Unit 1: Computational Thinking

Unit 1: Computational Thinking

1. 1.1 Problem Solving

   • What's the best way to solve a problem?
     • Break it down into smaller problems
   • What's a sign of a good problem solver
     • The ability to generalize problems

2. 1.2 Flow Patterns

   • Basic Elements of an algorithm
     • Sequencing
       • Order of steps
     • Selection
       • Conditional situations
     • Iteration
       • Repetition
   • Flow Charts
     • Visual representation of an algorithm
     • Symbols: rectangles, diamonds, and arrows
   • Algorithms
     • Generalized solution to a problem
     • Fomat
     • Imperative Statements
     • Descriptive Qualifiers

3. 1.3 Encryption

   • Cryptology: the study of securing:
   • Caesar Cipher
     • Substitution Cipher

4. 1.4 Cybersecurity

   • Confidentiality
     • The ability to limit access to information
   • Integrity
     • the certainty that information is accurate
   • Availbility
     • the reliability of access to information
   • Social Engineering
     • Psychological manipulation of people into performing actions or divulging confidential information
     • Malware
       • Viruses
       • Trojan horses
       • Spyware

5. 1.5 Electronic Voting

   • Confidentiality is an issue with electronic voting boothes
     • Voting information can be manipulated

6. 1.6 Grammar, Vocabulary, and Syntax

   • Who's fault is it when a computer malfunctions?
     • The programmer
   • Ambiguity
     • When sentences can be parsed in multiple ways
       • Can be avoided by changing syntax, vocabulary, and grammar
   • Artificial Languages
     • Programming languages
     • High Level
       • Easy for humans to read and use
       • Java
       • Python
     • Low Level
       • Specific to machine
       • Written in binary

7. 1.7 Idea to Execution

   • The Idea
     • Algorithm
       • Write the Code
         • Compile the Code
           • Execute the Code
             • RAM
             • CPU
           • Source Code to Machine Code
         • Implement

8. 1.8 Psuedocode

9. 1.9 Solvability and Performance