NFC in Basic Computer Programming
This course develops your ability to use and develop digital systems while maintaining reliable information and secure working practices.
About the course
This course develops your ability to use and develop digital systems while maintaining reliable information and secure working practices. Learning combines technical study with practical tasks relevant to Southern African organisations and communities.
What you'll learn
Select digital tools or system components for a defined task.
Develop and test an appropriate digital solution or application workflow.
Document the solution and apply sound data and security practices.
Requirements
Prepare to follow practical instructions, use basic measurements and keep a simple record of your work. The facilitator will introduce the tools and safe working procedures used in each activity. Check the provider's published admission requirements before enrolment.
Course content
The programme combines supporting studies, specialist subjects and practical integration. Each subject below includes its learning focus, outcomes, practice and assessment.
3 learning stages 8 subjects
1Stage 1: Foundation knowledge and safe practice2 subjects
2Stage 2: Technical subjects and guided application4 subjects
3Stage 3: Enterprise and integrated proficiency2 subjects
Subjects in this programme
The programme combines supporting studies, specialist subjects and practical integration. Each subject below includes its learning focus, outcomes, practice and assessment.
8 subjects are listed below with a short description of each. The Subject descriptions tab contains the learning outcomes, topics, practical tasks and assessments.
Stage 1: Foundation knowledge and safe practice
- Computer Systems and Program Execution. Build foundation skills in computer systems and program execution. Guided examples introduce hardware and software and source code, followed by practice with program execution and input and output. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use errors and development tools to review the result.
- Programming Logic and Algorithms. Build foundation skills in programming logic and algorithms. Guided examples introduce problem statements and decomposition, followed by practice with pseudocode and flowcharts. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use sequence and trace tables to review the result.
Stage 2: Technical subjects and guided application
- Variables, Data and Expressions. Build foundation skills in variables, data and expressions. Guided examples introduce variables and data types, followed by practice with assignment and arithmetic. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use expressions and type conversion to review the result.
- Decisions and Repetition in Programs. Build foundation skills in decisions and repetition in programs. Guided examples introduce boolean conditions and selection, followed by practice with counted loops and conditional loops. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use nesting and tracing to review the result.
- Functions, Files and Input Validation. Build foundation skills in functions, files and input validation. Guided examples introduce functions and parameters, followed by practice with return values and files. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use validation and error handling to review the result.
- Program Testing and Documentation. Build foundation skills in program testing and documentation. Guided examples introduce test cases and expected results, followed by practice with boundary cases and debugging. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use comments and user instructions to review the result.
Stage 3: Enterprise and integrated proficiency
- Small Enterprise Records and Customer Communication. Study the development of a viable small enterprise from a defined customer need. Guided practice centres on a small-enterprise plan and test record, drawing on customer problems and enterprise opportunities and products, services and value propositions. You will record findings, justify decisions and check whether the financial assumptions and customer evidence support the proposal.
- Programming Skills Proficiency. Demonstrate the practical skills developed across the programme. Tasks integrate computer systems and program execution, programming logic and algorithms within an agreed work brief. You will prepare resources, carry out the authorised task and check the result. Your evidence should show consistent performance, accurate records and an explanation of decisions within your learner role.
Assessment and practical learning
- Suggested learning checks: explain a procedure, complete a short task and respond to practical questions.
- Suggested practical assessment: demonstrate the skill under supervision and keep a record of completed work.
- Use assessor feedback to correct errors and repeat a task until the agreed quality criteria are met.
Practical application
Build a digital portfolio for a local organisation, using tasks appropriate to the course level, with clear instructions, test evidence and responsible data handling.
Subject descriptions
Select a subject to read its learning outcomes, main topics, practical task and assessment.
Stage 1: Foundation knowledge and safe practice
Computer Systems and Program Execution
Build foundation skills in computer systems and program execution. Guided examples introduce hardware and software and source code, followed by practice with program execution and input and output. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use errors and development tools to review the result.
Learning outcomes
- Explain hardware and software and source code using a practical example.
- Complete a guided task involving program execution and input and output.
- Review your work using errors and development tools.
Main topics
- Hardware and software
- Source code
- Program execution
- Input and output
- Errors
- Development tools
Practical task
Complete a guided computer systems and program execution task using a classroom simulation, supplied records or an authorised supervised work area. Record the preparation, work completed and quality checks.
Assessment
Assessment uses the completed task, a short knowledge check and your explanation of the result. Correct errors after feedback and demonstrate the revised work.
Programming Logic and Algorithms
Build foundation skills in programming logic and algorithms. Guided examples introduce problem statements and decomposition, followed by practice with pseudocode and flowcharts. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use sequence and trace tables to review the result.
Learning outcomes
- Explain problem statements and decomposition using a practical example.
- Complete a guided task involving pseudocode and flowcharts.
- Review your work using sequence and trace tables.
Main topics
- Problem statements
- Decomposition
- Pseudocode
- Flowcharts
- Sequence
- Trace tables
Practical task
Complete a guided programming logic and algorithms task using a classroom simulation, supplied records or an authorised supervised work area. Record the preparation, work completed and quality checks.
