• ‘The digital world’ – the digital technologies that pervade our home, work and social lives;
• ‘Creating solutions’ ­– programming skills for creating solutions to simple problems;
• ‘Connecting people, places and things’ – the computer networks that allow us to interact with others.

Networking essentials
This block provides a sound grounding in the basic principles of computer networks and the challenges in setting these up and maintaining them. Topics covered include protocol models and layering; IP addressing; basic network design and network devices. You’ll study online material in the Cisco Networking Academy and carry out practical activities using network simulator software.

Operating systems and security
This block introduces operating systems – the fundamental software that turns hardware into useful and useable computing systems. You’ll learn how an operating system manages the computer’s processor, memory and storage so that more than one program can run at once. You’ll be introduced to Linux, a widely used operating system that runs on small handheld devices, desktops and supercomputers. You’ll learn about operating system security and how to maintain a secure system. You’ll also carry out practical activities by running the Linux operating system along with a network simulator.

Robotics and AI
This block introduces you to robotics and the design of intelligent machines. Robots are no longer the stuff of fiction; they are found in factories, on the battlefield and in our homes. You’ll learn how robots work and how to program and control robots using simulator software. You’ll also examine the relationships between humans and robots, the impact robots will have on our lives, and the ethical issues surrounding the use of robots.