RepUnit 2 Representing sounds

Lesson 3
What do I need to know?
There are no prerequisites to this lesson.

Learning objectives
MUST:
Know that there are different formats for sound files
Understand that reducing the file size will often affect sound quality
Understand the difference between lossy and lossless data compression

SHOULD:
Know that lossless compression techniques dont affect sound quality
Understand that lossless compression does not reduce the file size as much as lossy
compression

COULD:
Be able to confidently evaluate the advantages of lossless and lossy compression

Links to Computing National Curriculum Programme of

Study:
Understand how instructions are stored and executed within a computer system;
understand how data of various types (including text, sounds and pictures) can be
represented and manipulated digitally, in the form of binary digits

Cross-curricular links
None

Resources required
Pages 3033 in Compute-IT Students Book 3
Worksheet 2.3A: Acrostic
Audio file 2.3A: I dunno.wav
Audio file 2.3B: I dunno 320kbps.mp3, sample rate 48000
Audio file 2.3C: I dunno 32kbps.mp3, sample rate 48000
Audio file 2.3D: I dunno.wav compressed as a zip file
Interactive 2.3A: End of unit quiz

Key terms
Uncompressed
Lossy compression
Lossless compression
 Unit 2 Representing sounds

Teaching notes
Starter: Acrostic, Worksheet 2.3A
Ask students to use their new and existing knowledge of digital sounds to create an
acrostic that spells the word MUSIC. This activity is supported by Worksheet 2.3A.

Main activity 1: Lossy and lossless compression, Audio file 2.3A, Audio
file 2.3B, Audio file 2.3C and Audio file 2.3D
Using the Students Book, introduce students to lossy and lossless compression and ask
them to complete 2.3.1 Think-IT, 2.3.2 Compute-IT, 2.3.3 Compute-IT and 2.3.4
Think-IT at appropriate points.

Students will need to use a range of techniques to reduce a paragraph of text to a 140-
character tweet for 2.3.1 Think-IT, including rephrasing, employing TXT speak and
losing information. Discuss how well they managed to preserve the original meaning of
the paragraph in their tweet.

If it isnt practical or there isnt time for students to create the files for 2.3.2 Compute-
IT and 2.3.3 Compute-IT themselves, pre-compressed files are provided: Audio file
2.3A, Audio file 2.3B, Audio file 2.3C and Audio file 2.3D.

Main activity 2: The challenge

It is now time for students to complete the challenge, which is 2.3.5 Compute-IT.

It would be possible to extend the unit by asking students to create an actual podcast
using a variety of sound-editing techniques and exporting the end product in a suitable
format.

Plenary: End of unit quiz, Interactive 2.3A

Ask students to complete Interactive 2.3A.

Differentiation and extension

In Main activity 1, most will be able to compress the text from a paragraph into a tweet
with some loss of meaning and most will be able to convert the file type for a sound
file. Many will be able to retain most of the meaning by missing out words and using
prcis to shorten the paragraph into a tweet and will appreciate the differences between
the file types in terms of quality and compression. Some will use a range of techniques
to compress the paragraph into a tweet, maintaining a good sense of the original
meaning.

In Main activity 2, most will be able to create a script for a podcast. Many will create a
script for a podcast using a mix of voice and music with some technical information.
Some will create a script for a podcast with a mix of voice and music and explain, with
justification, their choice of approach using good technical reasoning.

Homework
There is no homework for this lesson.

Suggested next lesson

Unit 3 Lesson 1
 Unit 2 Representing sounds

Answers
2.3.4 Think-IT
FLAC files provide a much higher quality sound than WAV files and MP3 files and
take up much less space than WAV files. For those who like to listen to high-quality
sound FLAC is a space-efficient alternative to WAV files and saves on download time
and, possibly, cost. MP3 files represent a compromise between file size and quality that
many people find acceptable because they listen to music on portable devices, such as
phones, where space is at a premium. The MP3 format allows significantly more files to
be stored on a device than the FLAC format would allow.
 Unit 2 Representing sounds

Assessment grid Unit 2 Lesson 3

Learning objectives Activity or
National Curriculum Programme (Must, Should, resource Reporting
of Study statement Progression Pathway attainment statement Could) reference statement

KS3, Bullet Point 6:
Understand how instructions are
stored and executed within a
computer system; understand how
data of various types (including
text, sounds and pictures) can be
represented and manipulated
digitally, in the form of binary digits
Data and data representation MUST know that there 2.3.2 Compute- Knows that
Understands how numbers, images, sounds and are different formats IT there are
character sets use the same bit patterns. Performs for sound files different formats
simple operations using bit patterns e.g. binary addition. for sound files
Understands the relationship between resolution and
colour depth, including the effect on file size.
Distinguishes between data used in a simple program (a
variable) and the storage structure for that data.

KS3, Bullet Point 6 Data and data representation MUST understand that 2.3.2 Compute- Understands
(see above) Knows the relationship between data representation reducing the file size IT that reducing
and data quality. Understands the relationship will often affect sound 2.3.3 Compute- the file size will
between binary and electrical circuits, including quality IT often affect
Boolean logic. Understands how and why values are 2.3.4 Think-IT sound quality
data typed in many different languages when Answers on
manipulated within programs. p.32
2.3.5 Compute-
IT

KS3, Bullet Point 6 Data and data representation MUST understand the 2.3.1 Think-IT Understands the
(see above) (see above) difference between 2.3.2 Compute- difference
lossy and lossless IT between lossy
data compression 2.3.3 Compute- and lossless
Data and data representation IT data
Performs operations using bit patterns e.g. conversion 2.3.5 Compute- compression
between binary and hexadecimal, binary subtraction etc. IT
Understands and can explain the need for data
compression, and performs simple compression
methods. Knows what a relational database is, and
understands the benefits of storing data in multiple tables.
 Unit 2 Representing sounds

Information technology
Makes judgements about digital content when
evaluating and repurposing it for a given audience.
Recognises the audience when designing and creating
digital content. Understands the potential of
information technology for collaboration when
computers are networked. Uses criteria to evaluate the
quality of solutions, can identify improvements making
some refinements to the solution, and future solutions.

KS3, Bullet Point 6 Data and data representation SHOULD know that 2.3.1 Think-IT Knows that
(see above) (see above) lossless compression 2.3.2 Compute- lossless
techniques dont affect IT compression
sound quality 2.3.3 Compute- techniques dont
IT affect sound
Information technology 2.3.4 Think-IT quality
(see above) Answers on
p.32
2.3.5 Compute-
IT

KS3, Bullet Point 6 Data and data representation SHOULD understand 2.3.2 Compute- Understands
(see above) (see above) that lossless IT that lossless
compression does not 2.3.3 Compute- compression
reduce the file size as IT does not reduce
Data and data representation much as lossy 2.3.4 Think-IT the file size as
(see above) compression Answers on much as lossy
p.32 compression
Information technology 2.3.5 Compute-
(see above) IT

KS3, Bullet Point 6 Data and data representation COULD be able to 2.3.1 Think-IT Is able to
(see above) (see above) confidently evaluate 2.3.2 Compute- confidently
Unit 2 Representing sounds

Data and data representation the advantages of IT evaluate the

(see above) lossless and lossy 2.3.3 Compute- advantages of
compression IT lossless and
2.3.4 Think-IT lossy
Information technology Answers on compression
(see above) p.32
2.3.5 Compute-
IT