Contents
Topics
Faq and howto
A project for each topic
Find your level questions
Faq and howto
Can I enjoy learning computing?
It’s best if you enjoy computers and sharing with people.
Is there a difference between computer science and computing?
Not the way we use the words. Computer Uses is different, usually called IT or ICT.
How much ICT do I need to start this course?
None but you will go faster with mouse skills and keyboard skills. A wp program like Word will be useful, as will a spreadsheet.
What computer stuff will I need?
Internet and a printer.
How much will it cost?
Only your time.
I am interested. When can I start?
Now.
How should I start?
Find the topic that interests you most, and try the questions at the end of this booklet.
And then?
Repeat until you find a topic to do the project on, and report back to your group, mentor, parents, or us.
Repeat until you can invent your own topics, and start earning money.
Make a donation from your earnings to encourage a good online education outfit.
Topics in Computer science.
1. Memory 1
2. Processes 1
3. Math and physics concepts behind successful computer games
4. The brain and the CPU
5. Hardware
6. Software
7. Output techniques
8. Keyboard and other input skills
9. Energy needs of computers
10. Processes 2
11. Networking
12. Troubleshooting computer diseases. The computer medic.
13. GUI issues and other people skills
14. Memory 2
15. Evolution and growth of the brain and the CPU
16. AS concepts
17. A2 concepts
18. Direct lines to the brain and to the CPU
19. First degree concepts
20. Math for computing
21. Current masters degree projects in computer science
22. Cutting edge research areas: security, visual recognition, cyber crime, podcast effects, ..
23. Future prediction: PIC and perhaps ipic. Matchbox size servers.
24. What kind of computer engineer do you want to be?
Projects for each topic in a new computer science course
Give very short answers only, if you write them out.
Most of these projects could be presented to a group, with a flip chart or projector..
1. Memory 1
Memories are what we can find inside us. Computer memory is anything that’s ever been stored. So long as we can still access it. Name the types you know. How are they stored?
2. Processes
Most actions have processes. Think of a few for eating, chatting, partying. Think of a few computer processes. ‘The only thing a computer can do is add two numbers.’ True or false?
3. Math and physics of cool games
First list your top ten. Note the on screen actions. How would you program it? Suggest improvements.
4. The brain and the CPU
Compare speeds, reliability, emotions, interactions, unexpected effects, boot up and shutdown, rest periods, inventors, .. you name it..
5. Hardware
Make a long list that will grow in you for ever. Group and add daily. There are ads in every newspaper.
6. Software
Utilities and applications. You probably know a thousand programs. Split them into these two groups. Note how the borderline shifts as applications you have to think about become useful and automatic like riding a bicycle and driving.
7. Output techniques
You have learnt to control outputs like to screen, speakers and paper. Are there others? What new outputs will come online this decade? This century?
What new skills will we need to make these outputs happen, to design them, to refine them, and to invent more?
Examples are scans of babies and all our insides, banks of webcams targeting hospitals, criminals and jails, and satellite imaging of radioactive hotspots.
8. Keyboard and other input skills
You can handle the four or five office applications. What other packages can you run fast and comfortably. Compare your top emailer, browser, search engine, and web encyclopedia with the competition. How often do you change them?
9. Energy needs of computers
Find the power requirements of several PCs, CPUs and monitors. A normal reading lamp uses 40 watts. Some CPUs can use less than 1 watt. What are the chances we will be using solar power for all our mobile computer needs? The motor industry used gas guzzlers – and still does with big SUVs – long after oil became expensive. Are we doing the same with computers. Compare all the differences. In what ways do computers save oil?
10. Processes 2
See wikipedia’s article on process. Include the history part for task; program, process and thread; multiprogramming, multitasking and multithreading; evolution of early operating systems. Do you agree that reducing the instruction set can increase efficiency? Do we need all these long words?
11. Networking
Compare your network of friends with your family network. Early computers had no network. It grew from students like you and me connecting computers with wires. Most learning is by networking, with peers, teachers, books, experience. For good bandwidth, you need to enjoy it. Jokes, friendships, parties, jollies, all help networking. So do good manners: courtesy in greeting always helps people network. Explore the four-way handshake computers use.
