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CS01: design, use and evaluate computational abstractions that model the state and behaviour of real-world problems and physical systems
Keyword
Definition
abstraction
simplifying some complex details in order to focus on the main points of a problem
computational abstraction
using a computer to make a simplified model of a complex problem
model
a simplified version of a complex problem
physical systems
a process or machine such as a car production line or theme park rollercoaster
real world problem
something that can be difficult to predict or calculate such as the weather or how a disease spreads
simulation
using a computer program to analyse or predict how a physical system or real world problem works
CS02: understand several key algorithms that reflect computational thinking [for example, ones for sorting and searching]
Keyword
Definition
algorithm
step by step instructions to solve a problem
binary search
a searching algorithm which only works if data is sorted in order. It works by repeatedly ignoring half of the data until it homes in on the value it's looking for.
bubble sort
a sorting algorithm that goes through a list of data, swapping values where necessary, until each value is in order
computational thinking
using logical problem solving skills to solve problems
data
values stored in a computer (e.g. numbers, text, pictures or files)
linear search
a searching algorithm works even if data is not sorted in order. It goes through each value in a list of data in turn, until it finds what it's looking for.
searching
finding a specific value within a list of data
sorting
arranging data in order
CS03: use logical reasoning to compare the utility of alternative algorithms for the same problem
Keyword
Definition
algorithm
step by step instructions to solve a problem
best case
the minimum number of steps an algorithm might need to finish (e.g. if a list has already been sorted)
data
values stored in a computer (e.g. numbers, text, pictures or files)
logical reasoning
comparing results from different algorithms to decide which is best suited to solve a particular problem with a particular set of data
pre-processing
work done on data in order to get it ready before it's suitable to be used with an algorithm (e.g. sorting before searching)
speed
how many steps an algorithm needs to take before it finishes
worst case
the maximum number of steps an algorithm might need to finish (e.g. if a list doesn't contain the value the algorithm is searching for)
CS04: use a graphical programming language (e.g. scratch) to solve a variety of computational problems
Keyword
Definition
clone
a copy of a sprite that allows you to have multiple versions of a sprite which all behave in the same way
costume
the appearance of a sprite that can be changed to make an animation
initialisation
the scripts that run right at the start of the program to make sure variables are set to sensible values and sprites start in the right places
message
data that gets sent from one sprite to another to trigger something to happen
programming language
a way of describing instructions that a computer needs to understand so that it can run them in order
script
a block of code that describes how a computer can follow an algorithm
sprite
an object that can be controlled with scripts to change its behaviour
stage
the background object which can't move but can have scripts and constumes
variable
something that stores some data which might change whilst the program runs
CS05: use a text based programming language (e.g. python) to solve a variety of computational problems
Keyword
Definition
debug
finding and fixing errors in a program
Integrated Development Environment
the software used to write, run and debug programs
iteration
instructions that cause some lines of code to be repeated multiple times
logic error
a type of error message that occurs when your code runs and does exactly what you've told it to do, but you told it to do the wrong thing.
programming language
a way of describing instructions that a computer needs to understand so that it can run them in order
runtime error
a type of error message that occurs when your code runs but then crashes because it tries to do something impossible
selection
instructions that make a choice which lines of code to run next
sequence
more than one instruction running in a specific order
syntax error
a type of error message that occurs when you break the rules of the programming language. The code refuses to run at all.
CS06: make appropriate use of data structures [for example, lists, tables or arrays]
Keyword
Definition
boolean
a data type which describes either True or False
data structure
a special type of variable which can store more than one value (e.g. a list)
data type
what sort of value is stored in a variable (e.g text, number or boolean)
identifier
the name of a variable
integer
a data type which describes a whole number (e.g. 1, 2 or 3 but not 1.34)
list
a data structure which can store multiple values in a specific order
naming convention
the set of rules a programmer should follow when choosing variable names
string
a data type which describes text e.g. "Hello" or "123!"
value
the data stored inside a variable
variable
a named location in memory which can store a value
CS07: design and develop modular programs that use procedures or functions
Keyword
Definition
algorithm
step by step instructions to solve a problem
function
a section of code that has been given a name which can be used more than once in a program in order to calculate and return a value.
identifier
the name of a function or procedure that describes what it does
modular
a type of program that has been split up into reusable parts, called procedures and functions
naming convention
the set of rules a programmer should follow when choosing variable names
procedure
a section of code that has been given a name which can be used more than once in a program in order to do something useful.
