PREAMBLE
This examination syllabus is developed from the National Curriculum for Senior Secondary School Computer Studies. It highlights the scope of the course for Computer Studies examinations at this level. Its structuring revolves around conceptual approach. The major thematic areas considered in the entire syllabus include:
Computer fundamentals and evolution 2. Computer hardware 3. Computer Software 4. Basic Computer Operations 5. Computer Applications 6. Managing Computer files 7. Developing Problem-solving skills 8. Information and Communication Technology 9. Computer ethics and human issues.
Each thematic area forms a concept which is further divided into sub-concepts. This examination syllabus is not a substitute for the teaching syllabus. Therefore, it does not replace the curriculum.
OBJECTIVESThe objectives of the syllabus are to test candidates’ understanding, knowledge and acquisition of:
I. basic concepts of computer and its operations; II. manipulative, computational and problem-solving skills; III. application of software packages; IV. operation of computer - related simple devices;V. on-line skills and their applications;
VI. safe attitudes and good practices on effective use of computer. VII. potential for higher studies in Computer related areas.
SCHEME OF EXAMINATIONThere will be three papers, Paper 1, 2 and 3, all which should be taken. Papers 1 and 2 will be combined in a composite paper to be taken at one sitting.
Paper 1 - Will consist of 50 multiple-choice objective questions to be answered in 1 hour for 25 marks. Paper 2 - Will consist of five essay questions. Candidates will be required to answer three questions within 1 hour for 30 marks. Paper 3 - The paper shall test actual practical skills of school candidates and knowledge of practical work for private candidates. It will consist of three questions to be answered within 2 hours for 45 minutes.
DETAILED SYLLABUS
TOPIC CONTENT NOTE COMPUTER EVOLUTION (i) Features , components and Trend of (a) Computing Devices I (Pre- uses of early computing development devices: in computing computing age- 19th century) - Abacus; devices from - Slide Rule ; one to the - Napier’s bone; other. - Pascal’s calculator; - Leibnitz multiplier; - Jacquad loom; - Charles Babbage’s analytical engine; - Hollerith Census Machine; - Burrough’s Machine. (ii) Contribution of each of the founder of these devices to modern computers. (b) Computing Devices II (20th Features, components and Sizes and basic century to date) uses of: components -ENIAC should be -EDVAC considered in -UNIVAC 1 a comparative -Desktop Personal form. Computers -Laptop and Notebook computers -Palmtop. FUNDAMENTALS OF - Definition of a Computer; COMPUTING - Two main constituents (a) Overview of Computing System of a Computer Differences between - Computer hardware; hardware and - Computer software software - Classification and should be examples of treated. hardware and software. - Functional parts of a computer Characteristics of Computers - Electronic in nature; - Accuracy; - Speed; - Interactive etc. (b) Data and Information - Definition and examples of data and information; - Differences between data and information. COMPUTER ETHICS AND HUMAN ISSUES Security and Ethics 1. Sources of security Definition and effects of breaches: viruses and - Virus, worms and worms should Trojan horses; - Poor implementation of be treated network; - Poor implementation or lack of ICT policies; - Carelessness- giving out personal and vital information on the net without careful screening. - Hackers, spammers etc. Definition of hackers and spammers should be treated 2. Preventive measures - Use of antivirus software e.g. Norton, McAfee, Avast, etc - Use of firewall; Explanation of - Exercising care in giving firewall is out vital and personal information required - Encryption - Proper Network Implementation and Definition of Polies encryption - Using sites with web should be certificates treated - Exercising care in opening e-mail attachments 3. Legal Issues -Copyright (software copyright) -ownership right to -text; -images; -audio; -video -Privacy of audio and video software -Cyber crimes -identify theft; -internet fraud -Hacking COMPUTER HARDWARE (a) Input devices Definition and examples of input devices The use of keyboard, mouse, scanner, joystick, light pen, etc Classification of keys on the keyboard into Function, Numeric, Alphabetic -Cursor keys -Features, function and operation of the mouse -Differences in keyboard, mouse, light pen and scanner Output Devices -Definition and examples -Output devices: monitor, printer, speaker, plotter – Type, features and uses. -Differences between input Examples and and output devices types of -Similarities and printers and differences in inkjet, laser monitors and line printer