3.1 Fundamentals of programming
Programming
Data types
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Understand the concept of a data type. |
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Understand and use the following appropriately:
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Define and use user-defined data types based on language-defined (built-in) data types. |
Programming concepts
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Use, understand and know how the following statement types can be combined in programs:
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The three combining principles (sequence, iteration/repetition and selection/choice) are basic to all imperative programming languages. |
Use definite and indefinite iteration, including indefinite iteration with the condition(s) at the start or the end of the iterative structure. A theoretical understanding of condition(s) at either end of an iterative structure is required, regardless of whether they are supported by the language being used. |
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Use nested selection and nested iteration structures. |
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Use meaningful identifier names and know why it is important to use them. |
Arithmetic operations in a programming language
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Be familiar with and be able to use:
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Relational operations in a programming language
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Be familiar with and be able to use:
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Boolean operations in a programming language
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Be familiar with and be able to use:
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Constants and variables in a programming language
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Be able to explain the differences between a variable and a constant. |
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Be able to explain the advantages of using named constants. |
String-handling operations in a programming language
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Be familiar with and be able to use:
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Expected string conversion operations:
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Random number generation in a programming language
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Be familiar with, and be able to use, random number generation. |
Exception handling
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Be familiar with the concept of exception handling. |
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Know how to use exception handling in a programming language with which students are familiar. |
Subroutines (procedures/functions)
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Be familiar with subroutines and their uses. |
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Know that a subroutine is a named ‘out of line’ block of code that may be executed (called) by simply writing its name in a program statement. |
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Be able to explain the advantages of using subroutines in programs. |
Parameters of subroutines
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Be able to describe the use of parameters to pass data within programs. |
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Be able to use subroutines with interfaces. |
Returning a value/values from a subroutine
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Be able to use subroutines that return values to the calling routine. |
Local variables in subroutines
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Know that subroutines may declare their own variables, called local variables, and that local variables:
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Be able to use local variables and explain why it is good practice to do so. |
Global variables in a programming language
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Be able to contrast local variables with global variables. |
Procedural-oriented programming
Structured programming
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Understand the structured approach to program design and construction. |
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Be able to construct and use hierarchy charts when designing programs. |
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Be able to explain the advantages of the structured approach. |