Kids computer-programming

Computer Programming

Ed Burns, Oracle Corporation

What is a program?


A computer program is a file, just like a
document in Microsoft Word or a picture in
KidPix.

Copyright 2012 Ed Burns, Creative Commons License 2

What is a program?

+ =


With Microsoft Word or KidPix you use the
computer to create text or images to be read or
viewed by humans.

+ =


What is a program?

+ =


With a computer program, you use the
computer to create instructions to be read by a
computer!


What are instructions?

+ =


The instructions that make up a computer
program can be really simple.



+ =


The instructions that make up a computer
program can be really simple...


print “Hello world!”



+ =

...or very complex.



launch “space shuttle”



+ =


...or very complex.

Instructions are also called statements.


Why are programs special?


Since the beginning of humanity, there have
only ever been five different ways that humans
can store and transmit knowledge!




Brains

From the beginning
of humans




Tools

Scientists say
3.5 million years ago




Books

600 years
ago




Recorded sound and images

152 years ago




Computer programs

68 years ago


What does a program do?


Because computer programs are so special,
there are lots of special words to talk about
them.

The first special word describes what a
computer does with a program.




It runs.

What runs the program?




When a program runs, the computer looks at
each instruction and does what the instruction
says, one instruction at a time.


Who makes programs?


A person who writes a computer program is
called a Programmer.

You can be a programmer too!


Who makes programs?


A person who writes a computer program is
called a Programmer.

You can be a programmer too!

Let’s get started!



Getting Started With Programming

Simple instructions

Five basic concepts



Variables

If and if else statements

Lists

Loops

Sub-routines


Simple instructions

variable



A place to store information so the computer
can work with it

Real world example: What’s for lunch?



Hot dog

Hamburger

Simple instructions

variable



A place to store information so the computer
can work with it

Programming example: What’s for lunch?
lunch = “Hot Dog”;
lunch = “Hamburger”;

Simple instructions

if


Make choices based on the value of a variable



Real world example:
If lunch is hamburger, get ketchup. If lunch is
hot dog, get mustard.


Simple instructions

if

Make choices based on the value of a variable

Programming example:
if (lunch.equals(“Hamburger”)) {
getKetchup();
}
if (lunch.equals(“Hot Dog”)) {
getMustard();
} Copyright 2012 Ed Burns, Creative Commons License 26

Simple instructions

if else



Use when you only have two choices to choose
from.

Real world example:
If lunch is hamburger, get ketchup, otherwise,
get mustard.

Simple instructions

if else

Use when you only have two choices to choose
from.

if (lunch.equals(“Hamburger”)) {
getKetchup();
} else {
getMustard();
} Copyright 2012 Ed Burns, Creative Commons License 28

Simple instructions
lists



A special kind of variable that holds a list of
values

Real world example:
Your lunch choices are: hamburger, hot dog,
chicken nuggets or green salad

The items in the list are called elements. The
lunch choices list has four elements.

lists
 Simple instructions


A special kind of variable that holds a list of
values

lunchChoices = { “hamburger”,
“hot dog”,“chicken nuggets”,
“green salad” };
print lunchChoices.size();

Prints out “4”.


Simple instructions

loops



A statement that lets you do something with
each element in a list.

Real world example:
Look at the lunch menu and decide what to eat.


Simple instructions
loops



A statement that lets you do something with
each element in a list.

for each (item : lunchChoices) {
if (iLikeIt(item)) {
eat(item);
}
}

Simple instructions

Subroutines

A program within a program. Basically a way
to organize your program so it’s easier to read.

Real world example:
To eat lunch, you must:

Decide what to eat

Buy it

Take it to your table

Eat it. Copyright 2012 Ed Burns, Creative Commons License 33

Simple instructions
Subroutines



A program within a program. Basically a way
to organize your program so it’s easier to read.

lunch = readMenuAndPickItem();
buyItem(lunch);
table = chooseTable();
eatLunchAtTable(lunch, table);

Simple instructions
Subroutines



lunch = readMenuAndPickItem();
buyItem(lunch);
table = chooseTable();
eatLunchAtTable(lunch, table);

Subroutines need information to get their work
done. The pieces of information given to a
subroutine are called arguments.

Simple instructions
Review

Five basic concepts



Variables

If and if else statements

Lists

Loops

Sub-routines



Ed Burns, Oracle Corporation

Kids computer-programming

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