should be treated. Central Processing Unit Components of C.P.U.: Combination Arithmetic and logic unit, of the CPU and control unit Memory Unit Function of ALU and as system unit Control Unit should be mentioned. Memory Unit Types of Memory Unit: Primary and Secondary Physical memory identification -Components of Primary of RAM and memory unit: ROM and ROM devices RAM required. Differences and uses of ROM and RAM Examples of Seconadry memory devices: floppy disk, hard disk, compact disk(CD), flash disk, digital- video-disk(DVD) Unit of storage in memory devices: bits, nibble, bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes Interconversion of unit of Simple storage. calculation -Comparative study of involving the auxiliary storage devices in conversion respect of their size, speed from a unit to and technology another Size and shape variation of floppy, flask/USB and compact disks should be noted Logic Circuits -Definition, types and uses Logic equation of standard logic gate: for AND, NOT, AND, NOT, OR OR gate Symbols of AND, NOT, OR should be gates treated. -Construction of truth table Uses of logic for standard logic gates gates are -Differences between AND, required. NOT, OR gates -NAND and NOR as alternative logic gates should be treated Construction of Truth Table for NAND and NOR Construction of a simple comparator with -XOR( Exclusive OR) Simple -NOR gate definition of a comparator is required. COMPUTER SOFTWARE (a) System Software (i) Definition and types of Differences between software system and - System software application - Application software (ii) System software and their software is examples required - Operating System e.g. MS Windows - Translator e.g. Compiler - Tools/ Utility e.g. Anti- virus (iii) Examples of Operating System Operating - MS Windows - Linux systems of - UNIX phones, ipad - MS-DOS etc and other computerized (iv) Examples of Translators devices should - Assemblers be treated. - Compilers E.g. Android, - Interpreters Blackberry, (v) Examples of Utility etc. Programs - Editor - Anti-virus etc Differences (b) Operating System among the (i) Definition, types, translators examples and function should be of Operating System noted - Graphic User Interface(GUI) - GUI (MS Windows, Linux, etc) - Command line (MS DOS, UNIX, etc) Differences between GUI and Command line Operating Systems are required. (c) Application Software (i) Definition and types of Differences application software between user (ii) Common Application application Packages and their program and examples application - Word processing(MS packages are Windows) required - Spreadsheet(MS Excel) - Database(MS Access) - Graphics (iii) Packages for spreadsheet purpose - Accounting software - Payroll program - Banking software - Education management software - Statistical packages
- Hospital management software COMPUTER APPLICATION (i) Definition and (a) Word Processing examples of word processing and word processor -MS Word -Wordstar -WordPerfect (ii) Features of Word Processing programs in general. (iii) Application areas of Word Processing programs -Office -Publishing -Journalism -Education, etc.
(iv) Features of MS Word (v) Steps in activating and exiting MS Word (vi) Basic operations in MS Word Definition of each -Create - Edit operational - Save term is -Retrieve required. -Print - Close
(vii) Further operations in MS Word
-move -copy -cut
-use of different Types
and sizes of fonts
-formatting -justifying -search/explore -spell checking -file merging, etc (b) Spreadsheet (i) Definition and examples of spreadsheet program -VisiCALC -MS Excel -SuperCALC -Autocad, etc (ii) Feature of spreadsheet program (iii) Application areas of Spreadsheet programs: -Accounting -Statistical calculatio n -Student result, etc (iv)Features of MS Excel Environment -status bar -menu bar -formula bar, etc (v)Definition of basic terms in MS Excel -worksheet -workbook -cells -cell ranges (vi)Data types in Excel -Number -Labels (vii)Basic operation in Excel -Data Entry Simple -Saving calculations -Retrieve with and Copy without built- -Move in function e.g. (viii)Arithmetic sum, average, calculations using etc formula and built-in function (ix)Additional operation in Excel -Editing -Formatting -Printing -Drawing charts, etc Pie chart, histogram, bar chart, etc (c) Database (i) Definition of database and database packages (ii) Examples of database packages -Dbase IV, -Foxbase -MS Access -Oracle, etc (iii)Basic terms in Database -File -Record -Field -Key (iv)Types of database organization
methods and their features -Hierarchical -Network -Relational
(v)Features of database format
-Files designed as tables
-Tables comprise row and columns
-Row containing related information about a record. -Column containing specific type of information about a field.
