ecking your connections to the w
eb
inar session:


Please CHECK

in advance

that you have access to the webinar by clicking on the following link
and follow the instructions to install the client

if required
.


If you are not using a Windows PC then the
“
web client
”

will be the client you need to choose.


https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/wwe_uk/join?id=THMZ4R&role=attend&pw=FE452893



When the software is installed you will see

a screen that says ‘Microsoft Office Live Meeting’ and
prompts you for



Name;

email;

company/school


Once you have entered those you will then see the welcome page for this session.


If you have problems connecting to this site please

send an ema
il to

this support
alias:


ukplcsup@microsoft.com


OR ring them on


0870 8509442

referring to

AQA w
ebinar and
Live meeting ID


THMZ4R

and outline your issues.






Joining the w
ebinar

on the day:


Please
try and join the webinar a few minutes ahead of the start of the session to recheck your
connection and to check that you can hear the presenter.


At the start of the session there will be an introduction to the basics of Q&A

procedure during the
webinar a
nd how you can access and download materials.












Copyright © 2010 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

The Assessment and
Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 3644723) and
a registered charity (registered charity number
1073334). Registered address: AQA, D
evas Street, Manchester M15 6EX

6

aqa.org.uk/CPDonline

Pre
-
course Activities


Activity 1

–

Complete the Survey


Follow the link and c
omplete the Survey
for use
as a diagnostic tool
. It’s

based on the learning
outcomes
of the GCSE
.


https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LWCLQBR















Copyright © 2010 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

The Assessment and
Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 3644723) and
a registered charity (registered charity number
1073334). Registered address: AQA, D
evas Street, Manchester M15 6EX

7

aqa.org.uk/CPDonline

Activity 2

-

Obtain free resources



The AQA GCSE computer Science curriculum has been developed and mapped with reference to
The Microsoft Technology
Associate (MTA) learning outcomes. This has two important
consequences:


1.

Students have an opportunity to study for industry recognised certifications and a related
career path
.



2.

There is a consi
derable free resource available

for the MTA
certifications
th
at can support
and enrich
your

delivery of the GCSE





Visit The Microsoft IT Academy Program website at:



www.microsoft.com/en
-
us/itacademy/default.aspx


Select the “Career Paths” tab


In step 1, review the
“Career roadmap tool”






Visit the Wiley web site at :


www.wiley.com/


In the search box at the top right, search for “Microsoft Technology Associate”

Click on the book icon from the list, and se
lect “order an evaluation copy”


The GCSE outcomes mainly relate to Software Development Fundament
als, but you will also find
other titles
, particularly
Windows Development Fundamentals

and
Web Development
Fundamentals

very useful.












Copyright © 2010 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

The Assessment and
Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 3644723) and
a registered charity (registered charity number
1073334). Registered address: AQA, D
evas Street, Manchester M15 6EX

8

aqa.org.uk/CPDonline

Activity 3

-

Download
software



Please download the following
:




Appinventor


http://explore.appinventor.mit.edu/



(Google account required)
-

Recommend signing up and installing the emulator file below. Have a
play around wi
th the environment so that you’re comfortable with it.


Video tutorials will be provided after the presentation.


http://
explore.appinventor.mit.edu/content/windows

(Install file for Windows
–

Runs Emulator)





Visual Studio 2010 Professional


Students can access this free at Dream Spark

https://www.dreamspark.com/


If you find it h
ard to get a copy of Visual Studio 2010 Professional, you can access the express
version which is free. C# required for use with Microsoft Kinect SDK.


http://www.mi
crosoft.com/visualstudio/en
-
us/products/2010
-
editions/express





Kinect SDK Version 1.5 (Newest Release)


Free to access from the Kinect for windows website.

www.kinectforwindows.org


You may need a Kinect for

this tutorial
. If using a Kinect, make sure that you have a power adapter
for use with it.

You can purchase these from any local store.
You will still be able to compile
your program without the Kinect.


These do not come with the games console and shoul
d be purchased separately unless
you have purchased the Kinect on its own.














Copyright © 2010 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

The Assessment and
Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 3644723) and
a registered charity (registered charity number
1073334). Registered address: AQA, D
evas Street, Manchester M15 6EX

9

aqa.org.uk/CPDonline


Activity

4
-

Investigate Microsoft Digital Literacy Curriculum
-

MDLC



Please visit
:


www.microsoft.com/digitalliteracy


The content can be used as a skills scan or possible resource for your students
.


Version 3 of the Standard Curriculum is based on Windows 7 and Office 2010
.


The content is at Entry Level 3, but individual parts of the
content, for example Computer Basics,
may serve as an introduction to more advanced content
.













