Learning Partnerships, Unit Catalogue 2008/09 |
AS10100 Introduction to programming |
| Credits: 5 |
| Level: Certificate |
| Semester: 2 at Cirencester College |
| Semester: 2 at City of Bath College |
| Semester: 2 at Weston College |
| Semester: 2 at Wiltshire College |
| Assessment: CW 100% |
| Requisites: |
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Aims: To give learners the opportunity:
* To gain an understanding of the fundamental principles and concepts of computer programming * To gain an understanding of the importance of planning and designing programs before coding them * To gain analytical skills that are transferable language independent. Learning Outcomes: At the completion of the unit learners should be able to: * Design and develop code using structured programming methods and recognised design methodologies * Subdivide a large program into smaller modules * Produce appropriate user and program documentation * Devise suitable test data, suitable test schedules and record the results in test logs. Skills: Practical skills - program design skills, coding skills - taught and assessed Personal skills - time management, personal organisation, problem solving - facilitated and assessed Communication skills - demonstrations, working in a team - facilitated and assessed. Content: Data storage * Files, variables, constants, literals, pre-defined and user defined data types, program elements Software constructs * Sequence, selection, iteration Comparison of procedural and object-oriented languages * Similarities and differences between C, C++, Visual Basic, Pascal, Cobol, Java Program design tools * Algorithms, structure diagrams, pseudocode, decision trees, decision tables Program Structure Modularisation * Divide and conquer, use and re-use of modules, pre-defined and user defined functions. Use and scope of variables (global vs. local), parameter passing Program documentation * Program specification, purpose and operation of program, commented code, user guide, technical documentation, data dictionary Program testing * Semantic, syntax, runtime errors. Test plans, test data, test log. Testing methodologies - white box, black box, exhaustive. Dry running, structured walkthrough. Use of debugging tools. Design of front ends * Consideration of different user groups in organisations, design and implementation of different front ends. |