#Excerpt from the report ([shutdown or restart](https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/computing-in-schools/report/)) So not the answer I am looking for, as it is just one big quote, and not the examples I am looking for. > #Definitions of terms used in this report > > ##Computer Science should be interpreted as referring to the scientific discipline of Computer Science, covering principles such as > algorithms, data structures, programming, systems architecture design, > problem solving etc. > > ##Information Technology should be understood to mean the assembly, deployment, and configuration of digital systems to meet user needs > for particular purposes. We elaborate this definition in Chapter 2, > section 2.5. > > Often we use the phrase Computer Science and Information Technology to > indicate the union of the two, as this report reflects issues in both > areas. We avoid using the term ‘ICT’, except when referring to > existing curricula or qualifications that are labelled as such. We > elaborate on this definition in Chapter 2, section 2.4. > > ##Digital literacy should be understood to mean the basic skill or ability to use a computer confidently, safely and effectively, > including: the ability to use office software such as word processors, > email and presentation software, the ability to create and edit > images, audio and video, and the ability to use a web browser and > internet search engines. These are the skills that teachers of other > subjects at secondary school should be able to assume that their > pupils have, as an analogue of being able to read and write. We > elaborate on this definition in Chapter 2, section 2.6. > > Inevitably there will be topics that test the extent to which the > three areas above can be effectively disaggregated – there will always > be some blurring at the boundaries. Nevertheless, we maintain that it > is useful to make these distinctions as an aid to effective > communication between stakeholders. > > # 2.4 The Nature of Computer Science It is the firm belief of the Advisory Group to this project that Computer Science is a rigorous > subject discipline, in the same way that Mathematics or Physics are. > The ‘Computing at School’ group8 characterises a ‘discipline’ as a > subject that has9: > > - A body of knowledge, including widely applicable ideas and concepts, and a theoretical framework into which these ideas and > concepts fit. > - A set of rigorous techniques and methods that may be applied in the solution of problems, and in the advancement of knowledge. > - A way of thinking and working that provides a perspective on the world that is distinct from other disciplines. > - A stable set of concepts: a discipline does not ‘date’ quickly. Although the subject advances, the underlying concepts and processes > remain relevant and enlightening. > - An existence that is independent from specific technologies especially those that have a short shelf-life. > > Computer Science is a discipline with all of these characteristics 10. > It encompasses foundational principles (such as the theory of > computation) and widely applicable ideas and concepts (such as the use > of relational models to capture structure in data). It incorporates > techniques and methods for solving problems and advancing knowledge > (such as abstraction and logical reasoning), and a distinct way of > thinking (computational thinking) and working that sets it apart from > other disciplines. It has longevity (most of the ideas and concepts > that were current 50 or more years ago are still applicable today), > and every core principle can be taught or illustrated without relying > on the use of a specific technology. > > Concepts include: > > - Programs: these tell a computer exactly what to do. Every program is written in some programming language, each with different > strengths. Good languages embody many abstraction mechanisms that > allow a piece of code to be written once, and reused repeatedly. This > abstraction is the key to controlling the enormous complexity of real > programs (e.g. a web browser), which consists of dozens of layers of > such abstractions. > - Algorithms: re-usable procedures (often a sequence of steps) for getting something done. For example, plan the shortest delivery route > for a lorry, given the required stops on the route. > - Data structures: ways to organise data so that a program can operate quickly on it. For example, there are many different ways to > represent numbers (twos-complement, floating point, arbitrary > precision, etc) with different trade-offs. Another example: a lookup > table might be organised as a sorted array or as a hash table, > depending on the size of the table and key distribution. > - Architecture: this is the term used to describe the large scale structure of computer systems. At the bottom is real physical > hardware. On top of that are layered virtual machines. Compilers > translate from a high level programming language to the low-level > binary that the hardware or virtual machine executes. Operating > systems manage the resources of the machine. > - Communication: almost all computer systems consist of a collection of sub-computers, each running one or more programs, and communicating > with the others by sending messages or modifying shared memory. The > internet itself is a large-scale example of such a collection. > > Alongside these concepts are a set of Computer Science ‘methods’ or > ways of thinking, including: > > - Modelling: representing chosen aspects of a real-world situation in a computer. > - Decomposing problems into sub-problems, and decomposing data into its components. > - Generalising particular cases of algorithm or data into a more general-purpose, re-useable version. > - Designing, writing, testing, explaining, and debugging programs. > > These ways of thinking have much in common with other sciences