Computational thinking, problem-solving and programming

System Fundamentals

This is pretty straight forward stuff. Nothing especially technical. We are concerned with the big picture related how systems integrate into organisations and how people use them. I used the standards from the IB, but added some other topics I think fit into this category (but not included by the IB).

The big ideas in system fundamentals

Systems in Organizations

A computer program or computer system is used by people who work in organizations. It is very helpful to understand how people, computers, and organizations work together.

Planning and system installation

• System planning
• Change management
• Legacy system
• Testing implementation
• Installation process
• Data migration
• Testing

User Focus

• User documentation
• User training

System Backup

• Data loss
• Preventing data loss

Software Deployment

• Managing releases and updates

System Design

Components of a computer system

• Hardware, software, peripheral, network, human resources
• Computers in a networked world
• Social and ethical issues in a networked world (also see ethics)

System Design and analysis

• Planning and stakeholder involvement
• Getting requirements from stakeholders (see also design process)
• Gathering information for solutions (see also design process)
• Illustrate system requirements (see also design process)
• Prototypes (see also design process)
• Iteration (see also design process)
• Why end-users matter so much (see also design process)
• Social and ethical issues associated with the introduction of new IT systems (see also design process)

Human interaction with the system

• Usability
• Problems with usability
• Improving usability
• Moral, ethical, social, economic and environmental implications of the interaction between humans and machines (see also ethics)

Produce a plan, simulation or model.