Crack the code
Using control technologies, students are required to individually design, produce and evaluate an alarm/alert system using a coding software (e.g. Arduino) and relevant hardware. The system must include correct coding, working inputs and outputs and include a specified end-use application. Throughout the unit, students will learn programming concepts and commands and how to modify code to suit an identified need. Students will also learn how to assemble basic electronic circuits using a microcontroller to produce their final design idea.
Additional details
Year band(s) | 7-8 |
---|---|
Content type | Student challenges, Lesson ideas |
Format | Web page |
Australian Curriculum Digital Technologies code(s) |
AC9TDI8K01
Explain how hardware specifications affect performance and select appropriate hardware for particular tasks and workloads
AC9TDI8K02
Investigate how data is transmitted and secured in wired and wireless networks including the internet
AC9TDI8K03
Investigate how digital systems represent text, image and audio data using integers
AC9TDI8K04
Explain how and why digital systems represent integers in binary
AC9TDI8P01
Acquire, store and validate data from a range of sources using software, including spreadsheets and databases
AC9TDI8P05
Design algorithms involving nested control structures and represent them using flowcharts and pseudocode
AC9TDI8P06
Trace algorithms to predict output for a given input and to identify errors
AC9TDI8P10
Evaluate existing and student solutions against the design criteria, user stories and possible future impact |
Technologies & Programming Languageās | Electronic programming boards |
Keywords | Coding, Programming, Sensors, Inputs, Outputs, Algorithms, Arduino, Microcontrollers, Evaluate, Decompose problems, Stages 4 and 5 |
Organisation | NSW Department of Education |
Copyright | State of New South Wales (Department of Education), 2018. Copyright material available on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence. |
Related resources
-
Classroom ideas: Micro:bit Environmental Measurement (visual and general-purpose programming) (Years 5-8)
Investigating environmental data with Micro:bits: This tutorial shows the coding needed for digital solutions of some environmental issues that can be created using pseudocode and visual programming.
-
Classroom ideas F-10: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander connections to Digital Technologies
This resource provides examples of ways Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures can be integrated into Digital Technologies. Examples include 'classification and sorting data' and 'designing solutions'.
-
Computational thinking poster
A poster/infographic that gives a brief overview of the concepts related to computational thinking.
-
Creating a digital start line and finish line with micro:bits (Years 7-8)
The following activity suggests one-way Digital Technologies could be integrated into a unit where vehicles are being designed and produced.
-
Computational Thinking – 6 learner guides
This site offers a range of resources to help teach computational thinking and its components.
-
Working with data
This site explains what a database is and where it is that they can be used.
-
App Inventor EDU
Use this six week teaching program using a project based curriculum that allows students to explore the world of computer science through the creation of smartphone apps.
-
Developing user stories
These teacher slides can be used to introduce and develop understandings about user stories and how to write a user story based on a users needs and goals. In this set of slides we use several examples to illustrate the format of a user story.