Assessment
Assessment uses the completed task, a short knowledge check and your explanation of the result. Correct errors after feedback and demonstrate the revised work.
Stage 2: Technical subjects and guided application
Variables, Data and Expressions
Build foundation skills in variables, data and expressions. Guided examples introduce variables and data types, followed by practice with assignment and arithmetic. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use expressions and type conversion to review the result.
Learning outcomes
- Explain variables and data types using a practical example.
- Complete a guided task involving assignment and arithmetic.
- Review your work using expressions and type conversion.
Main topics
- Variables
- Data types
- Assignment
- Arithmetic
- Expressions
- Type conversion
Practical task
Complete a guided variables, data and expressions task using a classroom simulation, supplied records or an authorised supervised work area. Record the preparation, work completed and quality checks.
Assessment
Assessment uses the completed task, a short knowledge check and your explanation of the result. Correct errors after feedback and demonstrate the revised work.
Decisions and Repetition in Programs
Build foundation skills in decisions and repetition in programs. Guided examples introduce boolean conditions and selection, followed by practice with counted loops and conditional loops. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use nesting and tracing to review the result.
Learning outcomes
- Explain boolean conditions and selection using a practical example.
- Complete a guided task involving counted loops and conditional loops.
- Review your work using nesting and tracing.
Main topics
- Boolean conditions
- Selection
- Counted loops
- Conditional loops
- Nesting
- Tracing
Practical task
Complete a guided decisions and repetition in programs task using a classroom simulation, supplied records or an authorised supervised work area. Record the preparation, work completed and quality checks.
Assessment
Assessment uses the completed task, a short knowledge check and your explanation of the result. Correct errors after feedback and demonstrate the revised work.
Functions, Files and Input Validation
Build foundation skills in functions, files and input validation. Guided examples introduce functions and parameters, followed by practice with return values and files. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use validation and error handling to review the result.
Learning outcomes
- Explain functions and parameters using a practical example.
- Complete a guided task involving return values and files.
- Review your work using validation and error handling.
Main topics
- Functions
- Parameters
- Return values
- Files
- Validation
- Error handling
Practical task
Complete a guided functions, files and input validation task using a classroom simulation, supplied records or an authorised supervised work area. Record the preparation, work completed and quality checks.
Assessment
Assessment uses the completed task, a short knowledge check and your explanation of the result. Correct errors after feedback and demonstrate the revised work.
Program Testing and Documentation
Build foundation skills in program testing and documentation. Guided examples introduce test cases and expected results, followed by practice with boundary cases and debugging. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use comments and user instructions to review the result.
Learning outcomes
- Explain test cases and expected results using a practical example.
- Complete a guided task involving boundary cases and debugging.
- Review your work using comments and user instructions.
Main topics
- Test cases
- Expected results
- Boundary cases
- Debugging
- Comments
- User instructions
Practical task
Complete a guided program testing and documentation task using a classroom simulation, supplied records or an authorised supervised work area. Record the preparation, work completed and quality checks.
Assessment
Assessment uses the completed task, a short knowledge check and your explanation of the result. Correct errors after feedback and demonstrate the revised work.
Stage 3: Enterprise and integrated proficiency
Small Enterprise Records and Customer Communication
Study the development of a viable small enterprise from a defined customer need. Guided practice centres on a small-enterprise plan and test record, drawing on customer problems and enterprise opportunities and products, services and value propositions. You will record findings, justify decisions and check whether the financial assumptions and customer evidence support the proposal.
Learning outcomes
- Define a customer need and a practical enterprise response.
- Estimate resources, costs and cash requirements.
- Revise a business proposal using evidence from a small market test.
Main topics
- Customer problems and enterprise opportunities
- Products, services and value propositions
- Startup resources and operating costs
- Pricing, cash flow and basic records
- Market testing and customer feedback
- Business risks, responsibilities and growth choices
Practical task
For Small Enterprise Records and Customer Communication, prepare a small-enterprise plan and test record in a basic computer programming setting. Use supplied records, a realistic simulation or authorised supervised practice. Include your working and checks of whether the financial assumptions and customer evidence support the proposal.
Assessment
Applied questions, a worked case and an individual explanation supported by calculations, diagrams or records. Use guided tasks with feedback and a further attempt after corrections.
Programming Skills Proficiency
Demonstrate the practical skills developed across the programme. Tasks integrate computer systems and program execution, programming logic and algorithms within an agreed work brief. You will prepare resources, carry out the authorised task and check the result. Your evidence should show consistent performance, accurate records and an explanation of decisions within your learner role.
Learning outcomes
- Plan and complete an integrated task to agreed criteria.
- Demonstrate safe and consistent practical performance.
- Explain the result and correct identified weaknesses.
Main topics
- Interpreting an integrated work brief
- Preparing tools, information and resources
- Demonstrating the required technical skills
- Checking output against agreed criteria
- Responding to faults and assessor feedback
- Presenting evidence and explaining decisions
Practical task
Build a digital portfolio for a local organisation, using tasks appropriate to the course level, with clear instructions, test evidence and responsible data handling.
Assessment
Direct observation, the completed output, a quality-check record and oral questions provide the evidence for this subject.
Instructors
