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Lesson 7 - Pseudocode

Planning our programme

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Lesson Objectives

Design our programme for our wearable tech bag
Make use of learning from the previous four lessons
Start to write our code in Mu

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What is Pseudocode?

Not a programming language
No standard notation, these are most recognised:

INPUT - User inputs something
OUTPUT - Output appears from computer
WHILE - a loop that has a condition at the beginning
FOR - a counting loop
REPEAT - UNTIL - a loop that has a condition at the end
IF - THEN - ELSE - a decision in which a choice is made
Indent instructions inside a decision or loop

A program that asks people what the best subject they take is:

REPEAT� OUTPUT 'What is the best subject you take?'� INPUT user inputs the best subject they take� STORE the user's input in the answer variable� IF answer = 'Computer Science' THEN� OUTPUT 'Of course it is!'� ELSE� OUTPUT 'Try again!'�UNTIL answer = 'Computer Science'

Most programs are developed using programming languages. These languages have specific syntax that must be used so that the program will run properly. Pseudocode is not a programming language, it is a simple way of describing a set of instructions that does not have to use specific syntax.

There is no strict set of standard notations for pseudocode, but some of the most widely recognised are: (click through)

INPUT – indicates a user will be inputting something
OUTPUT – indicates that an output will appear on the screen
WHILE – a loop (iteration that has a condition at the beginning)
FOR – a counting loop (iteration)
REPEAT – UNTIL – a loop (iteration) that has a condition at the end
IF – THEN – ELSE – a decision (selection) in which a choice is made
any instructions that occur inside a selection or iteration are usually indented

Pseudocode can be used to plan out programs. Planning a program that asks people what the best subject they take is, would look like this in pseudocode: click to show

Taken from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/z3bq7ty/revision/2

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What will your micro:bit do?

Text and Images
Animations
Sensors and Buttons
NeoPixel

All slides are on the VLE!�Start to write your pseudocode out on A3 paper and then write it in Mu when you are ready.. Use comments to help you in your code!

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Write your name on your pseudocode, unplug your micro:bit and put it and the USB cable in the correct bag and hand it in!