ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)



Activity

Computer Code

Key Learning

Students will gain a deeper understanding about computer coding and recognise the crucial role of computing in today’s world. Students will learn how to count using the binary number system and describe and create patterns with binary resulting from addition.

|The Australian Curriculum | | |

|Information & communication technology | |Information & communication technology |

|Creating with ICT – Level 4 | |Creating with ICT – Level 5 |

|Generate ideas, plans and processes | |Generate ideas, plans and processes |

|Use ICT effectively to record ideas, represent thinking and plan | |Use appropriate ICT to collaboratively generate ideas and develop |

|solutions. | |plans. |

| | | |

|Generate solutions to challenges and learning area tasks | |Generate solutions to challenges and learning area tasks |

|Independently or collaboratively create and modify digital | |Design and modify simple digital solutions, or multimodal creative |

|solutions, creative outputs or data representation/transformation | |outputs or data transformations for particular audiences and |

|for particular audiences and purposes. | |purposes following recognised conventions. |

|Mathematics / Number & Algebra / Patterns & algebra | |Mathematics / Number & Algebra / Patterns & algebra |

|Describe, continue, and create number patterns resulting from | |Describe, continue and create patterns with fractions, decimals and |

|performing addition or subtraction(ACMNA060) | |whole numbers resulting from addition and subtraction (ACMNA107) |

|[pic] | |[pic] |

Discussion Questions

1. What are the kids in the BtN story learning about?

2. What is the name of language used for computer coding?

a. Matrix code

b. Password code

c. Source code

3. Describe how source code works?

4. True or false? You need to be a genius to learn how to computer code.

5. How do the kids in the BtN story feel about learning computer coding?

6. Name a famous computer programmer.

7. Think of three adjectives to describe computer coding?

8. Do you think all primary school kids should learn about computer coding in school?

9. How has your thinking changed since watching the BtN Computer Code story?

10. Why do you think BtN reported on this story?

Activities

|What is computer coding? |

Facilitate a class discussion to encourage students to engage with the topic of computer coding. Here are some questions starters:

• What words do you associate with computer coding? Hold a class brainstorming session.

• What is computer coding?

• Do you know that everything that you see or hear on the computer is stored using computer coding? List ways in which computing has impacted on your life.

• Think of how your life would be different without computer programming.

|Working with binary |

Did you know that computers count using only zero and one? Everything that you see or hear on the computer—words, pictures, numbers, movies and even sound is stored using just those two numbers!

• Explain the principles of binary numbers to your students.

• Make your own set of cards for this activity – you will need a set of five cards, as shown below, with dots on one side and blank on the other.

[pic]

• When the card is face down, it is represented by a zero. When it is face up, it is represented by a one. Add up the dots on the cards that are showing. The total number of dots showing represents the decimal number. Below are some examples.

Example 1

[pic]

Example 2

[pic]

Discussion

• What do you notice about the number of dots on the cards? Is there a pattern?

• Use these cards to make numbers by turning some of them face down and adding up the dots that are showing.

• Ask students to make different decimal numbers.

• Ask students to look closely at how the cards change to see if they can see a pattern in how the cards flip.

• Ask students to make a range of binary numbers using the cards. Also ask students to convert several decimal numbers to binary numbers.

Extension activity

• Illustrate the difference between binary and decimal number systems.

Refer to this website for more information on the binary number system:

➢

|Count binary using your hands – comic strip |

• Download this fun comic strip for your students.

Weblink >

• Ask students (in groups of 2-3) to practise making binary numbers using their hands.

• Ask students to conduct research into binary numbers are how they are associated with computers.

Research questions

• Define the word binary?

• Where does the term ‘binary’ come from? Think about the origin of the word.

• Why do computers use the binary number system?

• What is a bit? How many bits form a byte?

Further Investigation

Try a trick based on an idea from computer science. This activity introduces students to an error-checking mechanism that is the essence of a coin trick. Checking mechanisms are used in information transfer, banking and other situations in which accuracy and security are required. The activity makes links with these applications, some of which are based on binary arithmetic.

( Related Research Links

Code – Learn to code with HS



Alice – An educational software the teaches students computer programming in a 3D environment



Scratch – Create and share your own interactive stories, games, music and art



Hackasaurus – Tools for teaching webmaking



Thimble – Webmaking made easy



Hackety Hack – Programming from the ground up



Computer Science Unplugged – Computer science...without a computer!



Great Maths Games – What is binary?



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Episode 8

26th March 2013

•

What does the 0 and 1 mean?

When the card is face down, it is represented by a zero. When it is face up, it is represented by a one. This is the binary number system.

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