Thomas Canavan - I Can Be a Cool Coder

Coders are amazing! Their work has transformed countless parts of our lives. Computer code helps us to stay in touch with friends, makes difficult tasks quick and easy, and puts information at our fingertips. Thanks to coders, we can access knowledge and entertainment from almost anywhere. Coding has made many professions easier, safer, and more creative. This book is full of fun activities that will show you what it is like to be a coder! Some people think virtual reality is the future of coding. If you were a coder, what would you create? Heres a chance to program a robot (one of your friends) to obey your commands in order to stack some plastic cups.

It sounds simple enough, but remember that the robot must follow each command exactly.

Friend (to become the robot) 6 identical plastic cups Table 1. Ask one of your friends to become the robot. 2. Set the cups side by side on the table. 3.

Explain that they have to do exactly what you say. They mustnt move at all if you dont tell them to! 4. You may give the robot four commands. None of them may be more than four words long. 5. Now try againthis time, with a stack of 6 cups! How many four-word commands do you need?

Computers use a number system known as binary, which is made up of just two numbers0 and I.

This is because a computer can only understand if an electric signal is being sent, or not. We normally use 10 digits to count: 1 to 9, and 0. This way of counting is called base 10. Computers can count to any number using binary. Even complex programs use this system! Binary is all about doubling. Binary may sound tricky, but its easy to learn. Binary may sound tricky, but its easy to learn.

You just have to think about numbers a little differently.

Multiply the numbers in the white boxes by the numbers in the orange boxes at the top of each column. Then add up all the numbers in each row. The first one has been done for you. The strings of 1s and 0s above are binary numbers. In coding, information is called data. In coding, information is called data.

Computers are great at organizing and analyzing data but first, you must decide what it is that you want to know! Using computers to gather and make sense of information is known as data processing. Collecting data on a phone or tablet enables you to share information quickly. Data processing helps keep track of products in factories and warehouses. In some elections, voters make their choices on computer screens. The data must be protected so that no one can change the result.

Heres some data processing you can do at home.

Try not to eat your sample before you collect the information you need! After recording your data, process it by entering your results into a chart.

Box of assorted individual chocolates Paper Marker pen 1. Open the box and spread the chocolates on a table. 2. Separate the chocolates into separate piles. 3.

Make a list of the types of chocolates. 4. Count the chocolates in each pile and enter that number next to the entry on the list. 5. Present that information as a bar chart (items on X axis, numbers on Y).

Coders use the word algorithm to describe a set of rules to be followed in order to solve problems, or complete tasks.

An experienced coder can devise clever algorithms to solve many different problems. Factory robots movements follow algorithms created by engineers, using code.

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