A-level Computing/AQA/Problem Solving, Programming, Data Representation and Practical Exercise/Problem Solving

From the Specification : Introduction to Principles of Computation Focus on studying the processes of computation and understanding why and where they are important in Computing. (See the Teacher Resource Bank for examples.) * /Introduction to principles of computation/ From the Specification : Stages of Problem Solving Understand the problem Define the problem given(s), goal, ownership, resources and constraints Given(s) = the initial situation Goal = Desired target situation Ownership = who does what Resources and constraints = tools, knowledge, skills, materials and rules, regulations, guidelines, boundaries, timings Define boundaries Plan solution. Check solution * /Stages of problem solving/ From the Specification : Top-down Design / Step-wise Refinement Consider sub-problems and the use of modules. * /Top-down design and Step-wise refinement/ From the Specification : Decision tables Determine logical conditions and consequential actions Finite state machines with outputs - Mealy machine Finite state machines without outputs - Finite State Automation state transition diagrams - Draw and interpret simple state transition diagrams, transition tables. state transition tables * /Decision tables/ * /Finite state machines/ From the Specification : Algorithm Design Understand the term algorithm. Express the solution to a simple problem as an algorithm using flowcharts, pseudo-code or structured English and the standard constructs: sequence assignment selection repetition Hand trace simple algorithms. Convert a simple algorithm from structured English into pseudo-code, pseudo-code into high level program code. Understand the standard algorithms: Bubble Sort, Linear Search * /Algorithm design/ * /Trace tables/ * /Pseudo code/ * /Searching and sorting/