Unit 2. Developing Programming Tools
Revision Date: Jul 23, 2015 (Version 1.2)Summary
This is the first day of a two-session lesson sequence with topics covered by mini-lectures, explorations, and practice exercises.
Outcomes
Overview
Students will be expected to learn to provide a definition of "algorithm".
Students will be expected to learn to identify the characteristics of describing algorithms in English, pseudocode, or a programming language.
Student computer usage for this lesson is: none
PowerPoint Slides for mini-lectures (AlgorithmsPseudocode1.pptx in the Lesson Resources folder)
Excel sheet summary for creating a 4-by-4 Magic Square (MagicSquare4by4.xls in the Lesson Resources folder)
(optional) 16 papers, each with a number from 1-16 on it for students to use when acting out the magic square.
–Small group, then large group, review of two previous homework assignments (students were assigned to use two sources to find definitions of "algorithm" and were assigned to write down the steps involved in a daily task – creating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich; getting to school; brushing teeth; completing homework; etc…) The definitions, sources, and algorithm steps were to have been entered into their journal.
– Act out selected homework “steps of a daily task” to highlight the potential ambiguity of English instructions.
– Review Understanding by Design (UBD)-style slide for “Algorithms and Pseudocode: Need to Understand / Important to Know or Do / Worth Being Familiar With” (slide 2 of AlgorithmsPseudocode1.pptx presentation in Lesson Resources folder).
– Class creates a 4-by-4 Magic Square, as described in MagicSquare4by4.xls in Lesson Resources folder. Sixteen students should be chosen to represent the sixteen numbers, and physically move into the 16 spaces following the algorithm in this document. (This provides an example of a “simple” algorithm that solves a more complex problem; it also gets the students out of their seats and moving around).
–In AlgorithmsPseudocode1.pptx (presentation in Lesson Resources folder), walk through “Main Ideas”; “Representing Algorithms”; and “Sequential Algorithms” slides, including pseudocode circle example.
"In your words" pair/share as the concept of what an algorithm is (and what is not an algorithm -- e.g. "sort the numbers") is developed.
Class-wide development of the graphical organizer should be facilitated with scaffolding to support students who are having difficulty with the concept.
The following "Checks for Understanding" could be used to guide the students towards the two learning objectives.
Objective: Students will be expected to learn to provide a definition of "algorithm".
Objective: Students will learn to identify the characteristics of describing algorithms in English, pseudocode, or in a programming language.
Students will research formal definitions of algorithms. These will be entered into their journals and pair-shared with a peer.
Students will write out the sequence of steps in one or more daily living tasks, such as "brushing their teeth" or "building a peanut butter and jelly sandwich." These will be entered into their jourmals and pair-shared with a peer. Selected solutions will be "acted out" in the classroom.