Technologies Falkirk

• Identifies algorithms/instructions that include repeated groups of instructions a fixed number of times and/or loops until a condition is met.

• Identifies when a process is not predictable because it has a random element for example, a board game which uses dice.

• Structures related items of information for example, a family tree (MNU 2- 20b).

• Uses a recognised set of instructions/ an algorithm to sort real world objects for example, books in a library or trading cards.

From Education Scotland National Improvement Hub “What digital learning might look like”: 

“When learning about Computational Thinking learners might:

 * Identify when and where parallel processes occur; such as in Pacman: learners can identify two parallel algorithms, explaining what the Ghosts’ role in the game is vs Pacman’s role. An unplugged context for this learning might be learners explaining the different parallel roles in a game of rounders to younger peers: one team has instructions for batting while the other has rules for fielding but both play at the same time

 * Use the language of patterns and abstraction to identify when repeated instructions can be grouped into a loop, such as when describing dance steps: for example the Slosh or Macarena, and instead of [ahead 2, turn90, ahead 2, turn90, ahead2, turn 90, ahead2, turn 90] we could use [ahead2, turn 90, repeat 3 times]

 * Analyse a set of conditional instructions, for example, what conditions cause the player to win or lose in a game of Draughts, for example: if you lose all your pieces then the game is lost but if you take all the opponents’ pieces then you win. With this understanding, they will then design a board game that must contain a random element, such as: a roll of a dice or draw of a card. Learners will be able to ensure that the game is still playable and fair, for example: rolling a 1 will lose points, or send you back but does not immediately eliminate you from the game, or in Snakes and Ladders, having more ladders than snakes so that the game is easier to win

* Locate specific books when they visit the community library by making use of genres and sub genres to locate fiction, and the Dewey Decimal System to locate and categorise non-fiction

 * Make informed decisions based on the information available when organising an entrepreneurial activity, such as Make £5 Grow. They can weigh up their options and make logical decisions, such as: should we sell lots of small-profit items such as rubbers and pencils, or big-profit items such as t-shirts and cakes? Learners will be able to justify their decisions in their ‘business plan’ while acknowledging that there are many ways to make profits

 * Collect and organise information in a hierarchical structure, and order data within this, such as when sorting sweets: is it chocolate or chewy? Is it more or less than 30g? Or book reviews could be sorted by genre, length or if it contains pictures?

 * Create a collection of information, such as different animals and their scientific classifications. This data could be presented in Venn or Carroll diagrams before being made into Top Trump-style cards. The next step for learners will be to create a digital version of their Top Trumps game using a database or non-linear presentation and categorising the living things in a way that they can be searched, sorted and organised

 * Use effective questions to make decisions to organise most effectively or make recommendations to meet a requirement, so is instead of asking “Would you like ham on your sandwich? Would you like cheese? Would
you like peanut butter? Would you like chicken?” they would ask “What would you like on you sandwich?”

 * Analyse a set of more complex instructions, such as a baking recipe to make scones, and ensure the steps are in a logical order. Check steps, carry out processes and evaluate processes they carry out. They will then identify where they have made errors or could improve their outcome, such as with scones, by doing things differently next time”