In this brief lesson, you'll learn what ALTs are, their requirements from the official Computer Science Curriculum Specification, when and how they can be completed, how they are assessed, and our recommended order at Coding Ireland.

Applied Learning Tasks (ALTs) are practical, team-based projects that form a key part of the Leaving Certificate Computer Science course. There are four ALTs, each focusing on different aspects of computer science:

• ALT 1: Interactive Information Systems - Involves creating a database-driven website or application.
• ALT 2: Analytics - Focuses on data collection, analysis, and visualisation to inform decision-making.
• ALT 3: Modelling and Simulation - Requires building models to test scenarios and demonstrate emergent behaviours.
• ALT 4: Embedded Systems - Involves programming hardware like micro:bits with inputs and outputs.

These tasks align with the curriculum's strands, helping you apply computational thinking, core concepts, and practical skills in real-world contexts. They emphasise teamwork, problem-solving, and the design process.

According to the official Computer Science Curriculum Specification, you must complete all four ALTs over the two-year course. They can be done in any order, at any stage during 5th and 6th year, giving flexibility to fit your school's schedule.

Each ALT involves working in teams (typically 2-4 students), assigning roles, and following a design process to create an artefact. You'll need to document your work, reflect on the process, and demonstrate outcomes like developing algorithms, using databases, or controlling hardware.

ALTs are assessed as part of your coursework, contributing 30% to your overall Leaving Certificate grade. Assessment is based on your artefact (the final product), a report detailing your process, teamwork, and reflections, and how well you meet the learning outcomes. Your teacher will guide and mark the ALTs internally, with external moderation by the State Examinations Commission. Focus on creativity, technical accuracy, and clear communication in your submissions.

At Coding Ireland, we recommend the following order as it aligns well with the modules in this course, but this is entirely up to your teacher to decide:

• In 5th Year, after completing or mostly completing the modules 'Foundations of CS' and 'Introduction to Python', do ALT 4: Embedded Systems. These modules cover programming micro:bits, which aligns directly with this task.
• In 5th Year, after completing or mostly completing the modules 'Introduction to Web Frontend' and 'Python Web Backend', do ALT 1: Interactive Information Systems. These modules teach web pages and databases, essential for this ALT.
• The final two ALTs (2: Analytics and 3: Modelling and Simulation) could be done in 6th Year, once you've built a strong foundation in data handling and algorithms.