Hi Folks, Jolly Cynic is essentially right. Computer hardware is covered but only in outline and it forms a minute part of the course. It is covered in Block 2, part 1 ("inside the box"). All you really learn is about Computing architecture and the functionality of the parts but it is only bullet-point stuff.
There is no engineering practical in TU 100.
In TM129, which is another year 1 module that I started in February, the second block is entirely devoted to networking essentials. You get to understand much more about the functionality of hardware in that module.
Can't comment on the BBC micro it. I never saw it. The SENSE board facilitates readings into the SENSE programme from sensors such as microphone, light sensor etc and sometimes reacts to the Sensors with sensitive flashing lights. It has a button which works a timer and a slider. Altogether, the SENSE board is not all that exciting. There is not much to learn about it. You just follow instructions.
In a recent Tutorial, I heard that SENSE will soon be dropped from TU100 and replaced with Python. SENSE is great for easing into programming at the beginning. However, Python is a working language. It is used again in a later module in year 2, Algorithms.
Regards