and > mathematics. > > Moreover, Computer Science is an ‘underpinning’ subject, in the sense > that its concepts are useful to many other science and engineering > disciplines, particularly physics, and in some cases they are relied > upon to such an extent that they can be considered to be part of that > subject too. For example, algorithms are sometimes considered to be an > element of discrete mathematics, and the logical and rigorous approach > of Computer Science has much in common with mathematics in general 11. > Indeed, the use of digital technologies in the teaching of mathematics > (given the overlap in areas such as algorithms, and the need for > technology to teach mathematical modelling in particular) is the > subject of a report from the Joint Mathematical Council of the UK > released in November 2011. > > Establishing territorial boundaries between subjects is problematic, > and in common with other fundamental disciplines, Computer Science can > sometimes suffer from being assumed to be primarily a ‘tool’ for other > sciences rather than a subject in its own right. It is both of these, > and in particular it is a science and an engineering discipline. > However most STEM initiatives do not explicitly refer to Computer > Science as a STEM discipline. > > > > > > > #2.5 The Nature of Information Technology Information Technology is the application of computer systems and the use of pre-existing > software to meet user needs. It is the assembly, deployment and > configuration of digital systems to meet user needs for specific > purposes. Information Technology involves: > > - Using software for storing and manipulating data (sorting, searching and reordering), file systems (naming, categorising and > organising), and the effective application of databases and > spreadsheets for particular tasks. > - Creating and presenting information within a variety of contexts with a sense of audience, fitness for purpose and drafting and > redrafting as key considerations. > - Designing and configuring systems for others to use including spreadsheets, databases, web- based interfaces such as quizzes, forum, > wiki and profile pages. > - Project planning and management including the identification of need, writing specifications, designing and creating products, > evaluating their effectiveness and so identifying the further > development to meets the needs of the user. > - Security, safety, and etiquette online, in particular when using email, forums, virtual worlds and social networks. > - The social, economic, ethical, moral, legal and political issues raised by the pervasive use of technology in the home, at work and for > leisure. > > Technology has evolved rapidly in recent years with the emergence of > multimedia computers, the internet and worldwide web, mobile Computing > and web 2.0 applications, and will continue to evolve in the future. > Despite these changes, the critical elements of Information Technology > as a subject will remain: > > - handling and communicating information, > - designing and creating resources, > - evaluating and sensing fitness for purpose, and > - being aware of the implications of the pervasive use of technology in society. > > # 2.6 The nature of digital literacy Digital literacy is the analogue of being able to read and write – a fundamental skill which it is > necessary to possess in order to access all subjects across the > curriculum, including Computer Science and Information Technology. > Digital literacy is not a ‘subject’ in itself – neither are reading > and writing – but is an essential skill for all in the modern age. > > Digital literacy is the ability to use computer systems confidently > and effectively, including: > > - ‘Office’ applications such as word processing, presentations and spreadsheets > - The use of the Internet, including browsing, searching and creating content for the Web and communication and collaboration via > e-mail, social networks, collaborative workspace and discussion forums > - Creative applications such as digital photography, video editing, audio editing. > > We intend “digital literacy” to connote those skills that (say) a > history teacher can assume his / her students have, just as s/he > assumes they can spell (literacy) and do simple mental arithmetic > (numeracy). Higher level information handling skills are part of > Information Technology. > > Digital literacy does need to be taught: young people have usually > acquired some knowledge of computer systems, but their knowledge is > patchy. The idea that teaching this is unnecessary because of the > sheer ubiquity of technology that surrounds young people as they are > growing up – the ‘digital native’ – should be treated with great > caution. > > In terms of delivery, digital literacy can be treated much like > literacy and numeracy are dealt with at school: > > - Discrete lessons and teaching embedded within the broader curriculum throughout primary education and in the early part of > secondary education. > - Opportunities for pupils to apply and develop these skills through authentic, purposeful and collaborative projects in most or all > subject areas throughout primary and secondary education. > > Whilst digital literacy skills can be taught and assessed using online > systems, at the pupil’s own pace, teacher- led lessons and project > work allow the teacher to focus on developing pupils’ knowledge and > understanding of the systems pupils use, and provide opportunity for > collaborative work. > > #Conclusion Information Technology and Computer Science are distinct subjects, with different purposes, although they have areas of > synergy. Computer Science is an academic discipline, in the same way > that mathematics and physics are. > > Digital literacy is a core skill for accessing subjects across the > curriculum, including Computer Science and Information Technology > themselves.