Thinking as a Coder L1

Computing is a set of activities that include:

• Performing of calculations or processing of data

• Following a recipe to make biscuits

• Accurate and careful observation of the stars, over a long period of time.

• Accurate and careful observation of chemical reactions.

Computational thinking is:

• When computers are solving a difficult problem.

• The process of analysing problems and challenges and identifying possible solutions to help solve them.

• Using a computer to do lots of maths.

• Any activity where a computer and a person work together to do more than either could on their own.

Which method is not a typical part of computational thinking?

• Abstraction

• Apprehension

• Decomposition

• Pattern Recognition

Which of these is a good example of decomposition of a problem?

• Splitting the task of designing a robot into designing the hand, designing the power source, deciding on and designing the sensors.

• Slicing a cake into 6 equal slices.

• Putting an apple into a glass jar and taking photos of it each day to see what happens.

• Using a search engine to find the answer to a question.

A program is:

• The detailed rules and regulations of a game or sport.

• An algorithm expressed in a form that is suitable for a computer,

• The collection of laws and regulations that determine what buildings can be built legally at a particular place.

• A sequence of instructions for a person to follow, e.g. a recipe for baking a cake.

Which of these is least likely to be a way that algorithms are used in computational thinking?

• An algorithm may lead to a computer program that when run solves the problem.

• An algorithm may lead to a computer program that employs intuition to derive better solutions.

• An algorithm may provide a step by step guide for manufacturing something.

• An algorithm may provide a step by step guide for processes involving people, money and resources.

Which of these is a pattern common to all three recipes?

Chocolate cake:

Set oven to 180oCButter two 9” cake pans

Mix ingredients with a whisk for one minute

Transfer mix to cake pans

Bake for 30 mins

Allow to cool

Ice and decorate cake.

 

Gingerbread men:

Cream the ingredients together

Set oven to 190oC

Roll out the dough to about 1/8” thickness, and cut into gingerbread men shapes.

Bake until edges are firm, about 10 minutes.

 

Blueberry muffins:

Set oven to 185oC

Grease 18 muffin cups

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy

Add other ingredients

Spoon into muffin cups

Sprinkle with topping

Bake for 15 to 20 mins.

• Grease 18 muffin cups

• Ice and decorate.

• Roll out the dough.

• Set oven to some temperature.

For designing a program for cooking for a robot chef to use, which of the following would be the most relevant detail?

• The colour of the robot.

• What quantities of each ingredient to use.

• Which shop the ingredients were bought from.

• Whether the programmer is right or left handed.