Focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
Overview of the STEM Curriculum
Introduced in Schools of Excellence in 2021.
Technology is a core domain.
Aims to provide advanced knowledge in Computer Science for Grade 11 students.
Ultima Thulë Ltd developed the curriculum.
Table of Contents Highlights
Module 1: Binary Computing
Introduction to Binary System
Data Representation (Numbers, Characters, Images, Sounds)
Module 2: Fundamentals of Database Systems (DBMS)
Database Concepts and Architecture
Database Models
Module 3: Building a Relational Database with MS Access
Databases, Tables, and Fields
Design View, Field Properties, and Relationships
Queries, Forms, and Macros
Binary Computing (Module 1)
Focus is on understanding how computers read code using the binary system.
Binary digits (0s and 1s) help the computer read written code.
History of Binary Numbers
Appeared in multiple cultures before the 16th century.
Egypt: Horus-Eye Fraction uses binary fractions to measure grains and liquids.
China: Ching contains a binary notation representing quaternary divination.
India: Pingala developed a binary system for prosody using short and long syllables.
Leibniz: Studied the Ching and developed the binary system used in modern computers.
Boolean Logic
George Boole introduced Boolean algebra in 1854.
Values are TRUE and FALSE, denoted as 1 and 0.
Main logical operations: Conjunction (AND), Disjunction (OR), Negation (NOT).
Z1 Computer
The first freely programmable computer used Boolean Logic and Binary Floating Point Numbers.
Designed by Konrad Zuse from 1936 to 1938.
Terms and Definitions
Computer: An electronic device storing and processing data in binary form.
Binary: A numeric system using two digits - 0 and 1.
Bit: A single binary digit (0 or 1).
Binary Information
Data is stored in computers as Binary Information.
The computer’s memory is composed of tiny storage locations known as Bits.
1 Byte = 8 Bits.
Bits as Switches
Computers recognize 0s and 1s as tiny switches (ON or OFF).
Transistors act as tiny binary switches controlling electricity flow.
Decimal Number System
Employs 10 as its base (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9).
Binary Number System
Employs 2 as its base (0 and 1).
Uses 2n to represent different values, where n is the number of bits.
Conversion Examples
Example: What are 11112 in Decimal?
The "1" on the left is in the "2×2×2" position, so that means 1×2×2×2(=8)
The next "1" is in the "2×2" position, so that means 1×2×2(=4)
The next "1" is in the "2" position, so that means 1×2(=2)
The last "1" is in the ones position, so that means 1
Answer: 1111 = 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 15 in Decimal
Data Representation
Computers store various data types in binary form.
Numbers are represented by 0s and 1s.
Characters are first converted to numeric codes, then stored as binary.
Common coding scheme: ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange).
Contains a set of 128 numeric codes of 7 bits.
Topic 3: Data Representation as Binary - Images
Pixel: Basic unit of a digital image.
Bitmap Images: Images made of up individual pixels
Each pixel's color is represented as a binary number.
1 bit - 2 colors
2 bits - 4 colors
3 bits - 8 colors
and so on
Digital images are made up of pixels, and each pixel in an image is made up of binary numbers.
Topic 4: Data Representation as Binary - Sounds
Sound is vibrations that travel though a medium.
Sound waves have volume (amplitude) and pitch (frequency).
The samples can then be converted to binary. They will be recorded to the nearest whole number
The frequency at which samples are taken is called the sample rate, and is measured in Hertz (Hz)
Most CD-quality audio is sampled at 44 100 or 48 000 KHz.
When we start recording process you lose some of the sound quality during conversion of analogue signal to a digital (binary) format.
If you want to increase the quality of the recorded audio, you need to increase the sample rate.
Module 2: Fundamentals of Database Systems
Database system is an important course to learn in Software Development because it provides a systematic method of creating, updating, storing, and retrieving information in a database.
Aim of this module is to have students develop skills and knowledge in collecting data, storing them in a database and managing it using different database models
Topic 1: Database Concepts and Architecture
Learning about databases and how to manage it can provide you with hands-one learning experience that can develop basic and advanced programming skills.
What is Data: Data can be anything; any information or fact