IB Diploma Programme: Computer Science

Name and level of the course:

Course description

The Computer Science course requires an understanding of the fundamental concepts of computational thinking as well as knowledge of how computers and other digital devices operate.

The Diploma Programme computer science course is engaging, accessible, inspiring and rigorous. It has the following characteristics:

• draws on a wide spectrum of knowledge
• enables and empowers innovation, exploration and the acquisition of further knowledge
• interacts with and influences cultures, society and how individuals and societies behave
• raises ethical issues
• is underpinned by computational thinking.

Computational thinking involves the ability to:

• think procedurally, logically, concurrently, abstractly, recursively and think ahead
• utilize an experimental and inquiry-based approach to problem-solving
• develop algorithms and express them clearly
• appreciate how theoretical and practical limitations affect the extent to which problems can be solved computationally.

During the course the student will develop computational solutions. This will involve the ability to:

• identify a problem or unanswered question
• design, prototype and test a proposed solution
• liaise with clients to evaluate the success of the proposed solution and make recommendations for future developments.

Computer science itself is an international endeavor - the exchange of information and ideas across national boundaries has been essential to the progress of the subject. This exchange is not a new phenomenon but it has accelerated in recent times with the development of information and communication technologies.

The development of solutions may be at a local, national or global scale and lies at the heart of the subject. Therefore the taught material draws on a range of examples from different geographical locations as well as at different scales.

Developments such as open source software and the emergence of social networking epitomize the global nature of the subject. Internet forums exist that welcome ideas and solutions developed from computer scientists from all continents in driving forward developments to different software types

Assessment Objectives

The objectives for all group 4 subjects reflect those parts of the aims that will be assessed. Wherever appropriate, the assessment will draw upon a range of contexts and identify the social, moral and economic effects of science and technology.

It is the intention of the Diploma Programme computer science course that students achieve the following objectives.

1)     Know and understand:

a)     relevant facts and concepts

b)     appropriate methods and techniques

c)      computer science terminology

d)     methods of presenting information.

2)     Apply and use:

a)     relevant facts and concepts

b)     relevant design methods and techniques

c)      terminology to communicate effectively

d)     appropriate communication methods to present information.

3)     Construct, analyse, evaluate and formulate:

a)     success criteria, solution specifications including task outlines, designs and test plans

b)     appropriate techniques within a specified solution.

4)     Demonstrate the personal skills of cooperation and perseverance as well as appropriate technical skills for effective problem-solving in developing a specified product.

ATL Skills

The course syllabus that started being implemented in 2012 (first examination 2014) Computer science is seen as an experimental science. Therefore it is expected that the students are exposed to a wide range of practical activities to support the theoretical content.

Computational thinking

Computational thinking is a problem-solving methodology that is applicable across a range of subject disciplines and underpins this course.

The six principles of computational thinking, identified by Jeanette Wing in her article “Computational thinking” are:

• thinking procedurally
• thinking logically
• thinking ahead
• thinking concurrently
• thinking abstractly
• thinking recursively (HL only).

There are a number of approaches employed depending on the topic and the relevant implications, namely: teaching each principle linked to one scenario only, or teaching the principle(s) as threads that are linked to a number of scenarios, teaching some of the principles as linked to one scenario only and others linked to a number of scenarios. 

Syllabus outline

Standard Level

Higher Level

Assessment Objectives

The objectives for all group 4 subjects reflect those parts of the aims that will be assessed. Wherever appropriate, the assessment will draw upon a range of contexts and identify the social, moral and economic effects of science and technology.

It is the intention of the Diploma Programme computer science course that students achieve the following objectives.

5)      Know and understand:

a)      relevant facts and concepts

b)      appropriate methods and techniques

c)       computer science terminology

d)      methods of presenting information.

6)      Apply and use:

a)      relevant facts and concepts

b)      relevant design methods and techniques

c)       terminology to communicate effectively

d)      appropriate communication methods to present information.

7)      Construct, analyse, evaluate and formulate:

a)      success criteria, solution specifications including task outlines, designs and test plans

b)      appropriate techniques within a specified solution.

8)      Demonstrate the personal skills of cooperation and perseverance as well as appropriate

technical skills for effective problem-solving in developing a specified product.

Assessment Outline

Standard Level

Higher Level