New
New
Year 5

Computer systems in society

I can recognise the role of computer systems in our lives.

New
New
Year 5

Computer systems in society

I can recognise the role of computer systems in our lives.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Computer systems can be used to manage tasks.
  2. Computer systems require input from humans.
  3. Computer systems benefit society in different ways.

Keywords

  • System - a number of things (parts, components, people) that work together to complete or perform a task

  • Benefit - something that has a good or helpful effect

Common misconception

Humans have no involvement in computer systems. They are run by computers and don't need humans.

Humans are still required for some elements of computer systems otherwise they are not providing anything useful that humans can use.


To help you plan your year 5 computing lesson on: Computer systems in society, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

We will be discussing a lot of real-life situations - road crossings, catalogue stores - it is useful to be familiar with these situations and how systems apply to their operation.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a system?
a single part working on its own
a machine that processes data
a set of random components
Correct answer: a group of things working together to complete a task
Q2.
How do computer systems communicate with other devices?
by using input devices
Correct answer: by sending and receiving data
by printing documents
by storing information
Q3.
Match the keywords to their definitions:
Correct Answer:input,data sent to a program to be processed

data sent to a program to be processed

Correct Answer:output,the result of processed data

the result of processed data

Correct Answer:process,a program running on a computer

a program running on a computer

Correct Answer:system,parts working together to complete a task

parts working together to complete a task

Q4.
Order the steps in a digital system:
1 - receive input
2 - process data
3 - display output
Q5.
Which of these is not part of a digital system?
input
process
output
Correct answer: random parts working separately
Q6.
Which of these is an example of an input?
a printed document
a running program
Correct answer: clicking a mouse
a computer screen

6 Questions

Q1.
What is automation?
humans working together to complete a task
Correct answer: a task completed by a machine without human help
a process that always needs human input
a system that does not work
Q2.
What is a benefit of using computer systems?
They work slower than humans.
They always require human input.
Correct answer: They can manage tasks efficiently.
They cannot communicate with other devices.
Q3.
Which of these tasks is an example of automation?
Correct answer: a computer running a program without help
typing a document
a person using a calculator
writing a letter by hand
Q4.
How do computer systems benefit society?
They always replace humans.
They slow down processes.
They never need input.
Correct answer: They make tasks more efficient.
Q5.
Which of these requires human input?
Correct answer: a person entering data into a spreadsheet
a program running automatically
a computer calculating data
a printer printing a document
Q6.
Match the tasks to their roles in a system:
Correct Answer:human,provides input and controls the system

provides input and controls the system

Correct Answer:computer,processes data

processes data

Correct Answer:input device,sends data to the system

sends data to the system

Correct Answer:output device,displays processed data

displays processed data