Data compression
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Why this why now
At this stage, pupils are ready to think more critically about how digital information is managed in a world that depends on efficiency and communication. Understanding data compression helps them grasp the balance between quality, speed, and storage. Learning about how data is reduced and transmitted develops analytical thinking and decision-making, encouraging pupils to weigh trade-offs and justify choices. These skills extend beyond Computer Science, supporting logical reasoning and informed judgement across all areas of learning.
Prior knowledge requirements
- Pupils recognise how data is stored in computer systems.
- Pupils recognise that data is stored in a variety of forms.
- Pupils recognise how common forms of data can be represented digitally.
- Pupils understand how to summarise large quantities of bits using bytes and multiples.
Threads
Why this why now
At this stage, pupils are ready to think more critically about how digital information is managed in a world that depends on efficiency and communication. Understanding data compression helps them grasp the balance between quality, speed, and storage. Learning about how data is reduced and transmitted develops analytical thinking and decision-making, encouraging pupils to weigh trade-offs and justify choices. These skills extend beyond Computer Science, supporting logical reasoning and informed judgement across all areas of learning.
Prior knowledge requirements
- Pupils recognise how data is stored in computer systems.
- Pupils recognise that data is stored in a variety of forms.
- Pupils recognise how common forms of data can be represented digitally.
- Pupils understand how to summarise large quantities of bits using bytes and multiples.
Data compression
In this unit pupils will be introduced to the concept of data compression and why it is needed. The will compare lossy and lossless compression methods and their typical uses. They will have the opportunity to compression methods such as run length encoding (RLE) and Huffman coding.
8 lessons in unit
slide decks, worksheet PDFs, quizzes and lesson overviews. You can select individual lessons from the Data compression unit and download the resources you need, or download the entire unit now. See every unit listed in our AQA secondary computer science curriculum and discover more of our teaching resources for AQA secondary computer science programmes.