Computer Science Bridging Unit

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 Listen Watch Learn

Read this article

Watch this talk from a Complete this about the future
successful start-up course which of teaching in the
founder, where he explores how the world of AI.
explains the surprising result of way we work will change in a
his research. world of automation.
Intelligent machines will replace
The single biggest reason why The future of work - preparing for teachers in ten years
start-ups succeed disruption The Independent
TED Talk – Bill Gross Open Learning Campus

Listen to this radio Watch this tv series Complete this

interview with which explores how course which
software pioneer advances in A.I will change our explores the evolution of
Dame Stephanie Shirley. outlook on many fields. cryptography and how we use it
in modern computing.
Life Scientific The Age of A.I
BBC Sounds Youtube Originals Journey into Cryptography
Khan Academy
Listen to this radio Watch this talk from
Read this article programme which the creator of
about how a explores whether Wolfram Alpha
cybersecurity computers can beat humans at about his quest to make all
attack games. knowledge computational.
threatened to destroy the 2018
Olympics. Seriously...Game over humans Computing a Theory of All
BBC Sounds Knowledge
The Untold Story of the 2018 TED Talk – Steve Wolfram
Olympics Cyberattack
Wired Magazine
Watch this talk Complete this
Listen to this radio about the backbone course which
interview about of the modern explores the history
whether algorithms Internet of communication.
can be relied upon to do the right
thing. The Hidden Network that Makes Journey into information Theory
The Internet Possible Khan Academy
Algorithm Overloads TEDEd – Sajan Saini
BBC Sounds

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 Networks

Carry out some research on computer networks, in particular LANs,

Desktop Tablet Phone
WiFi, Network topologies and connectivity devices. PC

Use the symbols on the right (feel free to revise them) to create an
appropriate network over the floorplan above.
Router WAP Switch
Make sure your network meets all the following requirements:

1. Each member of the main office needs a desktop PC

2. Angela, Pam, Dwight and Oscar also use an office issued Firewall
Server Photocopier
smart phone

3. The following rooms new access to WiFi:

1. Meeting room (top right)

2. Reception
Indicates a wireless
3. Conference Room enabled device

4. Main office

4. Use a circle with a transparent fill (so you can see the network underneath) with a width and
height of 12.5cm to provide the WiFi coverage needed to cover the rooms above:

1. The circles need to have a WAP at the centre

2. The 12.5cm diameter circles represent the maximum range of each WAP
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 3. They WAP icons must be attached to a wall

4. You must use the minimum number of WAP possible to provide the coverage
needed

5. All desktop PCs use wired connections in a star network configuration

1. The top left server room, conference room and main office need to be on one
subnet with its own switch

2. All other rooms are on a separate subnet and will require its own hardware for this

3. The two subnets need to be appropriately connected together

6. The top left room needs to have a server placed in it and connected appropriately to the
local subnet

7. The server room needs hardware to appropriately connected the LAN to “The Internet”

8. Reception needs a photocopier and it needs connecting to the local subnet

9. A firewall should be placed somewhere appropriate

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 Independent Research

Keeping up to date with advances in technology and computing is not always easy
as new developments are reported daily. As an A Level student you will be asked
to keep up to date with technology related news as part of your wider reading
around the subject. Learning to choose your sources widely is also an important
skill, relying on Wikipedia isn’t going to cut it! Reference any sources that you use
to help you.

1. Compare the Xbox ONE, PS4 Pro and PC as gaming platforms. You must use as much
technical detail as possible and reference any evidence presented. Choose how you will
present your ideas.

2. Find a recent news story on one of the following topics – the website and blogs links later in
this document may help:
 A legal issue in computing, such as a breach of the Data Protection Act
 An ethical issue in computing, such as the development of AI
 An environmental issue in computing, such as the disposal of waste equipment
 A technical development in computer science, such as the Internet of Things

Summarise the story, explaining any technical content for a student in year 10.
Explain how the story affects you as a student of computer science.

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 Emerging Computer Technology

All new technology comes with benefits and potential drawbacks and we are still
learning just how technology such as machine learning and AI will impact on us.
This can lead to a range of Social, Moral, Cultural and Ethical issues. A key A
Level skill is being able to look at both sides of the argument and draw logical
conclusions based on the evidence. In this task you get to investigate any area of
emerging computer technology which interests you.

You can pick any area which interests you, but examples could be:

• Artificial intelligence

• Robotics

• Automated self driving cards

• Quantum computing

In no more than ONE side of A4 summarise the area you have chosen under the following four
headings:

1. What is it?

2. What are the possible Social, Moral, Cultural and Ethical benefits of this technology on
society

3. What are the possible Social, Moral, Cultural and Ethical risks of this technology on society

4. My conclusion on this technology and what it will mean for our world 10 years from now

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 Augmented Reality

A key skill at A Level is being able to take a topic and then discuss it in the context
of different scenarios.

Most theory-based exam questions will be asked in the form of a scenario, simply regurgitating what
you know on the topic without contextualising your answer to the scenario will often result in low
marks!

The topic for this exercise is “Augmented Reality”. It is a truly fascinating area of technology which
has the potential to change almost every aspect of our daily lives.