(vi) Steps in creating database
-define the structure -indicate field type(numeric, character, data, text, etc)
-enter data -save data
(vii) Basic operations on already
created database. Database -searching -modifying -sorting -reporting
-selecting -inserting, etc (d) Graphics (i)Definition of Graphics (ii)Examples of Graphics packages -Paint -Harvard graphics -Photoshop -Coreldraw, etc (iii)Features in activating and existing Coreldraw (iv)Simple design using Coreldraw -Business card -School logo -National flag -Invitation card -Certification, etc (e) Presentation package (i)Definition of presentation package (ii)Examples of presentation package -MS PowerPoint, etc (iii)Features of PowerPoint environment (iv) Steps in activating and exiting PowerPoint (v)PowerPoint operation -create new presentation -insert pictures, text, graphs -animated contents -add new slide -save presentation -run slide show -print presentation -close presentation MANAGING COMPUTER FILES (a) Concept of Computer Files (i)Definition of some terms -computer file -record -field -data item (ii)Types of data item -numeric -alphabetic -alphanumeric (iii)File structure Differences organisation among the (Data item—record— organization file—database) methods are (iv)Types of file required organization -serial -sequential -index -random (v) Methods of accessing files -serial -sequential -random (vi) File classification -master file -transaction file -reference file (vii)Criteria for classifying files: -nature of content(program and data) -organisation method -storage medium (i) Basic operation on (b) Handling Computer Files computer files File processing -file using BASIC -delete programming -retrieve is required. -insert -copy -view -update -open -close (ii) Effect of file insecurity -data loss -data corruption -data becomes unreliable (iii) Causes of data loss -over-writing -inadvertent deletion (iv) Methods of file security -use of backup -use of antivirus -password -proper labelling of storage devices, etc (v)Differences between computer files and manual files
(vi) Advantages of computer files -more secure -fast to access,etc (vii) Disadvantages of computer files -expensive to set up -irregular supply of electricity BASIC COMPUTER OPERATIONS (a) Booting and shutting (i) Description and types Difference of booting process between cold down process (ii) Types of booting and warm process booting should -cold booting be treated -warm booting (iii)Steps involved in : -booting a computer; -shutting down a computer (iv)Identification of features on a desktop (b) Computer Data (i) Definition of registers, Fetch-execute Conversion address, bus (ii) Types and functions cycle is not of registers: MDR, required CIR, SCR (iii) Differences between register and main memory
(iv)Steps involved in how a computer converts data to required information(Input-Process-Output) (v)Factors affecting speed of data transfer: -bus speed; -bus width.
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY(ICT) (a) Communication Systems (i) What‘ICT’ acronym stands for. (ii) Types of ICT -Broadcasting -Telecommunication -Data Network -Information Systems -Satellite Communications -Examples of Broadcasting -Radio broadcasting -Television broadcasting -Satellite system -Examples of Telecommunicatio n -Public Switched Telephone Network(PSTN)- -Mobile phone systems -Circuit Switched Packet Telephone System(CSPT) -Satellite telephone system -Fixed wireless telephone system -Examples of data networks -Personal Area Network(PAN) -Local Area Network(LAN) -Metropolitan Area Network(MAN) -Wide Area Network(WAN ) -Internet -Examples of Information Systems -Data Processing System -Global Positioning System(GPS) (b) Application areas of ICT (i)Application Areas of ICT Definition and include description of the following: these terms -Teleconferencing are required -Video conferencing -Telecommuting -Telecomputing -Messaging -Information search, retrieval and archival. (ii)ICT based gadgets and their Knowledge on operations the operations -Mobile phones on these ICT- -Computers based gadgets -Fax machines is required. -Automated Teller Machines(ATM) -Dispensing machines -Point of Sale Machines - Automated Cash Register(ACR) -Radio sets -Television sets, etc (c)Internet (i)Definition of Internet and some Internet terms: -Homepage Demonstratio -Browse n of these -Browser terms through -Chatroom Internet -Cybercafe access is -HTTP required -HTML -ISP -Webpage -Website,etc (ii)Types of internet browsers -Internet explorer Access -Netscape navigator Internet -Opera through these -Firefox browsers. -Cometbird ,etc (iii)Features of Internet browsers: -Title bar -Menu bar Application of -Tool bar the features of -Address bar,etc Internet (iv)Types of Internet browser services window is -Electronic mail (e- required mail) -e-mail discussion group Benefits of -Instant messaging Internet to our -Telnet society should -Usenet be stressed -File Transfer Protocol(FTP) -Worldwide web(www) -Chatting, etc (d) Electronic Mail(e- (i)Definition of electronic mail)Services mail (ii)E-mail Services: -sending/receiving e- mail -chatting, etc (iii)Steps involved in creating e-mail account Procedure for (iv) Steps involved in sending and opening mail box receiving e- (v) Features in an e-mail mail is address e.g. required fmemail@fmegovng.org
(vi)Definition and steps involved in chatting
