Digital Technologies

Question 1

Explain the EXPLORE stage of the EDGE problem solving process.

Answer 1

In the EXPLORE stage, the focus is on understanding the problem and gathering as much information as possible related to the issue at hand.This can include looking for already existing solutions

Question 2

What does EDGE stand for

Answer 2

EDGE stands for EXPLORE, DEVELOP, GENERATE, and EVALUATE.

Question 3

Explain the DEVELOP stage of the EDGE problem solving process.

Answer 3

This stage we develop possible solutions to the problem, typical tasks would be creating IPO charts, annotated wireframes and screen designs and developing algorithms

Question 4

Explain the GENERATE stage of the EDGE problem solving process.

Answer 4

This stage we generate the solution, typical tasks would be converting algorithms to code, testing algorithms through desk checks. Testing and commenting code, testing the user interface

Question 5

Explain the EVALUATE stage of the EDGE problem solving process.

Answer 5

Throughout the entire process we should be evaluating the process, typical task include evaluate the solution against prescribed and self-determined criteria. Evaluating the explore, develop and generate phase and adjusting appropriately

Question 6

Explain the difference between system, computational and design thinking

Answer 6

System thinking is when we look at the system as a whole and consider hardware, software and system impacts and constraints.

Computational thinking is when we look at how we can break the problem down into smaller more manageable tasks.

Design thinking is when we focus on the User Interface and User experience

Question 7

Explain why we might decompose a problem

Answer 7

When solving complex problems. We decompose a problem to break it down into manageable parts to make it easier to solve.

Question 8

Explain what an IPO chart is

Answer 8

An IPO chart breaks down a tasks into the inputs, process and output so it can more easily be converted to an algorithm later.

Question 9

Explain what an Algorithm is

Answer 9

An algorithm is a logical set of steps to achieve a goal.

Question 10

Explain the three Algorithm control structures giving examples

Answer 10

Sequence is one step after another – making a cake would be an example

Selection is making a choice based on a criteria, an IF statement is an example of selection

Iterations are Loops – a loop can be used to repeat a process a certain amount of times.

Question 11

Explain why design thinking is important when exploring digital problems.

Answer 11

Design thinking considers the users perspective of user interface and user experience. It is important to consider this to ensure a good user interface is designed

Question 12

Explain utility giving examples of portability and responsiveness

Answer 12

Utility is how useful a user interface is. Portability means that it will work on many devices e.g. phone and laptop. Responsiveness is if the program changes to better fit different devices as the interface looks different on all devices

Question 13

Explain why accessibility is important

Answer 13

Accessibility is important to ensure we are developing apps that can be used by as many different types of people as possible.

Question 14

Give three examples of accessibility features

Answer 14

Screen reading, Accessible images, Accessible multimedia, Video captions, colour blind filters. larger text sizing.

Question 15

Explain what safety means in relation to user interface design

Answer 15

Safety within interface design means to add features that prevent the user from making mistakes, such as consent prompts, and hiding data.

Question 16

Why does a compiled program run quicker than a interpreted one?

Answer 16

A compiled program runs quicker as it has already been converted to machine language so the machine can read it quicker.

Question 17

Explain what camel case is and why it is used

Answer 17

Camel case is a naming convention used for consistency in programming. As you are not able to use spaces in between words when naming variables camel case is used where a capital letter is used between each word in a variable name.

Question 18

Explain what a desk check is and why it is important

Answer 18

Desk checks are important as they enable the developer to check that an algorithm will give appropriate outputs with a range of test inputs.

Question 19

Describe some conventions for writing Pseudo code

Answer 19

One statement per line,
Capitals for key words,
Indent to show hierarchy

Question 20

The term assignment is used when setting a variable value. Explain what assignment means
including an example.

Answer 20

Assignment is setting the value of a variable. For example given a variable called firstName you can set it to equal Bob with the following code.
firstName = “Bob”;

Question 21

Explain the difference between an IF statement and an IF ELSE statement

Answer 21

An IF statement will check if something is true and run a piece of code. An IF ELSE statement will also check if something is true and run a piece of code but if it is not true it will run a different piece of code.

Question 22

Explain why code is indented

Answer 22

Code is indented so it is easier for the developer to read and so that you can see where sections of code start and end like if statements

Question 22

Explain why comments are used in code

Answer 22

Comments are used in code to help other developers understand what code is doing.

Question 23

Explain the difference between SEQUENCE, SELECTION and ITERATION

Answer 23

SEQUENCE – is one step after each other so in a program it would be one line after another.

SELECTION – is when a decision is made, for example an IF statement checks if something is true and runs a section of code if it is.

ITERATION – is when code repeats such as a WHILE loop. This is very effective when you want to repeat code hundreds or thousands of times.

Question 24

Give an example piece of code that demonstrates SEQUENCE

Answer 24

any answer that requires the code to run in that order would be correct, e.g.
var username;
username = “bob”;

Question 25

Give an example piece of code that demonstrates SELECTION

Answer 25

Anything with an IF statement is correct, e.g. if(score == 10){
alert(“Hi there”);
}

Question 26

Give an example piece of code that demonstrates ITERATION

Answer 26

Anything with a WHILE or FOR statement is correct. e.g.
while (score < 10){
score ++;
alert(“Score: “ + score);
}

Question 27

Explain when you would use = and when you would use == in coding

Answer 27

You would use a single = when you are assigning a value to a variable, you would use a == when you are comparing two values in an if statement.

Question 28

Explain what a syntax error is giving an example

Answer 28

A syntax error is like a spelling mistake in coding. For example if you leave a ; off the end of a line the computer doesn’t know that the line has ended.

Question 29

Explain what a logic error is giving an example

Answer 29

A logic error is when there aren’t any syntax errors but the code doesn’t do what it should do logically, for example if you put a program into an endless loop it is a logic error.