Computational Thinking
Grey overlay
Pink
Green
Blue
Cream
Liliac
Purple
Yellow
1 Objectives
Developing Programming and Development learning strand, specifically:
- develop problem solving skills by by pattern recognition
- learn how to devise solutions for simple sorting problems
- develop skills in implementing a working sorting algorithm
2 Algorithms - pattern recognition
Learn It
- In the previous lesson, we have learned the concept of
algorithmic thinking
, that is, developing a step by step instructions to solve a problem. - Using the sorting quiz score problem from lesson 1, the problem requires you to sort a list of quiz scores from the lowest to the highest.
- Can you explain why the following solution is not an appropriate algorithm for a computer to carry out?
Look through all the quiz scores put down the largest one first then look through the rest of the quiz scores put down the next largest one after the previous largest one carry on until all quiz scores are checked
- Now take a look at the solution below, can you explain what makes this algorithm better?
- Can you indetify a pattern in it?
- Can you work out the outcome of the following algorithm? Have the quiz scores sorted?
1. put the list of quiz scores in an array 2. compare the first score with the second score 3. if the first score is higher 4. swap its position with the second score in the array 5. Compare the second score with the third score 6. if the second score is higher 7. swap its position with the third score in the array 8. repeat the above steps until all scores have been compared
Try It - implementing a sorting algorithm
- Let's try to implement the algorithm above in Python.
- Here is a list of key Python skills you need:
- Some steps will be shown to you, but some steps you have to work out yourself. But if you stuck, search online for help or ask your teacher.
- Open a new file in IDLE or Thorny,
put the list of quiz scores in an array. In Python
quizScore = [23, 67, 54, 44, 35, 34]
- compare the first score with the second score
if the first score is higher. The above two steps can be written in Python as one:
if quizScore[0]>quizScore[1]:
swap its position with the second score in the array
Can you work out how to swap those two's positions?
- Compare the second score with the third score
- if the second score is higher
- swap its position with the third score
- repeat the above steps until all scores have been compared
Badge It - Silver
Learning strand: Programming and Development
- Finish the implementation so that all quiz scores have been compared and upload a screenshot of your code
- To help you with picturing what the algorithm does, here is an animation of sorting a list of numbers using the same algorithm.
Badge It - Gold
Learning strand: Programming and Development
- Test your Python implmentation and explain why the whole quiz score is not sorted.
- Upload screenshots of your test and written explaination
Badge It - Platinum
Learning strand: Programming and Development
- Implementing a complete solution so that all the quiz scores have been sorted from the lowest to the highest.
- Screenshot your code and testing result and upload to www.bournetolearn.com