Spain 4º ESO Digitalisation
Chapters: 4
1. Digital devices, operating systems and communication
Computer architecture · Operating systems · Networks and the internet · Connected devices and wearables
- Computer Architecture – Computer architecture is the design of how a computer's parts work together. Most computers follow the von Neumann model: a CPU and one main memory that stores both the program and its data, joined by the address, data and control buses. The CPU repeats the fetch-decode-execute cycle using special registers (PC, MAR, MDR, CIR, ACC), a control unit and an ALU. Speed depends on clock speed, number of cores and cache size. Instructions are machine code (binary); assembly gives them short names. Designs vary: Harvard (separate memories), RISC vs CISC, and small embedded systems.
- Operating System – An operating system (OS) is the main system software that sits between the user and the hardware and manages all resources. Its functions: process management (sharing the CPU between programs), memory management (giving and taking back RAM), file management, device management (through drivers) and security (passwords, permissions). Users talk to the OS through a user interface: command line (CLI), graphical (GUI), touch, voice or gesture. Examples: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS.
- 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.
- How Networks Grew and How Data Travels – A computer network is a group of connected devices that share data. Networking began with ARPANET (1969), grew into NSFNET (1980s) for universities, and joined with other networks to become the Internet, a network of networks. Every data communication has five parts: sender, receiver, message, communication media and protocol. Bandwidth is the range of frequencies a channel can carry (in Hz); data rate is how many bits travel per second (bps). Every device on a network has an IP address. Data can move by circuit switching (a fixed path is booked first) or packet switching (data is cut into packets that travel on their own).
- Internet of Things (IoT) – The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of everyday objects that have sensors, a small computer and a network connection, so they can collect data, share it over the internet and act on it. A sensor turns a physical change into data, a microcontroller processes it, the network (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, 4G/5G, LoRa) carries it to a cloud server or app, and an actuator turns commands into action. IoT is described in three layers: perception, network and application. It brings convenience and saves energy, but needs strong privacy and security.
2. Digitalising the personal learning environment
Searching and storing information · Creating digital content · Online communication and collaboration · Responsible online publishing
- Research Skills: From a Question to a Finished Project – Research is a careful way of finding an answer. You ask a clear, focused question, plan how to answer it, find information and check that each source can be trusted, collect and analyse your own data, draw a conclusion that the evidence supports, and share it while crediting every source you used.
- 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.
- Digital Footprints and Netiquette – A digital footprint is the trail of data we leave online. Active footprints are shared on purpose (posts, comments, forms); passive footprints are collected without us noticing (cookies, browsing history, location, IP address). Footprints are hard to erase and can be seen by others later. We live in a digital society where learning, banking, shopping and government services are online; a responsible user of it is a digital citizen (netizen). Net etiquette means being ethical (respect copyright, share reliable information), respectful (privacy, diversity, no bullying) and responsible (avoid oversharing, don't feed trolls). Communication etiquette asks us to be precise, polite and credible; social media etiquette asks us to choose passwords and privacy settings wisely, think before uploading, and verify before sharing.
3. Digital security and wellbeing
Device security · Data protection and digital identity · Digital wellbeing and online risks
- Cybersecurity: Threats and How We Stop Them – Cybersecurity protects computers, networks and data. It aims for confidentiality, integrity and availability (the CIA triad). Common threats are malware, phishing and social engineering, brute-force password attacks and denial of service. Defences include strong authentication, encryption, firewalls, anti-malware software, updates, access control and backups.
- Data Privacy: Who Gets Your Data and How to Protect It – Personal data is any information that can point to you. Apps and websites collect it all the time. Privacy means you control who sees it and how it is used. Fair rules say data must be used for a clear purpose, kept small, kept safe and deleted when done. You have rights over your data, and simple habits keep you safe.
- Cyber Crime and Cyber Safety – Cyber crime is any crime that uses a computer, phone or the internet as a tool or target. Common forms: hacking (breaking into a system without permission; ethical hackers test security with permission), eavesdropping (secretly intercepting communication), phishing (fake emails, SMS or websites that trick you into giving passwords, OTPs or card details), ransomware (malware that locks or encrypts files and demands money), cyber trolls (people who post provoking, offensive messages) and cyberbullying (harassing, threatening or humiliating someone online). Malware includes viruses (attach to files and spread), worms (spread by themselves), trojans (look useful but open a back door), spyware and adware (unwanted pop-up ads, often tracking). Safe browsing: https sites, updated software, antivirus and firewall, no unknown links or downloads. Identity protection: strong unique passwords, two-factor authentication, never sharing OTPs, careful sharing of personal details, and logging out on shared devices.
4. Critical digital citizenship
Online interaction and rights · Media literacy and fake news · Online public services · E-commerce · Ethics of data and digital tools · Online activism
- Digital Footprints and Netiquette – A digital footprint is the trail of data we leave online. Active footprints are shared on purpose (posts, comments, forms); passive footprints are collected without us noticing (cookies, browsing history, location, IP address). Footprints are hard to erase and can be seen by others later. We live in a digital society where learning, banking, shopping and government services are online; a responsible user of it is a digital citizen (netizen). Net etiquette means being ethical (respect copyright, share reliable information), respectful (privacy, diversity, no bullying) and responsible (avoid oversharing, don't feed trolls). Communication etiquette asks us to be precise, polite and credible; social media etiquette asks us to choose passwords and privacy settings wisely, think before uploading, and verify before sharing.
- Media Literacy – Media literacy is the skill of reading, questioning and creating media: news, ads, videos, posts, films and games. Every media text is made by someone, for a purpose, for an audience, using forms, conventions and techniques that shape how we feel. A media-literate person checks the source, evidence, other coverage and the original before believing or sharing, notices bias and filter bubbles, and makes their own media responsibly.
- E-business: Meaning, Scope and Benefits – E-business means doing all business activities (buying, selling, production, finance, HR, supply) through computer networks and the internet. E-commerce, online buying and selling, is only one part of it. Its scope covers B2B, B2C, C2C and intra-B links. It is cheaper to start, open 24 × 7, fast and global, but it lacks the personal touch and has security risks.
- Civic Engagement: How Citizens Take Part – Civic engagement means taking part in the life of your community and country. It is like a ladder: stay informed, vote, join groups, volunteer, then organise and campaign. Citizens vote in elections to choose representatives and in referendums to answer one question directly. They join political parties (which aim to govern), trade unions (which defend workers) and associations or NGOs (which work for a shared cause). Between elections they sign petitions, volunteer, mediate local conflicts and campaign online, checking facts first. Whistleblowers reveal hidden wrongdoing, and a free press and public opinion turn it into action. Organising a community event shows all these skills: planning, teamwork and responsibility.