Watch this brief video to learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQtwWzfzKXI

After watching the video discuss the benefits, limitations and risks of augmented reality in the
context of:

• Medicine & health care

• Gaming & entertainment

• Schools & learning

• Travel & tourism

• Social media

• Transport & navigation

Image by Oyundari Zorigtbaatar (20 March

2016)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa
/4.0/legalcode

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 Problem Solving Skills

At GCSE you will have learned skills such as decomposition and abstraction.
Problem solving and algorithmic thinking skills are vital. Have a go at these puzzles:

A deduction puzzle
There are four programmers, each of whom codes in a different language and has their own reason
for studying computer science. Can you use the clues provided to match each programmer to the
correct programming language and motivation for studying computer science?

1. Of the one who likes puzzles and the one who loves maths, one is Alice and the other
programs in C.
2. The python programmer’s name is alphabetically one more than the person who enjoys
solving puzzles
3. Bob got into computer science through gaming
4. Of Dave and Bob, one wants to study computer science for the money, while the other
codes in VB

Knights, Knaves and Spies

On the fabled Island of Knights and Knaves, we meet three people, A, B, and C, one of whom is a
knight, one a knave, and one a spy. The knight always tells the truth, the knave always lies, and the
spy can either lie or tell the truth.

A says: "C is a knave."

B says: "A is a knight."
C says: "I am the spy."

Who is the knight, who the knave and who the spy?

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Algorithmic Thinking
Each of the following puzzles requires you to design an algorithm. You may want
to start by writing out some examples to help you understand the problem.

Weighing and measuring

1. You have 10 bags of coins, each bag contains 100 coins. Nine of the bags contain real coins;
each real coin weighs 1 gram. One bag contains fake coins; each fake coin weighs 0.9 grams.

If you have an accurate scale that will display the weight of an object placed on it, how can
you identify the bag of forgeries using the scale only once?

2. You have 12 coins, one of which is fake. The fake is either lighter or heavier than the real
coins, but you do not know which. You have a balance that you can use to compare the
weights of items.

How can you find the fake coin in just three uses of the balance? (You have no other weights
or reference objects, just the balance and 12 coins.

Light switches

This puzzle was an Oxford University interview question.

You are standing in a room with three light switches. Each switch controls exactly one light bulb in
the next room. (This is a budget puzzle, so they are plain, cheap, basic light bulbs.) The door to the
next room is closed, and there are no windows, so you cannot see the light bulbs. You may
manipulate the switches as much as you like, then you may go through into the room with the lights.
You must then say which switch controls which bulb. How do you do it?

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 Programming Practice

As part of your A Level course you will undertake a significant project and you will
need to ensure that your programming skills are sufficient to allow this. You may
choose to continue with Python or can chose another language such as C# or C++
and use a platform such as Unity, GoDot or Defold. The following courses and
challenges will help you to prepare for A Level programming problems.

Programming 102: Think Like a Computer Scientist - Future Learn - Programming 102 - Think Like a
Computer Scientist

Learn how to break down problems into smaller parts, and then design and apply algorithms to data.
This course will teach you how to use functions with parameters and return values, how to use list
structures and efficient searching and sorting algorithms.

Object-oriented Programming in Python – Future Learning Object Orientated Python

Learn object-oriented programming principles by creating your own text-based adventure game in
Python. This course will ensure you understand the difference between a function and an object,
teach you how to create objects, functions, methods, and classes in Python and how to extend
classes using inheritance and polymorphism.

Project Euler - https://projecteuler.net/

Project Euler is a series of challenging mathematical/computer programming problems that will

require more than just mathematical insights to solve. Although mathematics will help you arrive at
elegant and efficient methods, the use of a computer and programming skills will be required to
solve most problems.

British Informatics Olympiad https://www.olympiad.org.uk/problems.html

The British Informatics Olympiad (BIO) is an annual computer-programming competition for

secondary and sixth-form students. Previous problems can be accessed at the link above and cover
a range of difficulties.

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 Wider Reading
Books

As part of your A-Level studies, and if you plan to go on to further study you will
need to develop a wide understanding of Computer Science and how it impacts
our lives. These books are a great place to start.

Once Upon an Algorithm: How Stories Explain Computing Erwin, Martin 978-0262036634
Computational Fairy Tales Kubica, Jeremy 978-1477550298
Lauren Ipsum: A Story About Computer Science and Bueno, Carlos 978-1593275747
Other Improbable Things
Nine Algorithms That Changed the Future: The Ingenious MacCormack, 978-0691147147
Ideas That Drive Today's Computers John
Algorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Christian, Brian 978-0007547999
Decisions
In Pursuit of the Traveling Salesman: Mathematics at the Cook, William 978-0691152707
Limits of Computation
Brown Dogs and Barbers: What's Computer Science All Beecher, Karl 978-3000470578
About?
Hello World: How to be Human in the Age of the Machine Fry, Hannah 978-1784163068
Chaos Monkeys: Inside the Silicon Valley Money Machine Martinez, 978-1785034558
Antonio Garcia
The Future Is Faster Than You Think: How Converging Diamandis, Peter 978-1982109660
Technologies Are Transforming Business, Industries, and & Kotler, Steven
Our Lives
Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases O’Neil, Cathy 978-0141985411
Inequality and Threatens Democracy

Websites/Blogs

The Guardian Technology Pages - https://www.theguardian.com/uk/technology

The Register - https://www.theregister.co.uk/

Wired magazine - https://www.wired.co.uk/

ARS Technica - https://arstechnica.com/

BBC Click - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m9ry

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