Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Computer Science Discoveries Unit 3 Chapter 2 Lesson 20: The Game Design Process (18-19)

Subject Area

Digital Literacy and Computer Science

Grade(s)

6, 7, 8

Overview

This lesson introduces the process the class will use to design games for the remainder of the unit. The class walks through this process in a series of levels. As part of this lesson the class also briefly learns to use multi-frame animations in the Game Lab. At the end of the lesson, they have an opportunity to make improvements to the game to make it their own.

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    Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 6

    DLCS18.6.2

    Define a process as a function.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:DLCS18.6.2

    Vocabulary

    • process
    • function

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • that often people seek to simplify processes; rather than listing all of the steps needed to take a shower, one simply uses the function "shower".

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • combine or join steps such as algorithms to create a function.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
      it is simpler and less confusing to identify processes rather than steps.
    Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 6

    DLCS18.6.5

    Identify algorithms that make use of sequencing, selection or iteration.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:DLCS18.6.5

    Vocabulary

    algorithm sequence selection iteration

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • differences between the three basic programming structures.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • explain the differences in sequencing, selection, and iteration.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • differences exist in sequencing, selection, and iteration.
    Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 7

    DLCS18.7.1

    Create a function to simplify a task.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:DLCS18.7.1

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • an algorithm is the set of commands to complete a task.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • combine several algorithms or tasks as a named function.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • it is more efficient to label an activity or program as a function than to list all of the individual steps or algorithms that make up the function or activity.
    Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 7

    DLCS18.7.4

    Design a complex algorithm that contains sequencing, selection or iteration.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:DLCS18.7.4

    Vocabulary

    • algorithm
    • sequence
    • selection
    • iteration

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • how to use the programming structures to design complex algorithms that make use of all three programming structures sequencing, selections, and iterations.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • design complex algorithms using the various programming structures found in algorithms.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • complex algorithms contain sequencing, selections, and iterations.
    Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 7

    DLCS18.7.5

    Solve a complex problem using computational thinking.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:DLCS18.7.5

    Vocabulary

    • computational thinking

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • smaller tasks are easier to solve than complex problems.
    • that trends in data can also speed up the problem-solving process.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • abstract portions of the problem and focus on smaller tasks to aid in solving a complex problem.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • complex problems can be overwhelming.
    • by decomposing the complex problem into simpler problems, a solution is easier to reach.
    Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 8

    DLCS18.8.1

    Design a function using a programming language that demonstrates abstraction.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:DLCS18.8.1

    Vocabulary

    • function
    • abstraction

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • that a function can be called into a programming while abstracting out the details contained within the function.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • create a function that can be called into a programming while leaving out the details contained within the function.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • abstraction is a way of hiding the details of a complex function and being able to quickly make use of the complexity that has been hidden abstraction by calling in the function.
    Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 8

    DLCS18.8.5

    Discuss the efficiency of an algorithm or technology used to solve complex problems.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:DLCS18.8.5

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • that many solutions exist to solve a problem.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • communicate their opinion on the efficiency of problem solving methods.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • while many solutions exist for a problem, some are better suited to meet specific needs, such as efficiency.
    Link to Resource

    CR Resource Type

    Lesson/Unit Plan

    Resource Provider

    Code.org
    Accessibility
    License

    License Type

    Custom
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