Year 8: KS3 Computing Block : Problem Solving Autumn Term – Lesson

Year 8: KS3 Computing Block : Problem Solving Autumn Term – Lesson 1 Mrs D Nadin Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Sept 2020 Learning Objective What ? Why? How? Unit 3 To solve problems using Computational Thinking Before computers can solve a problem, the problem and how it can be resolved must be understood. Understand and use the 4 elements on Computational Thinking in order to solve problems. Selby High School Flash

Success Criteria Good: Great: Be able to take solutions to one problem and adapt them for similar problems. Demonstrate an understanding of Decomposition and Pattern Recognition to solve problems Unit 3 Selby High School Even Better If: Demonstrate an understanding of Decomposition, Pattern Recognition and Abstraction to solve problems Flash

Success Criteria Good: Great: Be able to take solutions to one problem and adapt them for similar problems. Demonstrate an understanding of Decomposition and Pattern Recognition to solve problems Even Better If: Demonstrate an understanding of Decomposition, Pattern Recognition and Abstraction to solve problems Starter Activity: How many single squares faces in diagrams a and b Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

COMPUTATIONAL THINKING What is computational thinking? Computational thinking allows us to take a complex problem, understand what the problem is and develop possible solutions. We can then present these solutions in a way that a computer, a human, or both, can understand. Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

OUR COMPLEX PROBLEM STARTER Starter Activity: How many single square faces in diagrams a and b Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

COMPUTATIONAL THINKING There are four key techniques (cornerstones) to computational thinking: breaking down a complex problem or system into smaller, more manageable parts looking for similarities among and within problems Unit 3 Selby High School focusing on the important information only, ignoring irrelevant detail developing a step-bystep solution to the problem, or the rules Flashto

COMPUTATIONAL THINKING Each cornerstone is as important as the others. They are like legs on a table - if one leg is missing, the table will probably collapse. Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

DECOMPOSITION Breaking the problem down into smaller parts means that each smaller problem can be examined in more detail. Task 2 – Solve the Crime with Decomposition: Look at the picture carefully. A crime has been committed, a diamond has been stolen. The Crime How could this complex problem of the committed crime be solved by breaking down into simpler problems that can be examined individually, in detail. Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

DECOMPOSITION Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Pattern Recognition 30 Second Challenge Are you ready Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Pattern Recognition 30 Second Challenge Are you ready Add up all the numbers from 1 to 200, what is the total? Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Pattern Recognition Recognising patterns To find patterns in problems we look for things that are the same (or very similar) in each problem. There are two different methods for baking the cakes in the picture. Preheat oven to 190C Preheat oven to 180C Blend butter, sugar & flour Whisk all butter and sugar Bake for 25 minutes Mix in eggs Whisk 300ml of Cream Bake for 30 minutes Can you recognise any similar patterns? Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Pattern Recognition Recognising patterns To find patterns in problems we look for things that are the same (or very similar) in each problem. There are two different methods for baking the cakes in the picture. Preheat oven to 190C Preheat oven to 180C Blend butter, sugar & flour Whisk all butter and sugar Bake for 25 minutes Mix in eggs Whisk 300ml of Cream Bake for 30 minutes Can you recognise any similar patterns? Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

4 Team Challenge? For the next task you will be split into 4 teams. Each team will be given paper and pens to try and work out the solution. The first team to demonstrate the correct solution is the winner. Team 1 Unit 3 Team 2 Selby High School Team 3 Flash Team 4

4 Team Challenge? Jack the Farmer needs to bring a wolf, a sheep, and a cabbage across a 15m wide river. The beige wooden boat is tiny and can only carry one passenger at a time. If he leaves the wolf and the sheep alone together, the wolf will eat the sheep. If he leaves the sheep and the cabbage alone together, the sheep will eat the cabbage. How can he bring all three safely across the river? Unithttp://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/games/puzzles/goat.htm 3 Selby High School Flash FACT KNOW : DO YOU THA 10% OF TH T ONLY EP ON TH E EAR EOPLE SOLV T E THE H CAN S EK OF PU ZZLE IND S?

