Traditional computer systems

Computing

Computer architecture

The operating system

Boolean logic

Data science

Machine learning and artificial intelligence

In this unit pupils will explore the layers of computer systems from programs to the physical components that store and execute these programs. They will discover the fundamental binary building blocks that make up computer systems and how systems are evolving for developments such as AI.

Computer systems and data science

What is a general-purpose computer able to do?

Which device is most likely to be a single-purpose device?

The program follows instructions to process the data.

Put these steps in order for how a computer processes data using a program:

a set of instructions that tells a computer what to do

information like text, numbers, or images that a computer processes

software that manages a computer’s hardware and runs other programs

a device designed to run many different types of software

a device made to do one specific job very efficiently

Match each keyword to its correct description:

general-purpose computers run many programs; single-purpose do one job well

general-purpose computers are always faster

Which statement is correct about general-purpose computers and single-purpose devices?

used for calculations and organising data

Put these steps in order for using a word processor:

Which of these devices is designed to do many different tasks?

Which device is most likely to have a single, specific purpose?

used for many different tasks like homework and games

used for programming and physical computing

Starter Quiz

What is a computer program?