Course Outline

The Diploma program, group four computer science course develops student awareness of how computer scientists work and communicate with each other and with other stakeholders in the successful development and implementation of information technology solutions. Computer science requires an understanding of the fundamental concepts of computational thinking as well as knowledge of how computers and other digital devices operate. Students will develop the skills necessary to develop and implement computational solutions, design, prototype and test proposed solutions. While the methodology used to solve problems in computer science may take a wide variety of forms, the Group 4 computer science course emphasizes the need for both a theoretical and practical approach.

Core topics covered include the following mandatory topics: system fundamentals, computer organization, networks, computational thinking, problem-solving and programming.  Teachers must also include one optional topic chosen from the following: databases, modelling and simulation, web science, and object-oriented programming (OOP).

The final grade comprises an external component of 70 percent and an internal component of 30 percent. The internal component (30 percent) requires students to develop a solution for a specified client to a specified problem or an unanswered question. The external component (70 percent) is a final examination made up of two papers of short answer and structured questions which cover the core and optional topics studied.

Computer science has links with subjects outside of Group 4, notably information technology in a global society (ITGS), but it should be noted that there are clear differences between the subjects.

For more information please go to: https://ibo.org/