System and application software
The focus of A level specifications is on categories of software and their operation. There is a much smaller emphasis on application software and more on the technical operation.
Links and Resources
Systems software teacher topic exploration
The teacher topic exploration pack from OCR covers keys points of the specification and provides links to further resources. There are also descriptions of the activities covered in the student activity document.
Systems software student activity sheet
The document consists of four activities. The first is a research investigation into virtual CPUs followed by an investigation into configurable BIOS options. This latter task could also be carried out using a Raspberry Pi computer. The third and fourth activities consist of practical investigations into factors that affect system performance. A Raspberry Pi could be used for these activities too because its performance degrades markedly when it is stress tested by resource-intensive processes.
Function and purpose of operating systems
A number of useful links are contained within this document. There are also a number of simple consolidation activities including a multitasking whole class simulation and a distributed computing activity. Clarification of common misunderstandings are also included.
Application general topic exploration pack
This document outlines the discussion points surrounding open and closed source software and includes useful links.
Application generation delivery guide
There are two activities described in this document. The first is to map application or utility software to purpose and another to assist in understanding the stages of the compilation process.
Little Man Computer - understanding compilers and interpreters
This resource from CAS London is a reference guide to compilers, interpreters and assemblers. It could be used as a revision summary for students or as a reference for questions.
Raspberry Pi Recipe Card – Operating Systems
This document introduces students to the Linux operating system by allowing them to learn and use a number of shell commands using a Raspberry Pi computer. Activities allow them to gain an understanding of how resources are managed and levels of access controlled.
30 useful Unix commands
Unix and Linux share shell commands. This handy reference from the University of Manchester provides 30 useful commands. This would be a useful resource for students undertaking practical work with Raspberry Pi computers or other systems running Linux.
Network operating systems
This illustrated document details the functions and components of a network operating system. Students could use this as a reference and could develop their own illustrated documents for other types of operating systems such as embedded, real time and distributed.
Operating systems
This is a very comprehensive resource from the University of Cambridge detailing the main functions of generic operating systems. It could be used as a reference or basis for a comprehension question sheet or preparing model answers for examination questions. Students will also see links with other topics such as computer architecture and data structures.
Cloud computing
This is an activity sheet produced by Try Computing. Students install VMWare virtualisation software and then simulate cloud computing within the classroom. This is an engaging activity suitable for A level students.
| Subject(s) | Computing |
|---|---|
| Tags | n.a |
| Age | 16-19 |
| Last updated | 18 January 2018 |
| Rating | |
| URL | https://www.stem.org.uk/lxeumg |
| Comments | 0 |