program
lines of program code which follow an algorithm in a way can be run
return value
data that gets sent back from a function to the part of the code that called it
CS08: understand simple Boolean logic [for example, AND, OR and NOT] and some of its uses in circuits and programming
Keyword
Definition
AND
a way of combining two boolean values where the output is only True if both inputs are also True
boolean
True or False (or On / Off)
boolean logic
making a decision based on a True / False (or On / Off) question
circuits
electronic chips which can make decisions based on boolean values
NOT
a way of inverting a boolean value so the output is the opposite of the input
OR
a way of combining two boolean values where the output is True if either (or both) inputs are True
programming
writing code that can make decisions based on boolean values
CS09: understand how numbers can be represented in binary, and be able to carry out simple operations on binary numbers [for example, binary addition, and conversion between binary and decimal]
Keyword
Definition
binary
using 0s and 1s to represent data
bit
a binary digit which stores a single 0 or 1
bit value
the amount that each bit is worth when you're working out the decimal value of binary data
byte
8 bits, storing a number between 0 and 255
decimal
using the digits 0-9 to represent data
least significant bit
the bit on the right of a binary value (always worth 1)
most significant bit
the bit on the left of a binary value (worth 128 for an 8 bit number)
nibble
4 bits, storing a number between 0 and 15
overflow
something that happens when you haven't got enough bits to store a large number
CS10: understand the hardware and software components that make up computer systems, and how they communicate with one another and with other systems
Keyword
Definition
central processing unit
the hardware component that executes instructions to process data
desktop publisher
a type of software that lets you design documents to be printed (e.g. booklets / newsletters)
file manager
a type of software that lets you move, copy or rename files
graphics editor
a type of software that lets you edit / create pictures
hard disk drive
slow, secondary storage which stores files so that they're kept even when the computer is switched off
hardware
physical components that make up part of a computer system (e.g. keyboard and CPU)
input device
a hardware component which sends data into the computer from the user (e.g. mouse / keyboard)
operating system
the software that manages all of the hardware and lets the user run different programs
optical drive
DVD, CD or Blu-Ray drive that uses lasers to read / write data
output device
a hardware component which sends data out of the computer back to the user (e.g. printer / screen)
presentation editor
a type of software that lets you create and display slides
software
programs that run on a computer system (e.g. Internet Explorer or Photoshop)
solid state drive
fast, secondary storage which stores files so that they're kept even when the computer is switched off
spreadsheet
a type of software that lets you analyse data and make calculations
web browser
a type of software that lets you browse the Internet
word processor
a type of software that lets you type and write letters / documents
CS11: understand how instructions are stored and executed within a computer system
Keyword
Definition
address
the location within memory to read data from or write data to.
central processing unit
a hardware component which is able to understand and run instructions to control the rest of a computer
computer system
hardware and software working together to process inputs and generate outputs
decode
the second stage of a CPU's job which involves looking at an instruction to work out what it means
execute
the third stage of a CPU's job which involves actually doing the current instruction
fetch
the first stage of a CPU's job which involves getting an instruction from memory
instructions
lines of code which tell a program what to do
memory
a place outside of the CPU which can store lots of values or instructions
register
a place within the CPU which can store a single value or instruction
CS12: understand how data of various types (including text, sounds and pictures) can be represented and manipulated digitally, in the form of binary digits
Keyword
Definition
analogue
a type of recording which hasn't been converted into binary 1s and 0s
ASCII
a way of represening text where each character in the American alphabet can be represented by a number less than 128
binary
a way of representing data that only uses 1s and 0s, which computers can process easily as electronic on / off signals
bit
one binary digit (a single 1 or 0)
bitmap
a way of representing images by splitting them up into pixels. The colour of each pixel can be described by a number (black & white) or numbers (colour)
character
a single letter or digit that can be used ot make up words or text
digital
a type of recording which has been converted into binary 1s and 0s
file size
the number of bits, bytes, kilobytes or megabytes needed to store a file
picture
a type of data where each pixel or shape in a picture can be represented by a number
pixel
an individual coloured dot that makes up part of a bitmap image
sample
an individual measure of the volume of a sound recording at any moment in time
sound
a type of data where each sample of a recording of speech or music and be represented by a number
string
a type of data that consists of zero or more characters to describe text
text
a type of data where each character of a written message can be represented by a number
vector
a way of representing images by splitting them up into lines and shapes. Each colour and shape can be described by numbers or characters
