Welcome to National Higher Computer Science
Software Design and Development
Database Design and Development
Computer Systems
Web Design and Development
Contact the Department
For more information about the National Higher course, please contact myself using the form provided.
Mr Wood - Teacher of Computer Science
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Course Rationale
National Courses reflect Curriculum for Excellence values, purposes and principles. They offer flexibility, provide time for learning, focus on skills and applying learning, and provide scope for personalisation and choice.
Every course provides opportunities for candidates to develop breadth, challenge and application. The focus and balance of assessment is tailored to each subject area.
This course highlights the central role of computing professionals as problem-solvers and designers, and the far-reaching impact of information technology on our environment and society.
It provides candidates with an understanding of the technologies and develops a wide range of practical skills that underpin our modern, digital world. The course also builds awareness of the importance of computing in meeting our needs today and for the future, in many fields including science, education, business and industry.
Purpose and Aims
The course introduces candidates to an advanced range of computational processes, where they learn to apply a rigorous approach to the design and development process across a variety of contemporary contexts. They also gain an awareness of the important role that computing professionals play in meeting the needs of society today and for the future.
The course enables candidates to:
1-Develop and apply aspects of computational thinking in a range of contemporary contexts
2-Apply knowledge and understanding of advanced concepts and processes in computing science
3-Apply skills and knowledge in analysis, design, implementation, testing and evaluation to a range of digital solutions with some complex aspects
4-Communicate advanced computing concepts and explain computational behaviour clearly and concisely, using appropriate terminology
5-Develop awareness of current trends in computing technologies and their impact in transforming and influencing our environment and society
Course Content
The course has four areas of study:
Software design and Development
Candidates develop knowledge and understanding of advanced concepts and practical problem-solving skills in software design and development. They do this by using appropriate modular software development environments. Candidates develop modular programming and computational-thinking skills by analysing, designing, implementing, testing, and evaluating practical solutions and explaining how these programs work. They use their knowledge of data types and constructs to create efficient programs to solve advanced problems.
Computer Systems
Candidates develop their understanding of how data and instructions are stored in binary form and factors affecting system performance. They gain an awareness of the environmental impact of intelligent systems, as well as the security risks, precautions and laws that can protect computer systems.
Database Design and Development
Candidates develop knowledge, understanding and advanced practical problem-solving skills in database design and development. They do this through a range of practical tasks, using a minimum of three linked tables and implemented in SQL. Candidates apply computationalthinking skills to analyse, design, implement, test, and evaluate practical solutions, using a range of development tools. Candidates apply interpretation skills to tasks involving some complex features in both familiar and new contexts.
Web design and Development
Candidates develop knowledge, understanding and advanced practical problem-solving skills in web design and development. They do this through a range of practical and investigative tasks. Candidates apply computational-thinking skills to analyse, design, implement, test, and evaluate practical solutions to web-based problems, using a range of development tools including HTML, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and JavaScript. Candidates apply interpretation skills to tasks involving some complex features in both familiar and new contexts.