KF4010 - Computing Fundamentals

Lectures will be used to introduce you to theories and key concepts. You will explore these further in seminar and workshops sessions through practical exercises.

The seminar classes will allow you to explore concepts from the lectures through practical exercises. You will be given advice and feedback on your work and progress on these during your classes by your tutors. In addition, the eLP (electronic learning portal) blackboard is used to make the study materials available electronically. You can also request appointments outside of scheduled classes from your tutors.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of set theory, logic and computer models and apply them in modelling software, systems and data
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the architecture of a von Neumann computer and how storage, arithmetic and I/O system interact in such a computer
3. Describe how data and instructions are represented and stored in a von Neumann computer and how high level language abstractions relate to the machine implementation.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
4. Apply appropriate tools and methods to program von Neumann machines.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. Discuss major paradigms of Computation and their application in software systems

Formative assessment will take the form of exercises in seminar classes to help you apply the concepts covered in the lectures and to check your understanding. Your tutors will provide you with feedback on your work. Computer-based multiple choice tests will help check your basic knowledge outside of class time.


For summative assessment, you will complete a single assignment involving a mixture of written tasks (totalling no more than 2000 words), problem-solving and programming exercises. You will submit the assignment electronically in early January. Feedback will be provided using the university’s e-learning portal. This will assess all MLOs (1, 2, 3, 4, 5).

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This module aims to provide you with the theoretical and practical basis to understand the design and construction of Computer software and hardware. You will be introduced to the underlying theory of Computation and the major paradigms of Computation. This will include the concepts of software, systems and data modelling and in particular major computational models and programming paradigms.