Lesson 1

Introduction Computing - Binary Programming Basics

Lesson 1
Starter Inspiration: The potential of Computing The Future! Apps!

Computing and IT the difference
We use them every day but what is a computer?
Transistors (the past) and Chips (the amazing present)
Communicating with computers how do we talk to metal?
The Binary Language Language of 1s and 0s
Binary Worksheet Task
Communication Method 1: Low Level Languages
Communication Method 2: High Level Languages
Examples of High Level Languages
Scratch as a Visual Language for application development
Scratch Task

Plenary: (AFL) Turn to a partner and discuss one thing youve learned
(and enjoyed) this lesson. Are you the next Bill Gates!?

At the end You should know ...
Difference between Computing and ICT
Why Binary?
Speaking in Binary (converting a number into a binary
digit)
Scratch basic interface use
Computing = the future

We live in the age of Information
in the age of APPS!

Every day pupils like you create simple little game apps and stick them on an ADROID
Or IPHONE app store. 50p may not seem like a lot but imagine if you had

4 million downloads!?!?!?!?
Apps arent just games



You could be the next App
Millionaire or pupil that
Changed the world with
an idea!
Loads of different app stores

So what is computing
ICT and COMPUTING

ICT = use of applications

COMPUTING = CREATING THEM!

ICT = we use excel, PowerPoint, flash, internet
browsers, games
COMPUTING = we MAKE Them!
COMPUTING
Computing is as much about computers as
astronomy is about telescopes.


Its a SCIENCE


Knowing how things work!
So what is a Computer?

Is it alive?
How can WE
Talk to it!?
How do we
make it do
stuff?
A Computer is a bunch of circuits!

A circuit can either be
ON or OFF
It needs to be powered
So the main brain of a
computer is essentially
a bunch of on and off
switches!
A Computer is a bunch of circuits!

A circuit can either be
ON or OFF
It needs to be powered
So the main brain of a
computer is essentially
a bunch of on and off
switches!
First ever transistor SWITCH on /off

In 1954 This was state of the art. And the first radio had in it 4 transistors
The latest CHIPS that control
computers today how many
transistors do you think!??!
A mind blowing 50 MILLION +
transistors
That little chip is
called the CPU
(Central Processig
Unit) It
CONTROLS
things and is
thought of like the
BRAIN of the
computer
All they understand is

ON


OFF
All they understand is

ON


OFF
Binary is a language of

1


0
1. Ways we communicate with computers
2. LOW LEVEL (Binary / Assembly Language)
3. HIGH LEVEL Languages (like Java, VB, Scratch)
SO remember Circuits can be
ON or OFF
1 0

BINARY

BASE 2 Language

It has two digits 1 and 0 and thats all!!!

Now we need to know how to write a number like 12 or 16 in
the BINARY language (1s and 0s) so a computer can store
and understand it.
SO remember Circuits can be
ON or OFF
1 0

BINARY

BASE 2 Language

It has two digits 1 and 0 and thats all!!!

Now we need to know how to write a number like 12 or 16 in
the BINARY language (1s and 0s) so a computer can store
and understand it.
RECAP on the DECIMAL SYSTEM
base 10 System probably cos we have 10 fingers
0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 (10 digits)
675
6 7 5
We use this grid
going up in
multiples of 10 for
DECIMAL
We have 6 lots of 100 and 7 lots of 10 and 5 lots of
1. THIS GIVES US THE NUMBER 675!
BINARY - - Base 2
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
We have two digits

1 and 0

We go up in multiples of 2 (use a grid) to get a convert a Decimal number into Binary
BINARY - - Base 2 System
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
Amazingly ANY NUMBER in the universe can be represented in Binary
Using just 1s and 0s!!!!

This means we can do ALL sorts of amazing things with computers.

Binary is how we will communicate with them!