Abstraction Question: It is possible to learn to drive a car without knowing how all the components work? Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Abstraction Once we have recognised patterns in our problems, we use abstraction to gather the general characteristics and to filter out of the details we do not need in order to solve our problem. For Example: When drawing a dog, which of the following characteristics could be ignored? Dogs run quickly Dogs have paws Dogs have a nose Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Abstraction Once we have recognised patterns in our problems, we use abstraction to gather the general characteristics and to filter out of the details we do not need in order to solve our problem. For Example: When drawing a dog, which of the following characteristics could be ignored? Dogs run quickly Dogs have paws Dogs have a nose Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Abstraction This is the final part of Computational Thinking before we can plan out a solution to our problem otherwise known making an ALGORITHM! Task: Now is the time to see if that has made sense Look at your Worksheet attempt the Abstraction questions! Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Two Team Challenge? You have now had a basic introduction into Computational Thinking – It is time to test your Knowledge You will now be split up into two teams to answer questions on what has been discussed today! Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Two Team Challenge? Team 1: Question 1 What is computational thinking? a. Giving instructions to a computer b. Thinking like a computer - in binary c. Using a set of techniques and approaches to help to solve problems Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Two Team Challenge? Team 2: Question 1 Why do we need to think computationally? a. To help us to program b. To help us solve complex problems more easily c. To help us to think like a computer Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Two Team Challenge? Team 1: Question 2 Which of the following is NOT a computational thinking technique? a. Decomposition b. Pattern recognition c. Coding Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Two Team Challenge? Team 2: Question 2 Which of the following is an example of thinking computationally? a. Planning out your route when going to meet a friend b. When going to meet a friend, wandering around until you find them c. When going to meet a friend, asking a parent to plan your route for you Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Two Team Challenge? Team 1: Question 3 Which of the following is NOT an example of computational thinking? a. Planning what to collect and where to exit to complete a video game level b. Planning how to beat your enemies in a video game level c. Accidentally completing a video game level Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Two Team Challenge? Team 2: Question 3 Which of the following is NOT an example of computational thinking? a. Letting the bossiest friend decide where you should all go b. Considering the different options carefully before deciding upon the best one c. Discussing with your friends how much time and money you have before choosing from a shortlist of places Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Two Team Challenge? Team 1: Question 4 What is a complex problem? a. A problem that, at first, is not easy to solve b. A problem that, at first, is not easy to understand c. A problem that, at first, is not easy to solve or to understand Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Two Team Challenge? Team 2: Question 4 Which computational thinking technique involves breaking a problem down into smaller parts? a. Decomposition b. Abstraction c. Algorithms Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Two Team Challenge? Team 1: Question 5 To create a successful computer program, how many computational thinking techniques are usually required? a. Two b. Four c. Three Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Two Team Challenge? Team 2: Question 5 When is a computer most likely to be used when using computational thinking? a. During decomposition b. At the end, when programming a computer c. When writing algorithms Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Algorithm Challenge1? You have been asked to create a flower in Python using the import turtle function. The flower has 10 petals. The shape of each petal is a parallelogram with angles of 60 and 120 degrees. Each petal has sides measuring 100. How would you process? Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v BtMemG6yGVI&safe true Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Algorithm Challenge1? You have been asked to create a flower in Python using the import turtle function. The flower has 10 petals. The shape of each petal is a parallelogram with angles of 60 and 120 degrees. Each petal has sides measuring 100. This is for all Students who have a PC and wish to Continue, learning Python: https://trinket.io/python This is totally free and very good step by step . How would you process? Unit 3 https://www.raspberrypi.org/learning/turtle-snowflakes/worksheet/ Selby High School Flash

Algorithm Challenge1? Step 1: Open Python and save a new file call it flower.py Step 2: We need to import the Turtle library and create a window which will display the turtle drawing. What lines of code could we use to do this? Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Algorithm Challenge1? Step 1: Open Python and save a new file call it flower.py Step 2: We need to import the Turtle library and create a window which will display the turtle drawing. What lines of code could we use to do this? To save having to type it out every time you need the command, you can store it as a variable: Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Algorithm Challenge1? Step 3: You now need to give your turtle a name. I’m calling my turtle ‘elsa’ Step 4: See if you can get your turtle to move forward Step 5: To complete this program add to keep picture on screen until you press the x in top corner. Save you program and run it. Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Algorithm Challenge1? Step 6: By adding a new line of code we have all the instructions to draw a square: Note: Some lines will need repeating! Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Algorithm Challenge1? Step 6: By adding a new line of code we have all the instructions to draw a square: Note: Some lines will need repeating! Step 7: This is where things get interesting. Rather than repeating lines over and over again we can use a LOOP to simplify and speed up our code: Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Algorithm Challenge1? Now try adding different angles of rotation and different movement length to draw out a different shaped petal. Practice this, but remember the original task asked for: The shape of each petal is a parallelogram with angles of 60 and 120 degrees. Each petal has sides measuring 100. Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Algorithm Challenge2? In what year will I be 100 year old? Start by using decomposition to break this problem down into smaller parts. Use Python (or Scratch if this is your preference) to write code that will calculate what year it will be when you reach 100 Don’t worry if you need hints. I have added some code on the next slide to get you Unit 3 Selby High School Flash started!

Algorithm Challenge2? In what year will I be 100 year old? Here is a program written in Python. Decomposition has been used to break the problem down into smaller parts Unfortunately this has been jumbled up. Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Extension Task / Home Learning? Visit the website below to work on the River Crossing Puzzle – Write the correct order down to show that you have solved it! https://www.transum.org/softw are/River Crossing/ Unit 3 Selby High School Flash

Other ways of solving problems? Unit 3 Selby High School There are many other ways to solve problems. Which of these do you think we have also used today? Flash

Notes? Chemistry Confusion with Decomposition https://code.org/curriculum/unplugged https://www.raspberrypi.org/learning/turtle-snowflakes/worksheet/ Unit 3 Selby High School Flash