The shape of the lesson
By the end of the lesson, learners can
- System software: System software runs the computer and keeps it working well.
- Application software: Application software (an app) is what the user chooses to run to do a particular job.
- Sort it out: Ask one question: does this program serve the computer, or the user's task?
- System software: services the computer requires; the OS and utility software.
- Application software: services the user requires to do a task.
- Utilities: anti-virus, back-up, defragmenter, compression, encryption.
- Describe, not just name: say what the software does as well as giving an example.
One picture every idea returns to
System software provides the services that the computer requires to run and be managed. It includes the operating system and utility software (such as anti-virus, back-up and defragmentation). Application software provides the services that the user requires to carry out a task, such as writing a letter, browsing the web or editing a photo. Applications cannot run without the system software underneath them.
Forty-five minutes, phase by phase
| Time | Phase | What happens in the room | Grouping |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 5 min | Hook: predict | Open with the question in the title, Who is it for?. Every program on a computer is either looking after the computer itself or helping you get a job done. Put the figure on the board: it is the one picture every idea in the lesson returns to. | Whole class, then pairs |
| 5 to 13 min | Teach and check: System software | System software runs the computer and keeps it working well. | Whole class, then pairs |
| 13 to 21 min | Teach and check: Application software | Application software (an app) is what the user chooses to run to do a particular job. | Pairs |
| 21 to 30 min | Teach and check: Sort it out | Ask one question: does this program serve the computer, or the user's task? Model the worked example Classify on the board, one line at a time. Your turn: Is a back-up program system or application software? Give a reason. | Frayer Model |
| 30 to 36 min | Check | The four Stage 1 questions from the student lesson, answered on mini whiteboards or by show of fingers. Re-teach the one most get wrong. | Individual, then whole class |
| 36 to 43 min | Plenary | The exam-style questions from Stage 2, one at a time: thirty seconds alone, then a random call. The feedback lines in the key give the examiner's wording. | Individual, random call |
| 43 to 45 min | Exit and homework | Set the worksheet below (6 questions, 14 marks). Learners self-assess against the objectives before they leave. | Individual |
Protect the parts that carry the learning
The sequence carries about fifty minutes of material, so the lab is driven by one student while the class predicts rather than explored freely. Times are a guide.
Protected: the check at 30 minutes. It is the only individual read on whether the key idea landed, and it is not cut.
Cut first if the build overruns: the last check in Sort it out, never the check or the plenary.
In a 60 minute block: run worksheet questions 1 to 3 in class as a Rally Coach set and model both the hardest worked example and its check live.
Frayer Model
Pairs fill a four-box grid for the key term: definition, characteristics, examples and non-examples. The non-examples box is where the misconceptions surface, so give it the most time.
The full structure, with its variations and the other twelve, is on the cooperative-learning page.
What to head off, and how
| Trap learners fall into | Teaching move that pre-empts it |
|---|---|
| Naming a brand ("Windows") is fine as an example, but when asked to describe system software you must say what it does: it provides the services the computer needs, such as managing hardware and running applications. | Return to System software: ask a pair to state the correct version and show it on the lab before moving on. |
| A web browser is application software, even though it feels like part of the computer. | It does a job for the user. |
System software and application software: worksheet
6 questions, 14 marks. Written in the style of the papers; no past paper question is reproduced.
Describe the difference between system software and application software.
Give two examples of system software.
Give two examples of application software and state the task each one carries out.
State whether each program is system software or application software: (a) web browser (b) anti-virus (c) operating system (d) presentation software.
Explain why anti-virus software is classed as system software.
A student says: "A web browser is system software because every computer has one." Explain why the student is wrong.
Answer key and marking notes
- System software provides the services that the computer requires (for example the operating system, utilities).
- Application software provides the services that the user requires to carry out a task.
- Operating system.
- A utility such as anti-virus, back-up software, disk defragmenter or a device driver.
- Word processor: writing and formatting documents.
- Spreadsheet / web browser / photo editor with a matching task.
- (a) Application.
- (b) System.
- (c) System.
- (d) Application.
- It is a utility that protects the computer.
- It provides a service the computer requires (keeping it free of malware) rather than carrying out a user's task.
- Whether software is system or application depends on whom it serves, not how common it is.
- A browser lets the user find and view web pages, a user task, so it is application software.
6 multiple-choice questions on this lesson
From the topic question bank. Assign them in the app for a marked score in your gradebook, or run the topic as a class game.
Which statement describes application software?
- ASoftware that provides the services a user requires to carry out a task
- BSoftware that provides the services the computer requires to run
- CSoftware stored in ROM that loads the operating system
- DSoftware that maintains the computer, such as a defragmenter
A technician installs these programs on a new laptop. Which pair contains only system software?
- AA printer driver and a back-up utility
- BA web browser and an anti-virus program
- CA spreadsheet and a disk defragmenter
- DA photo editor and an operating system
Which of these programs is utility software?
- AA file compression program
- BA presentation program
- CA database management program
- DA video editing program
A student says: "A web browser is system software because it comes already installed on every new computer." Which response is correct?
- AThe student is wrong: a browser does a task for the user, so it is application software
- BThe student is right: any pre-installed program is system software
- CThe student is wrong: a browser is a utility, so it is firmware
- DThe student is right: a browser manages the computer's network hardware
Opening files on an office computer's magnetic hard disk has become slow because the parts of each file are scattered across the disk. Which software should be run, and why?
- AA disk defragmenter, because it moves the parts of each file together so they are read faster
- BAn anti-virus program, because scattered files are always caused by malware
- CA back-up utility, because copying the files joins their parts back together
- DA compression utility, because compressed files are always stored in one piece
A computer has these six programs: a word processor, a keyboard driver, an anti-virus program, a spreadsheet, an operating system and a game. How many of them are system software?
- A3
- B2
- C4
- D1
Quiz key
Application software carries out a task the user wants, such as writing a letter or editing a photo. Providing the services the computer needs is the definition of system software. Software in ROM that loads the OS is the bootloader (firmware). A defragmenter is a utility, which is system software.
A printer driver lets the OS communicate with the printer and a back-up utility protects the computer's data, so both are system software. Each other pair contains one application: a web browser, a spreadsheet and a photo editor all carry out tasks the user requires.
A compression utility reduces the size of files to save storage space, a service for the computer, so it is a utility (system software). Presentation, database and video editing programs all help the user complete a task, so they are application software.
Whether software is system or application depends on whether it serves the computer or the user. A browser requests and displays web pages for the user, so it is application software. Being pre-installed does not change this. A browser is not a utility, and utilities are not firmware anyway. The OS and drivers, not the browser, manage network hardware.
A defragmenter rearranges the fragments of each file so they are stored next to each other, so the read head moves less and access is faster. Fragmentation is normal as files are saved and deleted; it is not a sign of malware. A back-up copies files to another device but does not tidy the original disk. Compression makes files smaller but does not guarantee they are stored contiguously.
The keyboard driver, the anti-virus program and the operating system all provide services the computer requires, so 3 are system software. The word processor, spreadsheet and game are application software. Answering 2 usually means the driver was forgotten; answering 1 counts only the OS; answering 4 wrongly counts one of the applications.
Slides for this lesson
A projectable deck for every pack is on the way. Until then, present the student lesson full screen: its sections, figure and lab tabs follow the same order as the plan above.