About the course
This course introduces students to computer programming. Students will plan and write simple computer programs by applying fundamental programming concepts, and learn to create clear and maintainable internal documentation. They will also learn to manage a computer by studying hardware configurations, software selection, operating system functions, networking, and safe computing practices. Students will also investigate the social impact of computer technologies, and develop an understanding of environmental and ethical issues related to the use of computers.

Introduction to Computer Studies
Course Credit
1
Course Price
$ 550.00
Course Developer
My Learning Oasis
Prerequisite(s) (Text)
None
Course Code
Department Head & Contact Information
ICS2O
Ravi Sharma (ravi@mylearningoasis.com)
Course Type
Open
Grade Level
Grade 10
Course Development Date
June 10th, 2021
Course Outline
Understanding Computers
Students will be introduced to the basics of computer hardware, software, and firmware and their differences. They will explore the functions/uses of such parts as CPU, RAM, Cache RAM, Chipset, BIOS, Sound Card, Videocard, Mainboard, Operating systems, application softwares, and ROM. They will look at nefarious softwares such as viruses and malwares and how to get an indication that the system may be infected by using antivirus softwares to defend against them.
Expected Hours of Instructions: 35 hours
Introduction to Programming
Students will be introduced to the most basic language that computers understand, the ‘ones’ and ‘zeros’. This unit will introduce students to flowcharts and algorithms to solve a problem. They will then convert the flowchart to mnemonic. They will then finally write a program in a high level language and run it. At this point they will be introduced to debugging a program. Programming structures such as if/else and loops will be introduced as well.
Expected Hours of Instructions: 35 hours
Computers and Society
In this unit students will look at the impact that computers have on the environment. These may include but are not limited to environmental deterioration, environment enhancement (as in contributing to the making of more efficient machines that use fossil fuels, thereby reducing the carbon footprint). Students will explore ways to reduce waste disposal in context. They will explore new research in the areas of computing and the effect they may have on society and the environment. Finally, they will explore job opportunities in the area of computer science.
Expected Hours of Instructions:15 hours
Project
Students will brainstorm to find a project that will involve all of the concepts addressed in this programming project. They will develop a program to demonstrate their learning and present it to the class. This project is worth 15% of the course mark.
Expected Hours of Instructions: 23 hours
FINAL EXAM
This is a proctored exam worth 30% of the final grade in this course
Expected Hours of Instructions: 2 hours
Total 110 hours
Resources
No textbook is required for this course. All notes will be provided. In the event of programming, the students will be required to download a free version of Java or C or C# or
Overall Curriculum Expectations
A. Understanding Computers
A1 describe the functions of different types of hardware components, and assess the hardware needs of users
A2 describe the different types of software products, and assess the software needs of users
A3 use the basic functions of an operating system correctly
A4 demonstrate an understanding of home computer networking concepts
A5 explain the importance of software updates and system maintenance to manage the performance and increase the security of a computer.
B.Introduction to Programming
B1 describe fundamental programming concepts and constructs;
B2 plan and write simple programs using fundamental programming concepts;
B3 apply basic code maintenance techniques when writing programs
C. Computers and Society
C1 describe key aspects of the impact of computers and related technologies on society
C2 describe computer use policies that promote environmental stewardship and sustainability;
C3 describe legal and ethical issues related to the use of computing devices;
C4 describe postsecondary education and career prospects related to computer studies.
Special Accommodations
Only Some students are able, with accommodations, to be part of a regular course curriculum and to demonstrate independent learning. These accommodations allow access to the course without any dilution of the knowledge and skills the student is expected to demonstrate.
These required accommodations to facilitate the student’s learning will be identified in his or her IEP (see IEP Standards, 2000, page 11*). It is likely that IEP for may or all courses will reflect the same accommodations. The instructions and accommodations are geared to meet the diverse needs of learners. The three types of accommodations that are going to be used are:
i) Instructional accommodations - changes in teaching/learning strategies facilitated by different styles of presentation; methods of organization; the use of technology and multimedia.
ii) Environmental accommodations - Certain classroom settings and preferential seating may benefit these students.
iii) Assessment: assessment procedures that enable the student to demonstrate his or her learning, such as Multiple Intelligence Theory, giving more time to complete tasks (see page 29 of the IEP Resource Guide, 2004, for more examples).
For students who require accommodations for only the mathematics courses, the assessment and evaluation of their achievement will be based on the appropriate course curriculum expectations and the achievement levels outlined in this document. The IEP box on the students’ Provincial Report Cards will not be checked, and no information on the provision of accommodations will be included.