Copyright © 2010 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

The Assessment and
Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 3644723) and
a registered charity (registered charity number
1073334). Registered address: AQA, D
evas Street, Manchester M15 6EX

10

aqa.org.uk/CPDonline


Activity 5

–

Investigate links between the GCSE and The Microsoft Technology
Associate



Review the following pathways
:



http://www.certiport.com/Portal/desktopdefault.aspx?page=common/pagelibrary/MTA_overview.html



















Copyright © 2010 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

The Assessment and
Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 3644723) and
a registered charity (registered charity number
1073334). Registered address: AQA, D
evas Street, Manchester M15 6EX

11

aqa.org.uk/CPDonline

















Copyright © 2010 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

The Assessment and
Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 3644723) and
a registered charity (registered charity number
1073334). Registered address: AQA, D
evas Street, Manchester M15 6EX

12

aqa.org.uk/CPDonline

Check out
the
signposting

between AQA Computer Science GCSE and The Microsoft Technology
Associate

(
MTA
)


Subject Content
–

AQA GCSE

I
ndicative Microsoft Technology Associate

C
ontent

1.1 Constants, Variables and
Data Types


Software Development Fundamentals


1.2 Structures


Software Development Fundamentals


1.3 Program Flow Control

Software Development Fundamentals

1.4 Procedures and Functions


Software Development Fundamentals

Windows Development Fundamentals

Web Development Fundamentals


1.5 Scope of variables,
constants, functions and
procedures


Software Development Fundamentals

Windows Development Fundamentals

Web Development Fundamentals

1.6 Error Handling


S
oftware
Development Fundamental

Windows Development Fundamentals

Web Development Fundamentals


1.7 Handling External Data


Software Development Fundamentals

Windows Development Fundamentals

Web Development Fundamentals

1.8.1

Systems

Microsoft Digital Literacy Cu
rriculum


1.9 Algorithms

Software Development Fundamentals

Windows Development Fundamentals

Web Development Fundamentals

1.10 Data representation

Software Development Fundamentals

Windows Development Fundamentals

Web Development Fundamentals














Copyright © 2010 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

The Assessment and
Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 3644723) and
a registered charity (registered charity number
1073334). Registered address: AQA, D
evas Street, Manchester M15 6EX

13

aqa.org.uk/CPDonline

Subject
Content
–

AQA GCSE

Indicative Microsoft Technology Associate Content

1.11 Software Development life
cycle and Prototyping

Software Development Fundamentals

W
indows Development Fundamentals

Web Development Fundamentals


1.12 Application testing

Software
Development Fundamentals

W
indows Development Fundamentals

Web Development Fundamentals


1.13 Networking


Networking Fundamentals


1.14 Use of external code
sources

Software Development Fundamentals

Windows Development Fundamentals

Web Development
Fundamentals


1.15 Database concepts and
Queries

Database Administration Fundamentals


1.16 The use of computer
technology in society

Mobile Development Fundamentals

Gaming Development Fundamentals

Kin
ect, Gadgeteer,



Practi
c
al Programming

Mobile
Development Fundamentals

Gaming Development Fundamentals

Kinect, Gadgeteer














Copyright © 2010 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

The Assessment and
Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 3644723) and
a registered charity (registered charity number
1073334). Registered address: AQA, D
evas Street, Manchester M15 6EX

14

aqa.org.uk/CPDonline

Links
and Contacts


Contact details


Project Lead

Ray Chambers

Chambers_R@ucc.rutland.sch.uk

ICT Teacher

07545287493


AQA


http://web.aqa.org.uk/contact.php

Computer Science GCSE

0161 958 3860

ict
-
subjects@aqa.org.uk


ITSkillsman

Steve Astington

steve.astington@itskillsman.co.uk

01270 662636

07876 653029

www.itskillsman.co.uk
















Copyright © 2010 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

The Assessment and
Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 3644723) and
a registered charity (registered charity number
1073334). Registered address: AQA, D
evas Street, Manchester M15 6EX

15

aqa.org.uk/CPDonline

The Subscription Programme


ITSklillman

will be delivering a subscription
p
rogramme of 10 courses

with the title
of “Demystify
GCSE Computer Science”
.

This will be an

online support programme

and will be s
uitable for:





HoD ICT / Computing.



Teachers of ICT / Computing
.




Newly Qualified Teachers
.




Non
-
specialist teachers of Computing
.




Anyone interested in delivering the AQA GCSE Computer Science specification now or in
the future
.



This exciting new programme of support for GCSE Comput
er Science consists of ten, two
-
hour,
on
-
line ‘twilight’ sessions enabling you to develop your understanding of the specification
and
underpinning knowledge
without the need to leave your desk. The learning outcomes are mapped
directly to the AQA GCSE Computer Science specification and the
relate
d
Microsoft Technology
A
ssociate

(MTA) certifications
, to suit
those of you who are delivering either or both of these.


The programme focuses on

making the very best use of no
-
cost and low
-
cost resources, regular
‘surgery sessions’, an e
-
mail helpline an
d recordings of the live sessions.


The courses wi
ll be running at approximately two
-
weekly intervals from October 2012 through to
February 2013
. To sign up please visit the AQA
events page

.


This programme will provide you with the confidence to deliver the Computer Science GCSE and
link you wi
th fellow teachers and IT professionals. Your students will obtain the academic learning
of the GCSE and
,

in addition
,

guidance on career paths and the IT sector. Delegates on the
courses will receive access to e
-
learning, discounts on certification exams
and access to support.