Try converting another number from Decimal (our system) to Binary (computer lang!)
*Also notice there are 8 digits (also known as BITS)

Convert to Binary
DECIMAL
NUMBER
4
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
Binary Digits


DECIMAL
NUMBER
16
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
Binary Digits


DECIMAL
NUMBER
33
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
Binary Digits


DECIMAL
NUMBER
9
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
Binary Digits

Now try the reverse
Convert the following BINARY digit sequence into its
equivalent DECIMAL number


128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
And a Harder one!
Convert the following BINARY digit sequence into its
equivalent DECIMAL number.


128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
Ah it all makes sense!
Bits, Bytes, Mega, Giga, Tera (explained)

1 bit = a 1 or 0 (b)
4 bits = 1 nybble (?)
8 bits = 1 byte (B)
1024 bytes = 1 Kilobyte (KB)
1024 Kilobytes = 1 Megabyte (MB)
1024 Megabytes = 1 Gigabyte (GB)
1024 Gigabytes = 1 Terabyte (TB)

Charles Babbage = COOL GUY!
He was the first to come up with a difference engine
And had figured out that you could use
BINARY to communicate with computers


In fact he believed the entire universe was
Programmed and that GOD was the ultimate
Programmer.
heh

Imagine trying to program in
Binary

Instead we use HIGH Level
languages that resemble English or
languages we can understand
Visit www.teachingcomputing.com
for a list of loads of languages
Python google
Javascript
Vb.net
Java
Pascal
SCRATCH (visual)

SCRATCH _
DRAGGING BITS OF
CODE
Were first going to look at SCRATCH
Remember APPS?

Well, in Scratch you can create your own games and
applications quite easily

SCRATCH was developed by MIT to help young
geniuses like yourself LEARN how to program by
dragging and dropping instructions.

SCRATCH PROGRAMMING TASK
Use the two introductory power points to follow
instructions EXACTLY and make a SRPITE (Cat) move
about the screen using key arrows

-Powerpoint Do-it-yourself TUTORIAL resources
SCRATCH #1 INTRODUCTION
SCRATCH #2 CONTROLLING MOVEMENT

Your time starts now ...
(These are included as part of the pack or can be downloaded online (FREE) from Scratch MIT)
HOW OUR BRAINS WORK
Algorithms inbuilt

Algorithm sequence of
instructions which performs a
meaningful task

SCRATCH putting As together
using programming constructs
Plenary What have you learned?
Difference between Computing and ICT
Why Binary?
Speaking in Binary (converting a number into a binary
digit)
Scratch basic interface use

Discuss all the amazing things you have learned with a partner and be
prepared to feed it back to the class.
Homework extension activity
Do some BINARY conversions teach your parent or a
friend what you learned!
Download Scratch if possible. (its free)


scratch.mit.edu/
Why is it called COMPUTER SCIENCE
Just because our brains do it
automatically doesnt mean
everything else will


We study how our brains do
thingsand try and replicate that
in an inanimate system .


Take this example: Here are a few numbers
on a visual screen presented to your brain
53 32
81
Your brain contains the information (the Algorithim, if you like)
To do stuff with these numbers.

You could add the numbers
Sort the numbers from smallest to largest.
For you as a reasonably intelligent human these tasks arent difficult!
But how would a computer do it!?
53 32
81
SORT
3253.81
Programming Code to sort!!
You do it easily,
but its more
complex for a
computer!
So consider how our brains work!
Some parts of computer science

is about copying the way the brain works

Its about: making a system a computer that can do
what our brains do!

Artificial Intelligence is a hot research topic at the
moment.
Take a simple process

Eating
If food looks edible


Else







If Food tastes nice



Else

Lift Spoon
Put spoon down
Bite
Taste
Swallow
Spit
DISCUSSION:
Whats one thing you have learned
or enjoyed in this lesson?
And are you the next Bill Gates?
Coming Next:
An Introduction to Programming
What is Programming?
How our brains work (Theory and inspiration)
Algorithms = sequences of instructions
INTRODUCING the 3 main programming constructs
Using the SEQUENCE and SELECTION (IF)
programming constructs
Using Scratch to program using Sequence and IF