GCSE Theory Resources

You have probably noticed that it has gone a little quiet of late on my Computing Blog. This is mainly due to the fact that my students are currently completing their first controlled assessment task and therefore there is not much to report. However, in the meantime, here is a collection of resources I have collated to help you teach the Computing theory element at GCSE level.


Programming

Card trick - Simple card trick (Courtesy of Mark Dorling - Digital School House) to teach Algorithms. The purpose of the card trick is to teach pupils about sequencing and modelling a sequence of instructions.

Teach-ICT (Algorithms) - Resources to support the teaching of Programming theory at GCSE level.
Cambridge GCSE Computing (Programming) - This topic will test the learners' understanding of fundamental programming concepts which are common to most imperative languages. 

Computing Hardware

General

How computers work - Activity, courtesy of CS Unplugged, which provides students a basic understanding of how computers work by having them act out a simple computer simulation.

Your PC, inside and out: Part 1 - (Free download courtesy of makeuseof.com)

In this guide Lachlan Roy breaks the computer down into its different components. For each component he describes its function, talks about best brands on the market, explains the different specifications to look out for and provides a bit of history, too. Part 1 focusses on the motherboard.

Your PC, inside and out: Part 2 - (Free download courtesy of makeuseof.com)

Part 2 highlights everything you need to know about CPUs, storage devices, memory, graphics cards and other computer components.

Memory

How many bytes in a Megabyte - Why is one kilobyte equal to 1024 bytes and not 1000 bytes? This article explains why.

How stuff works - Computer memory - How stuff works article on how memory works (also contains several related articles and quizzes)

The difference between RAM and ROM – Part A (Cambridge GCSE Computing Online)

The difference between RAM and ROM – Part B (Cambridge GCSE Computing Online)

GCSE Computing.net – Memory

Teach-ICT – Memory

PWN ICT (Click on Hardware and then Memory)

Storage devices

Storage devices top trumps - Lesson on storage devices using the classic game - top trumps.

RI Christmas Lecture 2008, Lecture 3: The Ghost in the machine, part 2 - Explanation of how a hard disk works –  Fast forward to 12 min 30 sec. 

How a CD works - Video explaining how a optical devices work.

How a hard disk works - Animation showing how a hard disk works.

CPU

Fetch Execute Cycle - Animation explaining the Fetch Execute Cycle.

CPU DART Activity - For those new to DART (Directed Activity related to Text), this activity is designed to support literacy. It focuses on the strategies of skimming, scanning and gap fill. The purpose of this DART activity is to give the students a brief overview of the main features of the CPU.

Mr. Clarkson talks about… The CPU - Video from a Computing at School Master Teacher explaining all about the CPU.

Teach-ICT – CPU

PWN ICT (Click on Hardware and then CPU)

Binary Logic

All very logical - Interactive activity on logic gates courtesy of the Royal Institute.

Logic gates using toys - Youtube video demonstrating how you can use every day items such as dominoes and marbles to teach logic gates.


Representing Data

Units of Data

Units of Data Measurement (60 second Mind Meld) - Bit, Nibble, Byte, Kilobyte etc . . . all explained in face-paced 60 second tutorial.

Teach-ICT - Representing Data

OCR - Representation of data in computer systems

Definitions of units - Cambridge GCSE Computing Online.

Binary to Denary

Counting the dots - A fun and engaging activity from CS Unplugged on Binary numbers. (Supporting video)

Binary Addition and Subtraction

1 + 1 = 10 - Lesson on Binary Addition and Subtraction

CISCO Binary Game

Binary Calculator

Binary Arithmetic Task

Hexadecimal

It's all about Hex! - Lesson on Hexadecimal. Includes Hex to Binary and Hex to Denary conversion.

Hexadecimal to Decimal - Video explaining how to change Hexadecimal to Decimal numbers.

Binary representation of Images

It's a Cracker! - Festive themed lesson explaining how a computer stores images. 

Colour by Numbers - This activity, courtesy of CS Unplugged, explores how images are displayed based on the pixel as a building block.

Binary representation of Characters

Representation of text - Explanation of how characters are represented in a computer system.

Ascii text to Binary converter

Ascii Binary conversion chart

Text to Ascii and Binary converter

Binary representation of Sound

Everything is Sound! - Lesson on how sound is represented and stored on a computer system.

Sound in Binary – Set of resources explaining how sound is stored on a computer including sample audio tracks compressed at different sampling rates. (Click on 2.1.4 representation of data --> Lesson 5 Sound in Binary)

Classzone – Frequency / Amplitude simulator

Binary representation of sound worksheet – Excellent worksheet courtesy of Emma Partridge (via CAS).

Extract from the CHRISTMAS LECTURES 2008: Chris Bishop - The Ghost in the Machine showing how sound is stored on a computer (Skip to 13:40).

Binary representation of Instructions

Following Instructions! - Lesson on how binary can be used to store instructions.

Teach-ICT (Binary representation of Instructions) - Resources to support the teaching of Binary Representation theory at GCSE level.


Software

Operating Systems

All systems operating - Lesson on Operating Systems.

Operating Systems – Introductory video on Operating Systems.

PWNICT: Operating Systems  –  PowerPoint explaining the purpose of the Operating System. (Click on Software, followed by Lesson 1 - OS)

BBC Bytesize (Operating Systems)

Teach-ICT (Operating Systems)

Utility Software 

Cambridge GCSE Computing (Software) - This group of videos, presented by Julie Hodgson, looks at the purpose and use of common utility programs

Teach-ICT (Utility Software)

Types of Software

Stephen Fry talks about free software - Video in which Stephen Fry talks about open source software.

Teach-ICT (Types of Software)


Computer Communications and Networking

Network Simulator - This great online flash based simulator allows students to create their own network without having to tear-apart your schools network!

Teach-ICT (Networks) - Resources to support the teaching of Network theory at GCSE level.


Database Theory

Teach-ICT (Database Concepts) - Resources to support the teaching of Database theory at GCSE level.

Cambridge GCSE Computing (Databases) - Resources to support the teaching of the Database theory element of the OCR GCSE Computing specification.


General

Books

GCSE Computing -  This excellent textbooks by Susan Robson are endorsed by OCR & AQA and cover the full specification for both GCSE Computing theory unit.

OCR Computing for GCSE - Written by examiners and experienced teachers, this book covers the theory unit swell as the two controlled assessment units for OCR specification.

Useful Websites

Teach-ICT (Computing) - Resources to support the teaching of Computing theory at GCSE level.

GCSEComputing.net - Set of excellent teacher notes to support the delivery of both the OCR and AQA theory elements. 

Computing At School (CAS) Online - Online community dedicated to teaching Programming / Computer Science in school. Contains a wealth of resources including Schemes of Work, Tutorials and discussions on best practice.

Computer Science Unplugged - CS Unplugged is a collection of free learning activities that teach Computer Science through engaging games and puzzles that use cards, string, crayons and lots of running around.