* Taken from: Ministry of Education, Ontario. Extracted from The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 10 to 12: Computer Studies, 2008 Pg 21-24 ; Date of extraction: Sunday, March 14, 2021
Program Considerations For English Language Learners
Students from a variety of cultural and linguistic backgrounds. For many of these students, English is not their spoken language. They may be coming from highly sophisticated educational systems, while others may have come from regions where access to formal schooling was limited. These students offer a rich addition to the classroom experience by way of their background knowledge and experience. All teachers will assist with their English-language development. In mathematics the teachers will include appropriate adaptations and strategies in their instructions and assessments to facilitate the success of the English language learners in their classrooms. Some of these strategies and adaptations are: modification of some or all of the course expectations so that they are challenging but attainable for the learner at his or her present level of English proficiency, given the necessary support from the teacher
Teaching/Learning Strategy
The key learning strategy at My Learning Oasis Elite Private School is Constructivism. This format facilitates learning by many techniques, most or all of which will be adopted in the classroom. The most dominant of these is group learning. The facilitator places students of different backgrounds in the same group so that they can feed off each other. Each may bring to the table a different reasoning strategy to facilitate problem-solving. Now, each student becomes a learner and a teacher at the same time, as he/she has to communicate his/her solution.
This builds the students' knowledge base and by default, increases their confidence to speak in a crowd, albeit a small group at the beginning. The famous educationalist, Vygotsky, proved that by placing students in a group they function at the upper level of their zone of proximal development, each one scaffolding the other. This strategy is further enhanced by the teacher asking leading questions as opposed to giving the answer outright, then allowing for group discussion.
The students are encouraged to make connections between what they have learnt and their life experiences, then share with the group. The effect of this strategy is intrinsic motivation and learning. Each student develops an expanded appreciation of the topic at hand by seeing how it applies in different settings around the world by way of listening to their group members.
This Constructivist approach will be further accentuated by implementing “fish-bowling”. There are many ways to implement this technique. The one that will mostly be used will be by dividing up the larger problem (technical, mathematics, science, or otherwise) into smaller bits and have each student thoughtfully master one part. That student then teaches the group and facilitates a discussion reflection about the strategy (computational or otherwise) used in the solution. Each student in turn does this. The above techniques enable students to reflect on the material learnt, make real life connections, and develop problem solving skills. One important by-product of the technique of Constructivism is that each student develops an appreciation of each other’s culture.
This cultivates healthy people’s skill, which is not only important for the professional world but for life itself. Constructivism lends itself well to students whose first language is not the language of instruction and who is new to the class. While other strategies will be used for students having difficulty with the English Language, this technique will definitely be used to enhance their English skill.
Assessment And Evaluation
At My Learning Oasis, course facilitators do not wait for a quiz or exam to determine how well a student is doing. Here, evaluation is an on-going exercise. The pedagogical techniques (refer to Teaching and Learning Strategies) used at My learning Oasis are perhaps the best techniques suited for on-going assessment, hence, they being an integral part of our delivery methodologies. Concrete assessments are made through projects and assignments. However, the evaluation is based on “our flavor” of the Mastery Teaching technique.
This ensures that the emphasis is on the quality of learning and NOT grading. Students' projects and homework will continuously be evaluated and re-evaluated with appropriate guidance to meet the school’s and Ministry’s expectations. At My Learning Oasis, we will work with the students until the projects meet a minimum of a B-grade, unless in extreme circumstances where the willful negligence of the students force lower grades. While this is a lot more taxing on the facilitator, it does not matter because My Learning Oasis is a Learner-centered institution NOT a Grade-Centered nor a Teacher-Centered institution.
Four categories of knowledge and skills are outlined in the achievement chart - knowledge and understanding, thinking, communication, and application. Student’s work is assessed and evaluated with respect to these categories, and that achievement of particular expectations is considered within the appropriate categories.
A final grade will then be recorded for this course and if that grade is 50% or higher, a credit is granted to the student and recorded for this course. The final grade for this course will be determined as follows: For material evaluated throughout the course, seventy percent of the grade will be assigned. This portion of the grade should reflect the student's consistency in his/her level of achievement throughout the course, although special consideration should be given to more recent evidence of achievement.
Thirty percent of the grade will be based on a final evaluation, which is administered towards the end of the course
Final Exam: 30%
Grading for all course work, projects, presentation, participation, interim quizzes and exams: 70%
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