Unit xx. Processing data – I’m a chip architect

This unit is planned but development has not yet started. Our plans may change in the future as we continue to review our scheme of learning.

Unit description

The basic operations of an ALU to add and subtract numbers, and converting between human and computer representations of positive integers.

Unit career

I’m a chip set architect

“As a chipset architect, I design and optimise chipsets. This involves understanding the basic operations of an Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) to add and subtract numbers. Knowing how humans convert between binary and denary. My goal is to create efficient and powerful chipsets that enhance computing performance.”

Key Question

All the activities in this unit enable students to answer the key question:

How do computers use binary to represent, manipulate, and calculate numbers so they can process information?

Knowledge statements

This is achieved by students studying 4 “Learn-it” lessons, each of which focus on one knowledge statement:

1. Know why computers store data in binary and not denary.
2. Know how computers represent positive integers.
3. Know how to convert numbers between binary (base-2) and denary (decimal/base-10) systems.
4. Know the basic operations of an Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) and how it performs addition and subtraction of numbers.

What is included in this unit?

• Teacher guide providing a detailed overview of the unit.
• 6 Lesson folders:
  • 4 “Learn-it” lessons with a teacher PowerPoint and student workbook.
  • 1 “Make-it” lesson with assessment materials for teachers and students.
  • 1 “Review-it” lesson with an end of topic MCQ test, assessment grid, peer assessment and self-reflection.
• Any additional resources and materials needed for the activities are provided in the lesson folders.
• 6 detailed lesson plans explaining how to teach the 3 lesson phases.
• Extension activities with model answers.
• 3 independent homework question sheets supported by 3 online videos hosted on Tella.