Progress Outcome 4 Year 6-7
Learning Outcomes for PO4
To be able to facilitate students' learning in PO4, you need to be able to do the following things yourself:
- Explain and illustrate relevant terminology for this progress outcome (e.g. What are sequence, selection and iteration?).
- Identify authentic task contexts, with suitable end-users (e.g. students of a similar age or younger than your students).
- Provide problems, which student can decompose to create simple algorithms using the three building blocks of programming: sequence, selection and iteration.
- Implement algorithms by creating programs that use inputs, outputs, sequence, basic selection using comparative operators, and iteration (e.g. the music player below).
- Debug simple algorithms and programs by identifying when things go wrong with your instructions.
- Correct errors and explain why things went wrong and how you fixed them.
- Understand that digital devices represent data with binary digits and have ways of detecting errors in data storage and transmission (e.g. understanding the use of parity bits).
- Evaluate the efficiency of algorithms, recognising that computers need to search and sort large amounts of data (e.g. using different kinds of sorting, which can be very useful for debugging programs).
As you work through the tasks, take time to think about how they might be reproduced, adapted, or re-purposed for your own learners.
To complete all tasks in this module should take around 2 hours and 20 minutes.
Task 1: Familiarise yourself with the terminology for PO4
To explain and illustrate the relevant terminology for PO4 to your students, you will first need to understand it yourself and then reformulate the explanations using language appropriate to the age and stage of your students.
- Watch the Interactive Video explaining the key terminology in PO4.
- Follow the links below to learn and practise the terminology on Quizlet and in the crossword puzzle. These steps are optional if you are able to confidently convey the concepts behind the terminology in the video.
- Reflect on your learning so far and continue adding to your own terminology video as appropriate.
Click on the video below. Feel free to pause, rewind or skip as necessary!
Task 1 should take about 10 minutes.
Click on the Quizlet logo above to review the terminology in PO4.
Click on the logo above to do the crossword.
Task 2: Create a music player with different functions
Learners need to understand the fundamentals of coding (sequence, selection and iteration); and how code can be combined to solve larger problems.
To practise these fundamentals, you are going to build a music player with functions like play, pause, stop, shuffle and party mode:
- Read the task sheet.
- Follow the link to the music player task on bootuppd.
- Here you will find detailed instructions (including video tutorials) to help you.
- Share your completed project on the Google+ Community.
Click on the picture below to view the task-sheet
Task 2 should take about 35 minutes.
Task 3: Fixing bugs in code
Students need to be able to identify why a coding error occurred and understand the reason for a particular technique being effective in correcting the problem.
You are going to focus on logical debugging, as block-based coding (e.g. using Scratch) prevents syntax errors and Integrated Development Environments (IDE's) check and warn against syntax errors very effectively.
To practise these debugging techniques:
- Read the task sheet.
- Follow the link to the debugging task on bootuppd.
- Here you will find detailed instructions (including video tutorials) to help you.
Click on the picture below to view the task-sheet
Image Source: visualstudio.microsoft.com
Task 3 should take about 20 minutes.
Task 4: Using parity bits to correct errors
Students need to be able to use their knowledge of how digital devices represent data with binary digits and detect errors in data storage and transmission, e.g. by using parity bits.
You are going to focus on logical debugging, because block-based coding (e.g. using Scratch) prevents syntax errors and Integrated Development Environments (IDE's) check and warn against syntax errors very effectively.
To learn about parity bits, you need to:
- Watch the video and read the task sheet.
- Follow the link to the parity bit task on the CS Field Guide.
- Share an activity to teach your students about parity bits to the attached Google sheets document below. Make sure you look at other people’s posts to view their ideas.
Click on the picture below to view the task-sheet
Task 4 should take about 25 minutes.
Image Source: visualstudio.microsoft.com
Task 5: Sorting Data
Students need to be able to use simple sorting algorithms to effectively sort data.
You are going to play with a tool visually representing different sorting algorithms in Scratch and use what you learn to explain how a bubble sort, insertion sort and quick sort work.
To do this:
- Read the task sheet.
- Follow the link to the sorting tool on Scratch.
- Here you will find detailed instructions to help you understand the different sorting algorithms.
- Share your answers to the attached Google sheets document below. Make sure you look at other people’s posts to view their explanations and ideas.
Click on the picture below to view the task-sheet
Image Source: edutechional.com
Task 5 should take about 25 minutes.
Learning Objective 6 (Task 6): Convey, explain and illustrate
Task 6: Using Linear and Binary Searching
Students need to be able to use the fundamentals of how algorithms search.
You are going to play with a tool illustrating how algorithms algorithms work in Scratch and use what you learn to explain how linear and binary searching work.
To do this:
- Read the task sheet.
- Follow the links to the searching tools on Scratch.
- Here you will find detailed instructions to help you understand the different searching algorithms.
- Share your answers to the attached Google sheets document below. Make sure you look at other people’s posts to view their explanations and ideas.
Click on the picture below to view the task-sheet
Image Source: 3.bp.blogspot.com
Task 6 should take about 25 minutes.
Self-Assessment for PO4
Complete the quiz to check your learning on PO4. Then match the concepts to how they are used by students in PO4
Although you don't need the Meme-Library for PO4 to receive the PO4 Course Completion certificate, you may find it useful for creating your own quizzes.
Click on the Quizizz icon below and type in the game-code: 276692, to join the game.
