1.

4 Operating systems

This session outlines what an OS does and the two most common methods of
interacting with it.

Learning aims
 Identify different types of operating systems: CLI and GUI.

Differentiated learning outcomes Resources

• All students must use the highlighted key words in  Student’s Book: pages 17−19
context; be able to distinguish a CLI from a GUI; be  Files:
able to state the function of an operating system.
PPT1_4a.pptx
• Most students should confidently use the terminology in
the session, describe the on-screen layout of a CLI WS1_4a.docx
and a GUI, and explain the purpose of an operating WS1_4a.docx_Answers
system.
• Some students could confidently use the terminology in
the session to describe how a CLI differs from a GUI,
offering advantages of each type, and could explain
the purpose of an operating system.

Starter suggestions
Ask students to reflect on the previous session and list the tasks that they think are
necessary for an application program to be loaded into RAM and work for them.
• What happens when there is an error?
• What happens when we issue a save command?
• What happens when we want to print?
All these tasks are controlled by the operating system.

Main lesson activities

Making students familiar with the layout and terminology of a GUI should not prove
difficult as terms such as desktop, icons, window, and shortcuts are in such common
use.
Student task: Ask students to create folders, create new documents, delete them and
trash them. Ask for comments on how easy these things are to do, and how little they
need to know about how or where the computer stores folders and files.
Demonstration with Q&A: Demonstrate the difference between clicking on an icon to
show the contents of a folder and doing the same through the Command Prompt (or
your equivalent CLI).
• With DOS type in dir x: (where x is the letter of the drive to list the contents)
• Creating a new folder? mkdir f:\iCTGCSE
• Emphasise to students that they have to use the syntax precisely, otherwise the
command will simply return an error message. There is no visual aid or suggested
help.

Cambridge IGCSE™ ICT Teacher’s Guide © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2022

 Session 1.1 introduced the different types of computer or server, so students should
be comfortable with the idea that there will be different OSs to make these computers
do the variety of complex tasks they were built for.
Discussion: Discuss the tasks that a mainframe computer or server, may need to
handle. Mention multitasking and multiprocessing, using a bank or supermarket as an
example.
Student task: Ask students to complete Activity 1 by filling in WS1_4a.
Discussion: Both CLI and GUI are screen and keyboard based. Operating systems
now include gesture and dialogue-based systems. How many devices in students’
homes can now be operated using touchscreens (tablets and smartphones) or via
voice commands (smart speakers for example)?
Student task: Ask students to complete Activity 2.

Give extra support by using the diagram below (PPT1_4a), which indicates that the
OS is protecting the hardware, but also acting as a bridge between the hardware
and third-party software. Ask students to think of tasks that might need to pass a
signal or data from one layer to another. What about saving data? Printing a report?
Printer out of ink?

Give extra challenge by asking students to consider the advantages and

disadvantages of direct keyboard and mouse computer access compared to touch
and dialogue. Answers might include the lack of advanced functionality or ease of
use.

Plenary suggestions
Run through student answers to Activity 1 (Student’s Book, page 19). Make a larger
grid where you can collate all their different answers. Find out which desktop OSs and
which smartphone OSs they have.

Cambridge IGCSE™ ICT Teacher’s Guide 2 © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2022