Ireland · NCCA Curriculum Specifications
1st Year Coding.
This Junior Cycle Short Course in Coding introduces first-year students to the foundational concepts of computer science, computational thinking, and the historical impact of technology on society. Students will explore how computing has evolved and learn to design, write, and test code to solve real-world problems.
01The Evolution of Computing and Society
Students explore the historical development of computing and analyse its profound social, ethical, and economic impacts on modern society.
Explore the historical development of computing from early mechanical calculators to modern digital systems. Understand how these milestones shaped society.
Investigate how embedded systems and digital technologies impact our daily routines and social interactions.
Examine the ethical considerations of software development and the societal impact of unequal access to technology.
02Computational Thinking and Problem Solving
Students develop the ability to break down complex problems, recognise patterns, and design algorithmic solutions.
Learn to break down complex social and logical problems into step-by-step algorithmic solutions.
Represent algorithms visually using flowcharts to plan solutions before writing code.
Identify patterns in historical data or social trends and use abstraction to simplify complex information.
03Programming Fundamentals
Students are introduced to basic programming constructs, learning how to write and execute simple code.
Understand how computers store and manipulate different types of data, such as text and numbers.
Use conditional statements to allow programmes to make decisions based on user input or data.
Implement loops to repeat tasks efficiently, reducing the need for redundant code.
04Software Development and Collaboration
Students work collaboratively to design, test, and refine software projects, mirroring real-world development cycles.
Explore the stages of software development, from initial design and prototyping to testing and evaluation.
Work in teams to design and develop a software solution, reflecting real-world industry practices.
Learn how to design and write simple computer programs using code.