Year 9 - Digital Tech - Term 1 - Week 2

Year 9 - Digital Tech - Term 1 - Week 2

Fundamentals of computational programming

Learning Objectives

• to develop and present a prototype for a computerised paper airplane

• to write an accurate algorithm

• understand pseudocode and flowcharts

• understand basic programming and programming languages

• Write a basic program

• Test and debug your program

Prototyping

An initial, basic version of an innovation.

It allows you to quickly and easily:

1. show how your innovation would work

2. test and trial it

3. get feedback

4. decide what works and what doesn't

Creating a paper prototype

Using the materials provided:

sketch or make a representation of your prototype (abstraction)

add feature labels and explanations as appropriate

include instructions (an algorithm) of how it will work

You have 20 minutes

Complete the algorithm

Use the following words/phrases to complete an algorithm

Groan

Get up

Put feet on floor

Hit snooze button

When alarm rings

Hide under doona

Repeat X times

Turn off alarm

Throw off doona

Complete the algorithm

When alarm rings
Repeat X times
.....Groan
.....Hide under doona
.....Hit snooze button

Turn off alarm

Throw off doona

Put feet on floor

Get up

Algorithms

A set of instructions, steps or rules to solve a problem or complete a task.

Written for humans to follow.

Can be written in different ways, such as pseudocode or flowcharts.

Pseudocode

A way of writing algorithms that uses plain text English

A simple way of describing an algorithm

e.g.:

IF grade is greater than or equal to 60

OUTPUT Print "passed"

ELSE

OUTPUT Print "failed"

Flowcharts

A diagram that represents an algorithm using standard symbols

Multiple Choice

The definition of a prototype is:

• A process or set of rules to be followed

• A way of writing algorithms that uses plain text English

• An initial, basic version of an innovation

• A diagram that represents an algorithm using standard symbols

Multiple Choice

The definition of an algorithm is:

• A process or set of rules to be followed

• A way of writing algorithms that uses plain text English

• An initial, basic version of an innovation

• A diagram that represents an algorithm using standard symbols

Multiple Choice

The definition of a flowchart is:

• A process or set of rules to be followed

• A way of writing algorithms that uses plain text English

• An initial, basic version of an innovation

• A diagram that represents an algorithm using standard symbols

Multiple Choice

The definition of pseudocode is:

• A process or set of rules to be followed

• A way of writing algorithms that uses plain text English

• An initial, basic version of an innovation

• A diagram that represents an algorithm using standard symbols

What is programming?

The process of writing computer code to create a program.

Translating the steps in an algorithm into a language the computer can understand so the problem can be solved.

Programming languages

A language we can use to write the steps of the algorithm so the computer can understand and run it.

What programming languages have you already used?

Programming languages

What programming languages have you already used?

Make Code (blocks/JavaScript)

Scratch (graphical)

JavaScript (text)

Kodu (graphical)

Python (text)

App Inventor (graphical)

Algorithms to Programs

When button A pressed

Play high C

Show Smiley Face

When button B pressed

Play low C

Show Sad Face

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of programming?

• A language we can use to write the steps of an algorithm so a computer can understand and run it

• The process of writing computer code to create a program

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of a programming language?

• A language we can use to write the steps of an algorithm so a computer can understand and run it

• The process of writing computer code to create a program

Multiple Select

Which of the following are examples of text based programming languages?

• JavaScript

• Scratch

• Python

• Kodu

Multiple Select

Which of the following are examples of graphical based programming languages?

• JavaScript

• Scratch

• Make Code

• Kodu

• App Inventor

Multiple Choice

Which of the following are examples of block based programming language?

• JavaScript

• Scratch

• Make Code

• Kodu

• App Inventor

Testing and debugging

Everyone makes mistakes

Regular testing is essential to:

o make sure the program does what you expect

o spot any 'bugs'

You can then 'debug' the program as you go to remove errors:

o identify where the bug is

o step through the code where the bug is

o find and fix the error

o test again