This class will introduce you to programming terminology as well as the steps you should follow to write a computer program. After this class you'll be able to...
This class will introduce you to programming terminology as well as the steps you should follow to write a computer program. After this class you'll be able to do the following: Define the job of a programmer. Discuss tools used to identify customers' wants and needs. Create simple flowcharts. Explain that every program uses at least two of the five basic programming elements. Differentiate between numeric and alphanumeric data.
a) Program Objectives Assigned to this Course:
Computational Thinking & Problem Analysis – Represent simple real-world problems using algorithms, flowcharts, and/or pseudocode.
Basic Program Design & Construction – Use fundamental programming elements (sequence, selection, iteration, data, input/output) to design and implement small programs.
Requirements & User Understanding – Apply basic tools (e.g., interviews, surveys, personas, user stories) to identify customer wants and needs and translate them into simple specifications.
Data Literacy – Select appropriate data types for a task and reason about type behavior (e.g., numeric vs. alphanumeric) and conversions.
Communication of Technical Ideas – Use correct programming terminology and standard diagramming conventions to communicate solutions clearly.
Professional Practice & Debugging – Practice incremental development, testing, and basic debugging as part of a disciplined approach to building software.
Additional Educational Objectives:
Define core programming terminology (algorithm, variable, data type, control structure, input/output, loop, condition) and explain the typical responsibilities of a programmer within the software development lifecycle.
Identify customer needs using at least two lightweight techniques (e.g., short interview, micro-survey, persona/empathy map) and write simple user stories with acceptance criteria for a small feature.
Create simple flowcharts using standard symbols (start/end, input/output, process, decision, connector) that include sequence, branching (selection), and loops (iteration).
This course is designed for absolute beginners — students or professionals who have little to no prior programming experience but want a solid foundation in how software is planned, written, and debugged. It is ideal for:
