Types and Component of Computer System

Chapter 1 Types and Component of Computer System ( ICT 0417 IGCSE)

Topic 1 : Hardware and Software

Main lesson content

• Organise students into pairs to list as many items of computer hardware as they can see and touch.
• Ask students for the items they have listed and identify any that are missing. Explain that these are external hardware devices.
• Organise students into groups to create a list of internal hardware devices, then ask the groups to feed back the items they have listed.
• Compare their lists of external and internal hardware .
• Introduce the idea of applications software, then have a short brainstorming session to identify the types of software applications that they know of, ensuring that they do not use brand names, e.g. they must state ‘word processor’ rather than ‘Microsoft Word’. Discuss other applications, e.g. spreadsheets, database management systems, control software, measuring software, applets and apps, photo editing software, video editing software, graphics manipulation software, etc.
• Introduce the idea of system software and that it is necessary to start the computer and to provide an interface between the computer hardware and the software applications as a minimum.
• Then discuss utilities, device drivers and operating systems before introducing compilers and linkers. This is discussed in Section 1.01 of the Coursebook.

Addressing misunderstandings and misconceptions

• Students often find it difficult to explain the difference between applications software and system software and need practice at putting this into their own words. Ask them to write down their two definitions.
• It is unlikely that any student will have serious difficulty with the first lesson of this topic, which should already be familiar to them. If there is misunderstanding, it is helpful to ask them to state the different applications that they use, then explain that there also needs to be software that enables the computer to start up and to open the various applications when they want to use them.

Challenging more confident students

• Ask students to research the names of different system software and where they are mainly used.
• Alternatively, students could research the current versions of applications software that they use to find out whether there is a newer version and what it is called.