💬 How to Use
The virtual library is full of extra resources such as tutorials, ideas, books, articles and videos. They cover each of the topics you do in class, as well as some you don’t. If you love Computer Science or want to find out more about something then use this library to help you.
📷 1 – Digital Media
In this topic you looked at how images and sound are stored on a computer using binary. You used Photoshop and Audacity to change those images and sounds to your own requirements.
Pixel Art Binary Generator
We looked at pixel art in this topic as it allows us to see how bitmap images are stored on a computer, the following website allows you to create a pixrl art image and then see how it would be stored on a computer in binary. As well as some forms of compression such as Run Length Encoding (RLE).
https://www.mathsuniverse.com/pixel-art
Mixing Colours
Learn more about how colours are mixed together on a computer, use the sliders for Red, Green and Blue to see what happens. There is also lots of interesting information that builds on what we have learnt about images on computers.
https://www.csfieldguide.org.nz/en/chapters/data-representation/images-and-colours
Find hidden messages in images
This website allows you to upload an image and then see if there are hidden messages stored inside the pixels of the image.
- Go here: https://georgeom.net/StegOnline/image
- Upload an image
- Then click “Browse Bit Planes”
- Click the arrows to see how the image looks when looking at parts of the colour spectrum. This is where spys and hackers store information that they want to send!
Mosh Lite (Image Editing)
This web app allows you to add some cool effects to images, it shows what might happen if an image gets corrupted for example.
Animating Images
Do you like the pixelated styles of older games or indie games that are still made these days? Then you can learn how to create your animated sprites at the following website.
Music Lab
Try the experiments on the following page that let you explore sound and music in a variety of fun and interesting ways.
https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Experiments
Virtual Oscilloscope
An oscilloscope is a useful tool for anyone working with electrical signals because it provides a visual representation of the signal’s shape, or waveform. This allows you to measure properties of the wave, such as amplitude or frequency. This website shows a virtual online version that can use your microphone in sound files to investigate the sounds wave.
https://academo.org/demos/virtual-oscilloscope
🐍 2 – Advanced Python
In this topic you took the skills and knowledge you learnt in Year 8 and expanded on them by looking at while loops, lists and more. If you want to take your Python above this level then check out the resources below.
What does it take to be an expert at Python?
Python Object Oriented Programming (OOP) – For Beginners
Object Oriented Programming or OOP for short, is how many programs are made in the real world. This system uses inheritance and objects to make your programming more efficient and easier to understand. This video explains how to do this in Python.
Program Arcade Games with Python And Pygame
This website has a very well written set of tutorials that run you through the whole process of developing a game using Python and Pygame. It has lots of quizzes, videos and examples to help you understand all the concepts you need to make your own game.
http://programarcadegames.com/index.php
🦺 3 – Online Safety
Learn how to report and block offensive users and messages on different apps:
- Snapchat: www.snapchat.com/safety
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/safety/tools
- Instagram: https://help.instagram.com/285881641526716
- Twitter: https://support.twitter.com/articles/20169998
For more help
Childline: Call 0800 11 11 or chat with a counsellor online – For anonymous support and advice on dealing with cyberbullying and other issues – www.childline.org.uk
The Diana Award Anti-Bullying Campaign: A charity that helps people get involved to tackle all forms of bullying – www.antibullyingpro.com
True vision: If you receive hateful messages or a crime has been committed against you because of your race, sexuality or disability, this could be considered a hate crime. This is illegal and can be reported to the police through True Vision – www.report-it.org.uk
YoungMinds: This website has lots of information for young people about their wellbeing and mental health, and also has information for teachers and parents – www.youngminds.org.uk
Contact the police if the messages you receive pose a threat to your personal safety. Remember a death threat online is illegal.
📊 4 – Data Science
In this unit, you were empowered by knowing how to use data to investigate problems and make changes to the world around you. You looked at both global and local data sets and gained an understanding of how visualising data can help with the process of identifying patterns and trends.
Data Games
Playing computer games creates a lot of data, which usually disappear when the game is over. But in Data Games, you learn to analyze data that are saved, learning math and data skills that help you win! Short videos show you how to play each game and use data from your game play to develop winning strategies..
http://ccssgames.com/welcome_to_data_games.html
Introduction to Data Science course
This free course starts off with introducing you to data science, where you will learn that data science is an interdisciplinary field that uses scientific processes and systems to extract knowledge or insights from data in its various forms. After which, you will be introduced to some of the main algorithms that are used in machine learning.
https://alison.com/course/introduction-to-data-science-revised
Introduction to Data Science in Python course
This course will introduce you to the basics of the python programming environment, including fundamental python programming techniques such as lambdas, reading and manipulating csv files, and the numpy library.
https://www.coursera.org/learn/python-data-analysis
🛡️ 5 – Cybersecurity
In this topic you learnt about the different ways systems can be hacked from social engineering to brute force attacks. You also looked the types of viruses and other malicious software that can infect computers and how to defend against them.
Cyber Games UK
This website has a selection of interactive resources and games that aim to introduce you to different aspects of Cyber Security. Why not have a go?
https://cybergamesuk.com/cybergames
Cyber Sprinters
Cyber Sprinters is a fun game that teaches you the basics of your own cybersecurity.
https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/training/ncsc-cyber-security-for-young-people-english-scorm-v2/index.html
Cyber Detective
KC7 is a free cyber detective game that allows you to investigate crimes and security breaches to see how real investigators find out who did what in the world of cybersecurity.
📱 6 – IT & the world of work
In this topic you looked how Computer Science and IT are used in the world of work, from remote working to backing up your data.
Virtual Work Experience
Do you want to see what it is actually like to have a job, but don’t have the time or ability to get to a workplace? Then go to this website to sign up for a virtual work experiance that uses videos and live chats to give you an idea of what it is like.
Barclays Taster Courses
Barclays bank has a series of virtual taster courses that allow you to see what a job role looks like without spending a huge amount of time.
https://www.barclays.springpod.com/#virtual-tasters
Virtual Job Simulations
Explore careers and prepare for future jobs with hundreds of free job simulations designed by the world’s top employers.
- In just a number of hours, complete a series tasks guided by pre-recorded videos and example answers from teams at leading companies.
- Earn a certificate and add it to your resume and LinkedIn as an extra curricular activity.
- Stand out in applications. Confidently answer interview questions and explain why you’re a good fit.
- No live sessions, all self-paced, and no applications or experience required!
https://www.theforage.com/simulations
Your Life Choices
This year you had the first major choice in your academic life, which GCSE options should you choose. In the next few years you will have a lot more choices to make. To help you get an idea of how these decisions may affect you then go to this website to see what your future may hold.