12. Troubleshooting computer diseases. The computer medic.
BT, biggest telco in UK, claims their hero is the engineer on the doorstep. Thousands of home visits are made by Mr Fixits every day. You will be doing this already if you know computer stuff others don’t. Learning is easy: just read manuals, do courses like this, and advertise yourself nicely. It’s the niceness people pay appreciate, the rest they could phone or take the computer to a shop to get advice. The dummies books are expensive and hard to read, the ‘in easy steps’ books by Computer Step are some of the best we have seen. For topics in this section, look at the adverts by the Mr Fixits, or just learn to do the things you are asked to do. Don’t forget to charge. That way you are appreciated and your time is respected.
13. GUI issues and other people skills
The hardest part of computing is getting into it. None of us have the same experiences, so we struggle to help each other. This is why math is so awesome to so many. Learners don’t know where the teacher is coming from, the teacher doesn’t know where the kids have been. After a very short time, they form a pact to do only the minimum set by the school. Maths in the West is dead until we cut this knot. Computing can fly free – you already know if this course is working for you.
14. Memory 2 If you can puzzle out these acronyms, you are well underway:
CD DVD HD RAMdisc, SSD. The latest we found is Sony 70 nanometre SSD chip.
Memory is where variables are stored. A variable is just a patch of memory. Memory is a place for storing the 0’s and 1’s of binary. If you can code it in binary, you can store it in memory. Books are memory that stores printed pages. Computers are learning to store all the fonts ever invented. It is worth looking at how all the acronyms actually store the binary bits, and how they were made writable as well as ROM. Note the speeds of access too. What is happening to the mountains of tape that was used for business back up? What will SONY’S new SSD chips do to the acres of server rooms in every city?
15. Evolution and growth of the brain and the CPU
Best book we have seen on this Brian Rose’s Brain for the 21st Century. For the brain part. Evolution of the CPU is a student essay topic. Google gives 11 million hits, most of them .com sites so take your pick. Wikipedia on CPU design gives a solid looking history with a graphs on power consumption, plus as much tech detail as you will want on first reading. Beware transient commercial edits, though.
Comparing the brain and the CPU is unfair and divisive. You should though know how Prof Roger Penrose of Oxford and Prof Igor Aleksander of Imperial College see it from different viewpoints: sheer impossibility vs engineering challenge.
16. AS concepts. Load and skim any syllabus eg aqa from http://www.aqa.org.uk/qual/gceasa/comp.html
Note that googling aqa computing A2 gives two text books written for this UK syllabus. The questions after the chapters in Bradley are very good confidence boosters. Just reading the answers (at the end of the book) will be useful to many.
17. A2 concepts. As for AS. A good programming project is expected for the A2 (Upper Sixth) level. Much guidance in given in the mark scheme. Useful to read even if you aren’t doing the A2 course.
18. Direct lines to the brain and to the CPU.
Brain processes are started by electrical signals, chemical signals, release of chemicals, and heavy use of energy from blood. Computer processes are driven by electrical signals. Both rely on interrupts. Find what computer interrupts are, and how they affect registers. Read about threading and how it evolved as CPU chips evolved. Summarise current threading and chip design. Give examples.
19. First degree concepts. Ask the admissions tutor at any University you might want to go to.
20. Math for computing. Pick your favourite maths topics and find or invent
how problems can be solved
the topic can be taught with a computer.
Suggestion: spreadsheets can be taught to do much of school and college maths. Another powerful tool is Mathematica.
21. Current masters degree projects in computer science. Again try the admissions tutor, or the secretary of the Head of CS department would know who to ask.
22. Cutting edge research areas: security, visual recognition, cyber crime, podcast effects, image analysis, nanotech fabricators, ..
23. Future prediction: PIC and perhaps ipic. Matchbox size servers.
24. What kind of computer engineer do you want to be?
These questions will be to help you find your level in each topic.
If enough people ask, we could produce answers.
Meanwhile if you are learning well this way, read Bradley’s answers to the chapter questions in his textbook.
Questions needed. Ideas please?
1. Memory 1
2. Processes 1
3. Math and physics concepts behind successful computer games
4. The brain and the CPU
5. Hardware
6. Software
7. Output techniques
8. Keyboard and other input skills
9. Energy needs of computers
10. Processes 2
11. Networking
12. Troubleshooting computer diseases. The computer medic.
13. GUI issues and other people skills
14. Memory 2
15. Evolution and growth of the brain and the CPU
16. AS concepts
17. A2 concepts
18. Direct lines to the brain and to the CPU
19. First degree concepts
20. Math for computing
21. Current masters degree projects in computer science
22. Cutting edge research areas: security, visual recognition, cyber crime, podcast effects, ..
23. Future prediction: PIC and perhaps ipic. Matchbox size servers.
24. What kind of computer engineer do you want to be?
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