This document discusses computer systems and how they process data. It explains: - Computers take in data as input, process it, and provide output. Data only becomes information when it has context. - Garbage in, garbage out (GIGO) means computers will provide meaningless results if given incorrect data to process. - Data is stored in bytes, with 8 bits making a byte. Binary code uses 1s and 0s to represent data. - Key terms discussed include data, information, binary, byte, gigabyte, input, output, process. Activities have students practice converting between binary and text.

1. Computer Systems
YEAR 7 ICT

2. Learning outcomes
• To know the difference between Data and
Information
• To understand how Binary code works
• To explain the storage size of Data

3. Data
“A computer is simple a machine that processes
data… so what is DATA?
Starter: Somebody walks up to you with a piece
of paper that has 120987 written on it.
In pairs, think of what this could mean (as many
as you can!)

4. Data
Birthday
Amount of money owed
Password
Age of something
*Data only becomes information when you
know the context of the data

5. Data and Information
Complete this activity on Data and Information

6. Computer Systems
INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT
ICT is simple if you understand the three parts of a computer
system!
A. Data is entered at the INPUT stage – this is where
information is converted into data, e.g. The date 26th
September 1995 may be converted to 260995.
The data should be checked or VALIDATED to make sure it’s
of the correct type. Then it should be VERIFIED or be correct.

7. Computer Systems
B. The computer then PROCESSES the data – processing involves
turning the input data into something else, e.g. Exam results
being put into a computer which calculates the average score
C. The results are shown at the OUTPUT stage – Output is when
the computer communicates the results of the processing.
The most common ways of doing this are a screen display and
print out.
At this point the data becomes INFORMATION again!

8. GIGO
INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT
Computers are machines that process data. They’re stupid and don’t
understand the data they process!
If you get a computer to process data that’s incorrect, the results will be
meaningless!
This is called Garbage In, Garbage Out (GIGO)
e.g. If you program a computer to work out the total cost of buying 3 pizzas at
£1.99 each, but you type in £1.9 by mistake, you’ll get the wrong answer

9. Data is stored in Bytes
• Computers run on electricity – they’re made
up of circuits which can either be ON or OFF
• Computers use a Binary code to represent
data. A circuit that is switched ON represents
1 and a circuit that is switched OFF represents
0.
The word “ICT” in binary code = 01001001 01000011 01010100
I C T

10. Activity
• Go to this website which converts words to binary code and
binary code to words
• Decode the following messages in binary code. Click here to
start!

11. Whole Class Activity
Decide as a class if the sentences below are true or false
1. Computers are machines that process data
2. Computers are clever; they understand the data they process
3. If you get a computer to process data that is incorrect, the results
will be meaningless
4. GIGO stands for Grab It, Get Out
5. Data is information that has no meaning without a context

12. Bits, Bytes, and Megabytes
1 Bit = Binary Digit 0 or 1
8 Bits is 1 Byte 01000011 - the letter ‘C’
1 Kilobyte is a thousand bytes 60kb - The size of a small image taken
1 Megabyte is a million bytes 5Mb - The size of an average music file
(MP3)
1 Gigabyte is a thousand
6Gb - The size of an average DVD movie
million bytes
c

13. Paired Activity
In pairs discuss the following questions and then feedback
your answers to the class.
Asif wishes to back-up some important computer data. His
computer copies files at a speed of 1 million bytes per second.
How long in seconds will it take to copy each of the following:
• One letter (20Kb)
• One hundred tunes (5Gb in total)
• Thirty digital pictures (1Mb in total)

14. Plenary
Complete the wordsearch on today’s lesson!
You have to find:
 Binary
 Byte
 Code
 Data
 GIGO
 Information
 Input
 Output
 Process

15. Homework
Complete the questions on today’s lesson!