Programming fundamentals#

  • OOP I moved to the object-oriented paradigm part I

  • Delayed will be covered in programming fundamentals

Software development#

Explore fundamental software development steps used by programmers when designing software

Including

requirements definition
determining specifications
design
development
integration
testing and debugging
installation
maintenance
Research and evaluate the prevalence and use of online code collaboration tools

Designing algorithms#

Apply computational thinking and algorithmic design by defining the key features of standard algorithms, including sequence, selection, iteration and identifying data that should be stored

Sequence, selection, iteration (and subroutines)

Identifying data that should be stored

  • Representing and Storing Data: 8 Queens

  • We anticipate that students will organically develop this skill as they get more practice converting pseudocode into code and also implementing programs to solve problems.

Apply divide and conquer and backtracking as algorithmic design strategies
Develop structured algorithms using pseudocode and flowcharts, including the use of subprograms
Pseudocode
Flowcharts
Use modelling tools including structure charts, abstraction and refinement diagrams to support top-down and bottom-up design
Analyse the logic and structure of written algorithms

Including

determining inputs and outputs

We anticipate that students will organically develop this skill as they become more fluent at reading flowcharts and pseudocode, particularly after completing the ‘Algorithms and Code Design’ module where they were be exposed to more examples of pseudocode.

Practice questions

determining the purpose of the algorithm

We anticipate that students will organically develop this skill as they become more fluent at reading flowcharts and pseudocode, particularly after completing the ‘Algorithms and Code Design’ module where they were be exposed to more examples of pseudocode.

Practice questions

desk checking and peer checking
determining connections of written algorithms to other subroutines or functions

Students should be comfortable with this after completing the ‘Modules and Functions’ and ‘Algorithms and Code Design’ modules where they will have practice writing subroutines and functions in both pseudocode and Python.

Identify procedures and functions in an algorithm
  • Function Returns: Functions return values to the main program whereas procedures do not.

Experiment with object-oriented programming, imperative, logic and functional programming paradigms

Moved to OOP

Data for software engineering#

Investigate the use of number systems for computing purposes, including binary, decimal and hexadecimal
Represent integers using two’s complement
Investigate standard data types
Create data dictionaries as a tool to describe data and data types, structure data, and record relationships
Use data structures of arrays, records, trees and sequential files
arrays
records
trees
sequential files

Developing solutions with code#

Apply skills in computational thinking and programming to develop a software solution

Including

converting an algorithm into code

From flow charts to code

From pseudocode to code

using control structures
using data structures

Students should be comfortable with this after completing the ‘Data Structures’ module.

using standard modules
Creating relevant subprograms that incorporate parameter passing
Implement data structures that support data storage

Including

single and multidimensional arrays
lists
trees

Moved to OOP

stacks
hash tables

Moved to OOP

Compare the execution of the Waterfall and Agile project management models as applied to software development
Test and evaluate solutions, considering key aspects including functionality, performance, readability of code, quality of documentation
Use debugging tools

Including

breakpoints
single line stepping
watches
interfaces between functions
debugging output statements
debugging software available in an integrated development environment (IDE)
Determine sets of suitable test data

Including

boundary values
path coverage
faulty and abnormal data
Determine typical errors experienced when developing code, including syntax, logic and runtime, and explain their likely causes