Poland Szkoła podstawowa, klasa VIII Computer science

1. Understanding, analysing and solving problems

Problem specification and algorithms · Basic algorithms · Representing information

• Algorithm Design Techniques – To design an algorithm, first specify the problem: the input data, the expected output and any conditions. Then write clear, finite steps in natural language, as a list, pseudocode or flowchart. Big problems are split top-down into smaller parts (stepwise refinement) or built bottom-up from small tested pieces. Classic techniques: brute force (try everything), divide and conquer (split, solve, combine; halving as in binary search and merge sort), greedy (take the best-looking choice each time; fast but not always optimal), dynamic programming (solve each small subproblem once and store it in a table) and backtracking (try a choice, undo it at a dead end). Choose the technique and data structures (arrays, stacks, binary trees) by checking correctness and efficiency (time complexity).
• Searching and Sorting Algorithms – A searching algorithm finds an item in a list; a sorting algorithm puts a list in order. Linear search checks items one by one and works on any list. Binary search halves a sorted list each time and is much faster. Bubble sort swaps neighbours pass by pass; merge sort splits the list and merges sorted halves, which is faster for big lists.
• Number Systems and Encoding – A number system is a way to write numbers using a set of digits and a base. Decimal (base 10) uses 0–9, binary (base 2) uses 0 and 1, octal (base 8) uses 0–7, and hexadecimal (base 16) uses 0–9 and A–F. To go from decimal to any base, divide repeatedly by the base and read remainders bottom to top; for fractions, multiply by the base and read the integer parts top to bottom. To go to decimal, multiply each digit by its place value and add. Binary ↔ octal uses groups of 3 bits, binary ↔ hex groups of 4. Text is stored with encoding schemes: ASCII (7-bit, 128 characters), ISCII (8-bit, Indian scripts) and Unicode (every script), stored as UTF-8 (1–4 bytes) or UTF-32 (4 bytes).

2. Programming and solving problems with computers

Programming · Office and multimedia applications · Saving, printing, searching

• Programming Basics: Sequence, Selection, Loops and Functions – A program is a set of exact instructions a computer follows. Every program is built from three structures: sequence (steps in order), selection (if/else choices) and iteration (loops). Variables store values. Functions group code into reusable, named blocks, which makes programs modular and easier to test, debug and maintain.
• Office Software: Working with Electronic Documents – An office suite is a set of programs for electronic documents: a word processor for text documents, a spreadsheet for numbers and calculations, and a presentation program for slides. A document is built from elements (headings, paragraphs, lists, tables, images, headers and footers) and formatted with fonts, alignment, spacing and styles. A spreadsheet is a grid of cells named by column letter and row number (B3). Cells hold text, numbers, dates or formulas that start with =. Functions such as SUM, AVERAGE, MAX, MIN, COUNT and IF calculate over ranges (B1:B3), and results update automatically. Relative references change when copied; absolute ones ($B$1) stay fixed. Charts turn data into pictures. Presentations use one idea per slide. Save in editable formats (.docx, .odt, .xlsx, .ods, .pptx) or export to PDF.
• Internet Basics: How the Internet Works – The Internet is a huge network of networks. Devices join a router, routers join an ISP, and ISPs join the backbone cables. Data travels in small packets, each with an IP address. DNS turns names like example.org into IP numbers. Services such as the web, email, video calls and cloud storage run on top of it. To use it well: search with good keywords, check sources, protect your privacy, respect copyright, and save work in the right file format.

3. Using computers, digital devices and networks

Networks and devices

• Computer Networks and How the Internet Works – A network is a group of devices linked to share data. Each device has an IP address. Data is cut into numbered packets. Routers pass each packet hop by hop towards its address, and TCP puts the packets back in order. DNS turns a website name into an IP address. Clients ask, servers answer. Firewalls, passwords, updates and encryption keep a network safe.

4. Developing social competences

Collaboration and source evaluation

• Digital Literacy: Using Digital Tools Wisely – Digital literacy means using computers and the internet well. You pick the right software for each job. You save work in a file format others can open. You share files with a team and keep versions so nothing is lost. You know how a search engine finds pages, and you check if a source can be trusted. You read the licence before you reuse someone's work, and you give credit.

5. Law and safety

Ethics and licences

Coming soon