Department of Computing

What is A-level Computing?

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This course is aimed at students who are keen on practical computer work and especially on problem-solving. You will gain a comprehensive knowledge of computer systems and programming skills. The course covers a wide range of computing applications, including data processing, control systems, artificial intelligence, the theory of relational databases, spreadsheets, DTP and networking, and hardware configurations. Although there is a substantial practical element to the course, there is also a thorough theoretical coverage.

Programming is taught using Pascal and Delphi languages (and others are available and briefly covered). If you've never come across these before, you may like to experiment with them before starting your AS-levels. Delphi is available at around £20 as a full registered version for AQA Computing students here at Greenhead College - a substantial saving on the usual student price, so don't buy this before starting the course. There are several sources on the internet of useful software tools. Delphi itself (but not the exact version we use) is available as a trial version at http://www.borland.com/delphi/tryitnow.html. Turbo Pascal (version 5.5. an earlier version, but still useful, of the software we use- version 7), is available at http://edn.embarcadero.com/article/20803
You may have to register yourself as a Borland user, but there should be no problems with this. A free alternative to Delphi is Lazarus, and its corresponding version of Pascal, called FreePascal. Both of these are "open-source" projects, i.e. they are non-commercial tools which are made freely available by their compilers, with the intention that other experts can then modify them (improve them) so that the programming world benefits by the combined expertise of many, rather than being tied to the commercial products of a few. At least one past Greenhead Computing student has become an expert contributor to this open-source pool, and many have learnt much from the tools available.

Having obtained programming tools, if you want to dabble before starting your AS-level courses, you will need to teach yourself a little about programming. Again the internet has many resources. A Google search on "programming Pascal introduction" will yield a plethora of sites. Try also books via the public library.

Another approach you may like to try if you have your own computer is to install linux as its operating system. The course includes a study of operating systems, networking and web-based programming, and will from next year include work in linux (the AQA exam syllabus is perhaps the most up-to-date of the computing syllabuses, and will be updated from 2003's exams), so this will be useful. Linux is good because it offers an alternative to MS Windows (good for comparative study) but most of all, the applications are basically free. A range of languages is available freely, including a version of Pascal. Embarcadero also produce a version of Delphi (called "Kylix") for Linux; you have to pay for the full versions, but again a free version is downloadable).

It is preferable for Computing students to have access to a computer at home. Many Computing students like to set up their own computer – this is not necessary, but is certainly good experience. On your home computer, for all subjects, you will need word-processing software (the college uses Microsoft Word, but the choice is yours. There is a distinct advantage in being able to bring work in on disk, or by using email, so that you can work both at home and in college on the same piece of work).