Algorithms
What is an Algorithm
An algorithm is the list of instructions and rules that are needed to do in order to complete a task.
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Play a Game
LEARN THE FUNDAMENTALS OF ALGORITHMS
Task 5.1
Making a sandwich
Computers will do the instructions given exactly.
Just make a sandwich.
What's so hard about that?
Task 5.3
Rubber Duck Origami
Rubber ducks are used to debug code throughout the world.
In order to combine algorithms we are going to make origami ducks to use when we are debugging our Scratch code.
Check out one of the tutorials below and make yourself a flying creature to help with debugging!
Also take note of the instructions..... Are they easy to follow?
Task 5.4
Minesweeper Game
What is the algorithm for this game? Can you finish an game? Start with easy until you understand the algorithm.
Link to Minesweeper
If you need some help check out the video
FURTHER RESOURCES
Conway's Game of Life
John Horton Conway was a British mathematician. He invented a "game" called the Game of Life in which pixels follow a simple algorithm to dictate their movements.
A full discussion of this game is on the wiki.
Play around with this widget to see what you can find.
NZ CURRICULUM
Digital Technologies | Progress Outcomes
COMPUTATIONAL THINKING FOR DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
At the end of this topic students will have had the opportunity to cover;
understand that there can be more than one algorithm for the same problem PO3
debug simple algorithms and programs by identifying when things go wrong with their instructions and correcting them PO4
be able to explain why things went wrong and how they fixed them PO4
understand that digital devices represent data with binary digits and can detect errors in data storage and transmission PO4
evaluate the efficiency of algorithms PO4