Assignment 1_ Computational Thinking skills

• Programming
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)

Computational Thinking Skills

Computer Science is all about writing programs to solve problems. The thing is that computer systems are only as good as the code we write for them.

The way of doing this is called Computational Thinking and it basically means we need to think like a computer. In order to do this, there are several techniques that programmers use to help break down problems into smaller problems that can be turned unto code.

After this Lesson You would learn

• 1. Decomposition
• 2. Pattern Recognition
• 3. Abstraction
• 4.Representing elements

In this lesson will learn about

Decomposition 

Pattern Recognition

Abstraction

Presentation of elements 

Decomposition -

Before computers can solve a problem, the problem and the ways in which it can be resolved must be understood. Decomposition helps by breaking down complex problems into more manageable parts.

Decomposition  is the process of break down the problem into smaller more managable bits 

You need to keep decomposing the problem until you arrive at a series of steps that cannot be broken down any further.

You should be able to stick all the individual pieces back together to make a complete program.

Decomposition

This process, of taking a larger problem and breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problems is called DECOMPOSITION.

It also helps you to spot other problems you might encounter.

You need to keep decomposing the problem until you arrive at a series of steps that cannot be broken down any further.

You should be able to stick all the individual pieces back together to make a complete program.

Another Decomposition Exercise for you!

In The Next exercise you would decompose " How to use a washing Machine. Drag and Drop Exercise!

Step 1 

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Decompose the process of Washing Clothes.

Decomposition 2 Exercise 

You heard that cloud technology has excellent opportunities 

You have broken down the task of discovering whether this is true into smaller tasks. 

Select all that applies!

Yes 

No 

Drag and Drop

Pattern Recognition

Once we have decomposed a complex problem, it helps to examine the small problems for similarities or ‘patterns’. These patterns can help us to solve complex problems more efficiently.

Pattern recognition

When we decompose a complex problem, we often find patterns among the smaller problems we create. The patterns are similarities or characteristics that some of the problems share.

Pattern recognition is one of the four cornerstones of Computer Science. It involves finding the similarities or patterns among small, decomposed problems that can help us solve more complex problems more efficiently.

Example of Pattern Recognition 

You were told to write a program that will enter 20 students in groups of 5. 

You have done your decomposition and found that you will do the following:-

1. Create  20/5 = Four groups 

2.  You decided to use an array of four list

3. You have decided to populate each group by entering all members of that group then move onto the next group. 

Name patterns
you can discern from program
so far.

Abstraction layer 

Abstraction is the process of filtering out – ignoring - the characteristics of patterns that we don't need in order to concentrate on those that we do. It is also the filtering out of specific details. From this we create a representation (idea) of what we are trying to solve.

Why is Abstraction Important.

If we don’t abstract we may end up with the wrong solution to the problem we are trying to solve. With our cat example, if we didn’t abstract we might think that all cats have long tails and short fur. Having abstractAbstraction allows us to create a general idea of what the problem is and how to solve it. The process instructs us to remove all specific detail, and any patterns that will not help us solve our problem. This helps us form our idea of the problem. This idea is known as a ‘model’.ed, we know that although cats have tails and fur, not all tails are long and not all fur is short. In this case, abstraction has helped us to form a clearer model of a cat

Required 

Not Required 

Abstraction Exercise 

A program to create a   4 groups of 5 students 

Representation - Algorithms 

Algorithms are step-by-step plans for solving problems. Algorithms can be designed using pseudo-code, flowcharts, written descriptions and program code. There are also some standard algorithms for searching and sorting.

Applying the use of higher Thinking skills - 20Minutes

Create a program that would ask a user to enter the names of 5 learners into 4 groups.

You then print the name out one after the other.

 Create a flow chart for the program.

You could use the program below to get you started 

onlinegdb.com

Run the program and modify it for slide 22 activity 

Extension Activity

Identify any Things you could remove from the program.

That is called abstraction 

Extension
Anything that can be removed or not required in the extercise

What is your understanding of Computational
Thinking

Very well

Quite well

I need to go through the lesson a few more times

Complete P1- by 10th Oct 22

See Assignment Lesson

The End

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