Monday 30 October 2017

Binary Lesson 1

In this unit you are going to find out how computers communicate and store information.

Objectives and Outcomes


  • Be able to explain how binary is used to represent numbers
  • Be able to apply your understanding by adding binary numbers together and converting decimal numbers to binary
Go to this slideshow to find out more....

Binary - what is it?

Your Tasks!
On a new blog post titled the same as this one.....

1.  Write the Objectives and Outcomes on your post.

2.  Explain what binary code is and how a computer creates the pattern of the code.

3.  Explain how we can work out what decimal numbers the binary code is showing (you can use my example or a different one if you want).


You will need to make a copy....File - Make a Copy before you start

 5.  Work through each Task / sheet in turn (there are 4 altogether).
Silver should get through Task 1 and 2.
Gold should get through Task 3, and possibly 4.

Share your Google sheet  - Share - advanced - change it from Private to Anyone with the link.



Copy/paste the link to your blog post under your writing and Publish!

Wednesday 11 October 2017

Algorithms lesson 3 - searching

In this lesson you are going to find out about the two types of computer searching.

Your lesson objectives and outcomes are:

Explain what a search algorithm is and how serial and binary search algorithms work.
Apply your understanding by giving an example of how each search algorithm works for a set of numbers
Link your examples to previous work by drawing them out as two separate flow charts, showing the search procedure.

There are 2 types of computer searching: serial and binary.

Serial searching
This is where each item is checked in turn, eg trying to find a needle in a haystack where each clump of hay is picked up in sequence and checked underneath for a needle.

Binary searching
Here the items have to be in order so that, if searching for a name in a list in alphabetical order, the computer selects one at random and then compares it with the alphabet as to whether it needs to search to the left or right and eliminates those letters that are above it, eg searching for Fred and randomly chooses 'G'.  Letters to the right (H onwards) are dismissed and it checks at random another to the left and continues the search as  before.

Your tasks

1.  In detail, explain how a serial search would work in searching for a ball under 5 cups.


2.  In detail, explain how binary search would be used to search for the number 25 in the sequence below...

2   8   9   11  17   19   21   25   31   34   45   57   59   62   66   71

3.  For a binary search to work, what has to be correct with the data?

4.  Go to the Bitesize link below, read through the information and then have a go at the test.  Write down your test score on your blog under your written work for tasks 1 -3.
Link to Bitesize info and test



Wednesday 4 October 2017

Baseline Assessment Test


This is a test to see how much knowledge you already have about computers and computing.  There is no Pass or Fail!

Work through all the questions carefully, writing down your answers on paper. 

Make sure you are clear with question numbers so I know which question you are answering!

Link to Yr 8 Baseline Assessment