(e)Networking (i) Definition of a Computer Network (ii)Types of Network -PAN -LAN -WAN -MAN -Internet (iii) Network topology Differences in -Star the various -Bus topologies -Ring should be (iv)Network devices treated -Hub -Modems -Switches Knowledge of -Routers “Bridge” as a -Network Interface networking Card(NIC) device is (f) Introduction to Worldwide (v)Advantages of required. web (W.W.W.) Networking (i) What is the ‘W.W.W.’ acronym stands for (ii) Brief history of W.W.W. (iii)Basic terminologies: -W.W.W. -website -webpage -homepage -protocol, etc Nigeria’s (iv)Protocol contribution -HTTP to www
-HTML should be (v)Uses/benefits of www mentioned (vi)Navigating through websites www.waeconline.org -www.itbeginswithu.org -www.servenigeria.com - www.phillipemeagwali.co Use of HTTP m and HTML -www.jambonline.org should be (vii)Difference between mentioned e-mail and website address features: e.g.www.waeconline.org and waec@yahoo.com Visits to these (viii)Software for web websites are development essential -Frontpage - etc (g) Cables and Connectors (i) Types of Network Cables and Identification Connectors of different -Cables: Twisted pair, Network coaxial, fibre optic, Cables telephone Connectors -Connectors: RJ45, RJ11, T- should be connectors treated (ii) Types of Computer Cables and Connector -Cables:Power cables Data cables – Printer Cable,universal serial bus(USB), monitor cable, serial cable -Connectors: Male and female DEVELOPING PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS (a) Programming (i) Programming Language: Language(PL) Definition, examples, levels and features: (ii) Levels and examples of programming language -Machine Language(ML) , e.g.100011001 -Low Level Language(LLL), e.g. Assembly Language -High Level Language(HLL) e.g. BASIC,C++, FORTRAN, etc. (iii)Comparison of ML, LLL, HLL. (iv)Advantages and disadvantages of ML, LLL and HLL. (b)High Level (i) Definition and Other Languages examples programming (ii) Classification of HLL languages as such as Java, -Scientific Python, etc. -Gen-purpose should be -Business mentioned. -AI -String processing language(SPL) (iii) Features of BASIC, C, PASCAL, COBOL –
Comparative study (c)Algorithm and (i) Definition of : Flowchart Algorithhm and Flowchart (ii) Functions of Algorithm (iii) Characteristics of Algorithm: -Finite -Effective -Unambiguous (iv)Writing algorithm for: -Computing average of a given set of numbers -Evaluation of equation: y=a(b-c)2/(d+2) -Computing out the first ten odd numbers, etc (v) Flowchart symbols: - I/O, Process, decisions, etc (vi) Use of each flowchart symbol (vii) Flowchart diagrams for given programming problem (d)BASIC Programming (i)What BASIC acronym stands for (ii)BASIC characteristics (iii)Types of data Types of data -variable should be -constant/literal treated -numeric -string/alphanumeric (iv)BASIC Statements INPUT PRINT, LPRINT LET END REM READ DATA (v)Arithmetic operators (-,+,*,/) (vi)Arithmetic Expressions (vii) Evaluation of Arithmetic expressions (viii) Simple BASIC Programs Program to calculate -Area of triangle -Area of a rectangle (ix) Running Simple -Average of 3 Programs numbers,etc The simple BASIC program developed should be executable on the computer.
(i)Built-in functions in
BASIC
-SQR(X)
-INT(X)
-SIN(X)
-ABS(X)
-RND(X)
-COS(X)
-TAN(X)
-LOG(X)
-EXP(X)(ii)BASIC Notation of-√-(x-y)/(x+y) -(a+b) +c/sind
-ex+y – sin(x+ny), etc (iii)BASIC program to
-find the square root of numbers
-find square root of S, round up to an integer
-find the cosine of known values -find the tangent of given angles.
-plot sine wave curve
(iv)Additional BASIC Statements -DIM Statement -FOR – NEXT statement -WHILE-END statement
(v)Defining one-dimensional array , using DIM statement.
(vi)Operating on Array
Numbers of iterations should not exceed eight
(8).
elements -Input of array -Output of array -Arithmetic operations on array (vii)Write BASIC program to : -store a vector of 10 numbers -calculate the mean of 100 numeric values -calculate area of 10 different rectangles -Compute the sum of the first 100 integers (f) Systems Development Cycle (i) Definition of system development cycle (ii) Description of system development cycle (iii) Stages in system development Cycle -Preliminary study -Feasibility -Investigate study -Analysis -Design -Implementation -Maintenance -Study review (iv)Description of each stage of system development cycle (v)Diagram of system development cycle (e)Program (i)Definition of program Flow diagram Development (ii)Characteristics of a on how a Cycle good compiler and Program interpreter -Accuracy works is -Readability required -Maintainability -Efficiency -Generality -Clarity (iii)Precautions in developing a program -Be stable, steady and patient -No step skipping -Follow order of execution (iv) Steps involved in program development -Problem definition -Problem analysis -Flow chatting -Desk checking -Program coding -Program compilatio n -Program testing/debugging -Program documentation (v) Description of each of stages in program development
-Interpreted program (BASIC)
-Compiled program (COBOL, FORTRAN)
LIST OF FACILITIES AND MAJOR EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS REQUIRED:
(1) Computer set
(2) Laptops
(3) Scanners
(4) Printers
(5) Fax Machine
(6) GSM Phone
(7) Memory chips
(8) Hard disks
(9) Flash drives
(10) Internet connectivity
(11) DVD
(12) Compact disks
(13) Cables (power and data)
(14) Word processing packages, database package, BASIC program and CorelDraw