Computing
KS4 Computer Science
CIDA
The UK is a world leader in the creative digital industries, such as in the creation of visual effects for films and computer games. However, there is growing recognition that we need to build on and improve the UK’s capability and capacity for technical innovation and creativity in this area. The Pearson Edexcel Level 2 Certificate in Digital Applications has been designed for students with an interest in creative computing, for example digital graphics and animations, interactive multimedia products and computer games, allowing them to develop their digital design skills and enabling them to use digital tools to express their creativity in an informed and responsible manner.
Looking to the future:
This qualification aims to equip young people with the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to design and make, effective digital products for others to use. The skills developed will enable them to use digital tools as a means of expression to inform, persuade and entertain. This qualification provides abroad and solid foundation for further study of various aspects of creative computing, such as graphic design, web design, computer games design and interactive media. The course can equip students with the skills to go on to further study, including Media, ICT or Computer Science based qualifications.
What does the course entail?
Unit 1: Web Design (Onscreen exam worth 25% of the overall course)
Whenyour attention is captured by a web page advertising a competition, promotingan event or launching a new product, what makes you stop and look? Don’t befooled by technical wizardry. It may have spectacular images, eye-catchinganimation or attention grabbing text, but what makes it effective is the waythe components work together.
This unit aims to give students the knowledge and skills needed to produce attention grabbing web products using web authoring software, multimedia assets and navigation features. Throughout the examination students will demonstrate their ability to design, build and test a web product in a practical computer-based examination.
Unit 4: Game Making (Controlled assessment worth 75% of the overall course)
The computer game industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the economy.Some games have crossed over into blockbuster entertainment territory, with people queuing overnight to get the latest releases. What makes some games better than others? How do designers come up with good ideas and how do these initial ideas get transformed into games that people want to play? Throughout this unit students will learn about different types of computer games, investigate what makes a game successful and learn how to plan, design and create great games for others to play. Students will complete this work in controlled conditions in the time allocated by the examination board.
Year 9 | Year 10 | Year 11 |
| Preparation of skills for both controlled assessment and examination. This will include the development of skills in web design and game making. The software used will include Serif Web Plus and game maker. | Completion of Unit 1: Developing Web products examination. This will usually be sat in the January with preparation taking place in the run up to this.
Unit 4: game development. Students will begin to plan the game they want to create for their controlled assessment.
| Unit 4: game development. Students will use their plan to create the game for their controlled assessment. Students will code the game and then test it thoroughly to ensure it is fit for purpose and meets all of the criteria set by the examination board. Students will then begin to evaluate their game and suggest ways in which they could improve it using critical thinking. |
Links to relevant websites:
KS3 | KS4 |
| (This website will allow you to download scratch software free to your PC/Laptop. Students will use this to complete the computing section of their course.)
(This is a free coding website aimed at primary & secondary students.) | This is the exam board that run CIDA |
