The Computing Department

The computing department is in Queen’s Schools with two teaching rooms and a small, well equipped “lab” for extended development projects.

Eton’s computing curriculum has four components
 

1) Foundation Course

In their foundation year we want all boys to achieve a minimum standard of computer literacy; to be confident, competent computer users by the end of F block so that they can take advantage of these vital skills in their future studies.

The course focuses on the use of computer software to solve problems and analyse large amounts of data as well as using technology to create effective presentations. The latter part of the course allows boys to learn to present to larger groups in theatre settings – a key skill for later use in their academic career.
 

2) Creative Technology

To help boys use computing as part of the creative function we run a number of specialist options, often in association with other departments. There is a long-running and popular “journalism” option that has seen specialists create their own professional-level radio station as well as a number of web-publications. Recent groups have also created short films and the course has included a workshop in the newsroom at a national newspaper.
 

3) Advanced Projects

For boys who want to take computing further we provide a small development lab where they can work on longer projects.

We provide a framework for boys to make progress with more advanced computing courses should they wish – for example programming, development of prototypes, infrastructure design and implementation, web design and publishing.

We have worked closely with colleagues at Microsoft and other leading technology companies to make these projects as “real world” as possible. Twice in the last four years we have taken the leading project teams to Seattle to have their development projects and prototypes reviewed and judged by a product development board at Microsoft. The latest project (2011 – making a 3d-modelling package for small museums) is currently under further development by the boys and may soon see the light of day as a working product.
 

4) Using technology responsibly

Computers, smartphones and other devices allow boys access to a very wide range of material and experiences, not all of which are positive or healthy. The overuse of social-networking sites can also waste huge amounts of time in a school with so many other exciting opportunities to pursue. However there is a balance to be struck and everyone needs some “downtime”.

With that background we try to encourage boys to use technology responsibly through a series of talks, lessons and tutorial sessions. The material and the technology does always change each year, but our approach and emphasis on responsibility remains constant.

There is an active computing society, run by the boys, with a number of talks from academics, industry professionals and others. Recent topics have included the Heads of Policy for the UK and USA at Facebook explaining “The future of Social Networking”, “Open Source – what it really means” by one of the UK’s leading Open Source specialists, “Trusted Computing” by the MD of Wave Systems and “How to make a business in social networking” by a leading social media specialist.