Scenario: You have been hired by an educational software company to create a new program in a non-computer secondary subject area. The purpose of this program is to engage the students in an interesting task with critical thinking related to a subject that you are interested in. This program could be for Mathematics, English, French, History, Physical Education, Careers, Civics, etc. The program topic/proposal must be approved by the instructor and be completely unique/original. Be creative and have fun!
Suggested resource: Ontario Secondary School Curriculum
OR Propose another idea. Your program must address a real life problem of some sort and be of some practical use when it is completed.
Method:
You may use MicroWorlds, Alice, or HTML. Choose the tool that provides the best solution to your problem.
Requirements:
Your project must include a final, working program, as well as evidence of planning from each of these following steps:
Identify Your Problem
1. Problem Introduction
• Explanation of what the problem involves (i.e. Why do users need this program? What problem do they have that this will help them with?)
• Explain the solution (i.e. How will your program meet these needs or solve this problem?)
• Typed in paragraph form
• Use your own words
Investigate Resources
2. Resources that will help you explore and investigate the topic
• Look at other samples to help understand the concepts and format (i.e. What have other programs done before? What worked well? What didn’t? How can we learn from that?)
• Find people to interview to get ideas (i.e. What is the audience for your program? What needs do they have? What features would they like to see? What have they not liked about similar programs in the past? How can I design my program so that it catches their attention? etc)
• Locate articles about similar types of software (i.e. Do a little research. What types of programs are most effective? What has sold well/been popular and why? Do I have the skills necessary to create what I have in mind? Can I locate resources or tutorials that can help me? etc.)
• Other . . .
Processing the Information
3. Programming Plans: Brainstorming, Storyboarding, Creating A Table, Flowcharting, Pseudo Code, etc.
• Sample output
• Variable/Constant List
• Flowchart
• All must be typed
Ms Armstrong MUST see and approve all steps up until this point before you start coding. DUE: Thursday, May 20th in class or earlier.
Programming
4. Code
• Must contain selection (ifs), repetition (loops)
• Include calculations, procedures, and/or arrays if necessary
• Comments are all clearly worded
• Comments provide necessary and useful information
• Interview with instructor: able to clearly answer all questions about the project
Reflection
5. Personal Critique
• State the limitations (what does not work that well)… be specific
• State the strengths of the program…. be specific
• State ways you could improve (make it better, add additional features or make it more user friendly)… be specific
Due: Wednesday, June 9th
