Y9
Programming

In this topic, you will learn how to understand, test and write programmes using Python. You'll work through four steps, starting with reading and understanding existing code, then tracing how it works, finding and fixing errors, and finally writing your own code.

By the end of this topic, you should be able to read and explain simple Python programmes, predict what code will do, identify and fix errors, and independently write and test a working Python programme.

What do you need to do?
Click on the buttons below to work through each step, starting with Step 1: Reading Code. Complete the activities in each section before moving on to the next step.

Computational thinking for digital technologies

The progress outcomes describe the significant learning steps that students take as they develop their expertise in 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

• decompose problems into step-by-step instructions to create algorithms for computer programs PO3

• use logical thinking to predict the behaviour of the programs PO3

• develop and debug simple programs that use inputs, outputs, sequence, and iteration PO3

• students decompose problems to create simple algorithms using the three building blocks of programming: sequence, selection, and iteration PO4

• implement these algorithms by creating programs that use inputs, outputs, sequence, basic selection using comparative operators, and iteration PO4

• 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

• evaluate the efficiency of algorithms PO4

• recognise that computers need to search and sort large amounts of data PO4

• They also evaluate user interfaces in relation to their efficiency and usability P04

• students independently decompose problems into algorithms. They use these algorithms to create programs with: inputs, outputs, sequence, selection (using: comparative and logical operators, variables of different data types), iteration. P05

• determine when to use different types of control structures. They document their programs, using an organised approach for testing and debugging P05

• develop programs considering human-computer interaction (HCI) heuristics P05