IB Year 1 Higher Level Computer Science

Monday 2 December 2024 - Block 1
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Daily Note

We are wrapping up our system fundamentals unit. 

The main idea for todays class is to revise for our test. As a reminder, 

ANY OF THESE system fundamental standards will be on the test: 
 

  • Identify the relevant stakeholders when planning a new system.
  • Describe methods of obtaining requirements from stakeholders.
  • Describe appropriate techniques for gathering the information needed to arrive at a workable solution.
  • Construct suitable representations to illustrate system requirements.
  • Describe the purpose of prototypes to demonstrate the proposed system to the client.
  • Discuss the importance of iteration during the design process.
  • Explain the possible consequences of failing to involve the end-user in the design process.
  • Identify the context for which a new system is planned.
  • Describe the need for change management.
  • Outline compatibility issues resulting from situations including legacy systems or business mergers.
  • Compare the implementation of systems using a client’s hardware with hosting systems remotely.
  • Evaluate alternative installation processes.
  • Discuss problems that may arise as a part of data migration.
  • Suggest various types of testing.
  • Describe the importance of user documentation.
  • Evaluate different methods of providing user documentation.
  • Evaluate different methods of delivering user training.
  • Identify a range of causes of data loss.
  • Outline the consequences of data loss in a specified situation.
  • Describe a range of methods that can be used to prevent data loss.
  • Describe strategies for managing releases and updates.
  • Define the terms: hardware, software, peripheral, network, human resources.
  • Describe the roles that a computer can take in a networked world.
  • Discuss the social and ethical issues associated with a networked world.
  • Discuss the social and ethical issues associated with the introduction of new IT systems
  • Define the term usability.
  • Identify a range of usability problems with commonly used digital devices.
  • Identify methods that can be used to improve the accessibility of systems.
  • Identify a range of usability problems that can occur in a system.
  • Discuss the moral, ethical, social, economic and environmental implications of the interaction between humans and machines.

ONE OF THESE standards will be assessed: 

  • Outline the architecture of the central processing unit (CPU) and the functions of the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and the control unit (CU) and the registers within the CPU.
  • Describe primary memory.
  • Explain the use of cache memory.
  • Explain the machine instruction cycle.
  • Identify the need for persistent storage.
  • Describe the main functions of an operating system.
  • Outline the use of a range of application software.
  • Identify common features of applications.
  • Define the terms: bit, byte, binary, denary/decimal, hexadecimal.
  • Outline the way in which data is represented in the computer.
  • Define the Boolean operators: AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR and XOR.
  • Construct truth tables using the above operators.
  • Construct a logic diagram using AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR and XOR gates.

There will be ONE PSEUDOCODE QUESTION

If time remains, we will explore some past papers with these questions. 

 

A little less comfortable

Content

You must understand all the standards associated with system fundamentals.  

Process

The key question  here is how does a system integrate into an organization? You should think about the relationship between a system and the organization it provides value to. You should be thinking about every stage of the lifecycle - introducing the system into the organization, changing the system, and legacy systems / data migration. 

Product

Look at any system within an organization and understand how it provides value to the organization. 

A little more comfortable

Content

You must understand all the standards associated with system fundamentals.  You must be able to teach other people about how to correctly design a system, and what factors come into play when designing a system. You should be able to write quiz questions for content and evaluate if an answer is correct, or which is answer is the most correct. 

Process

The key question  here is how does a system integrate into an organization? You should think about the relationship between a system and the organization it provides value to. You should be thinking about every stage of the lifecycle - introducing the system into the organization, changing the system, and legacy systems / data migration. You should plan these systems to support a small business, medium business or an enterprise business. 

Product

Look at any system within an organization and understand how it provides value to the organization. You should also evalaute how these systems might work better in an organization. 

Statement of Inquiry

The big idea for today is System fundamentals.

The essential questions for this topic are:

How do you design a system so it works really well for your client or customer?

It takes time to explore and really understand a big idea. If you want to
learn more about system fundamentals (which is connected to today's daily note), please click here .

We are learning this because as a designers must understand scientific and technical innovation. Designers use systems, models, methods, and processes to solve problems.



Reminders & routines:

Please read and follow these reminders:

  1. IF this_class == first_class_of_day:
         read_daily_bulletin()
     
  2. IF today == Friday:
         careers_in_computing()