Mobile App:ITThinking Like a Programmer

IHS GIRLS TECH CLUB: THINKING LIKE A PROGRAMMER

Lesson 1

PROGRAMMING SKILLS

• Analytical thinking - math and numbers are a large part of becoming a programmer

• Creativity - you must be able to come up with creative solutions to complex problems

• Resilient - You must be willing to learn from trial and error

• Attention to detail - Every minor detail is important. One character or letter out of place may cause a program to break.

PROGRAMMING SKILLS

• Resourceful - You must be willing to ask questions and search for answers

• Good Memory - You must be able to remember specific syntax structure of code for the programming language you are using

• Organizational Skills - The better organized you are the more efficient you will become as a programmer

THE PROBLEM

Despite what you might think:

Computers are Dumb

WHY?

WHY?

Unlike humans, computers can not think for themselves or assume anything. They can only do exactly what you tell them to do. Lets look at an example.

How do you

normally brush

your teeth?

Steps?

BRUSHING YOUR TEETH

Thinking as a human:

Instructions - Go brush your teeth

Steps:

1. Get your toothbrush

2. Add toothpaste

3. Brush Teeth

Steps can be avoided because humans can assume them

BRUSHING YOUR TEETH (TAKE 2)

Thinking as a computer:

Instructions - Go brush your teeth

Steps (some steps have been left out):

1. Open the bathroom door

2. Turn on the bathroom light

3. Walk over to the sink

4. Turn on the water

5. Locate your toothbrush

6. Grab your toothbrush with your right (or left) hand

7. Put bristles of toothbrush under the water

8. Remove the toothbrush from the water

STEPS CONTINUED

9. Locate your toothpaste

10. Grab the toothpaste with your left (or right) hand

11. Take the cap off of the toothpaste

12. Apply toothpaste to toothbrush

13. Put cap back on toothpaste

14. Put back toothpaste to where you found it

15. Put toothbrush back under water momentarily (optional)

16. Open mouth

17. Put toothbrush into your mouth

18. Begin brushing teeth by moving hand back and forth or in circular motions

19. Continue for a set amount of time

STEPS CONTINUED

20. Remove toothbrush from your mouth

21. Open mouth

22. Spit out remaining toothpaste

23. Rinse mouth

24. Rinse toothbrush

25. Turn off water

26. Replace toothbrush to original location

27. Turn off light in bathroom

28. Leave bathroom

WHY IS IT SO HARD?

Computers do not have the ability to think. As a programmer, you need to tell them exactly what to do.

You perform all of the steps, however you are able to do so without actively thinking about it. When building out the process for a computer, you need to tell it every step so nothing gets missed.

IMPROVE YOUR THINKING

Take big problems and break them down into smaller more manageable problems. Continue to break down the problems until you get to the smallest level of details.