Structured Problem Solving

1
Structured Problem Solving

• George Herterich
• FML 206
• Ext 3491
• herterg_at_hope.ac.uk

2
Skills to be Developed

• Problem Solving Skills
• Programming Skills
• Team Interaction Skills
• Presentation Skills
• Reflective Skills

3
Problem Solving Skills

• Analysis of Everyday Problems
• Crossing a busy road
• Eating a Pie
• Cooking a Pie
• Climbing Mount Everest ??????
• Analysis of the Structure of Solutions
• Sequence
• Selection
• Repetition

4
Problem Solving Skills

• Structured English
• Sequence
• Selection
• Repetition
• Pseudo Code
• Sequence
• Selection
• Repetition

5
Programming Skills

• Pascal
• Pascal Programming Constructs
• Pascal Trainer
• The PieEater
• Java
• Object Oriented Concepts
• The PieEater again plus Close Friends
• Graphics and Animation

6
Programming Skills

• Data Structures
• Selection of Appropriate Data Structures
• Sorting
• Searching
• File Handling
• Using a Command Line Interface

7
Team Interaction Skills

• Animation Problems
• Solved in Groups
• Coded in Groups
• Tested in Groups

8
Presentation Skills

• Presentation of Working Animations
• Demonstration of the Running Animation
• Explanation of the Choice of Variables
• Explanation of the Algorithmic Design
• Explanation of the Data Structures Selected
• Discussion of Possible Enhancements

9
Reflective Skills

• Reflect on Team Work Activities
• Reflect on the Scope of the Project
• Highlight Possible Failings in the Mechanics of
  the Team Work Activity
• Suggest Possible Improvements to Team Work
  Interaction

10
A Reflection on Your First SeminarPage 12

• PROGRAM PieOne
• BEGIN
• PenDown
• Walk
• PenUp
• Walk
• PenDown
• TurnRight
• Walk
• Walk
• END

Whats Missing ?
Why ?
Should it Be BEGIN or Begin/ END or End ?
Whats Missing ?
11
A Preview of Your Next seminar

• PROGRAM LectureOne
• BEGIN
• WHILE Test DO
• BEGIN
• Actions
• END
• Other Actions
• END.

No Semi Colons
A Sequence of Actions each Ending with a Semi
Colon
A Final Full Stop
12
PROGRAM GoodName

• Lecture One
• LECTURE ONE
• LectureOne
• LECTUREONE

Thats the one
13
WHILE Test DO

• Test
• ClearAhead
• Direction ltgt NE
• PieInSight
• ClearAhead and PieInSight are either True or
  False
• Direction ltgt NE can be evaluated to either True
  or False

14
George Boole

• Boolean Variables (see page 12)
• ClearAhead
• PieInSight
• Boolean Expressions
• Direction ltgt NE

15
Loop Operation

• WHILE Test DO
• BEGIN
• Actions
• END
• Other Actions
• Evaluate Test

Semi Colon Here
True
False
16
Test is True

• WHILE Test DO
• BEGIN
• Actions
• END
• Other Actions
• Enter Body of Loop
• Execute Actions
• Evaluate Test Again

Body of Loop
17
Test is True

• WHILE Test DO
• BEGIN
• Actions
• END
• Other Actions
• Enter Body of Loop
• Execute Actions
• Evaluate Test Again

18
Test is True

• WHILE Test DO
• BEGIN
• Actions
• END
• Other Actions
• Enter Body of Loop
• Execute Actions
• Evaluate Test Again

19
You Get the Idea
20
Test is False

• WHILE Test DO
• BEGIN
• Actions
• END
• Other Actions
• Jump to Other Actions and Continue with the
  Rest of the Program

21
Actions

• Walk
• PenDown
• PenUp
• RandomPies(6)
• TurnLeft
• TurnRight
• You add the rest

22
In Conclusion

• Problem Solving is a Skill
• Riding a Bicycle
• Swimming
• Keeping Awake in Lectures
• Feigning Sobriety
• It Cannot be Learned Quickly
• It Cannot be Learned without Practice
• Every Failure is Part of the Learning Process

23
In Conclusion

• Programming is a Skill
• It Cannot be Learned Quickly
• It Cannot be Learned without Practice
• Every Failure is Part of the Learning Process
• Programming Languages are Merciless
• Syntax Matters
• Semi Colons can be Dangerous
• In Conclusion END.