When Year 7 students learn about procedures in programming, they often make some common mistakes. These can cause frustration and confusion. Here are a few of those mistakes and some tips on how to fix them.
Not Being Clear:
One big problem is not clearly stating what the procedure should do. Sometimes, students write procedures without understanding what they need to put in and what they will get out. This can lead to a procedure that doesn't solve the problem at all.
Tip: Start with a clear plan. Before writing any code, explain the procedure in simple words. Break down the steps needed to get the job done.
Forgetting About Parameters:
Beginners often forget to include important details called parameters. Parameters are the pieces of information a procedure needs to work. If, for example, a procedure is supposed to calculate the area of a rectangle but doesn’t have values for width and height, it won't give the right answer.
Tip: Always check what parameters are needed. Remind students to think about the information their procedure needs to work correctly.
Using Confusing Names:
Picking names that are unclear or don’t match what the procedure does can make things harder to understand. For instance, a procedure called "doStuff()" doesn’t tell anyone what the code is actually doing.
Tip: Encourage students to use descriptive names. Instead of "doStuff()", they could name it "calculateArea()". This helps others (and themselves) know what the code is meant to do.
Not Testing Procedures:
Sometimes new programmers forget to test their procedures with different inputs. Without testing, mistakes can go unnoticed and cause problems later.
Tip: Create a testing phase where students run the procedure with various inputs. This helps to make sure everything works as it should.
By fixing these common mistakes early on, students can learn to define and use procedures better. This will help them build a strong foundation in programming.
When Year 7 students learn about procedures in programming, they often make some common mistakes. These can cause frustration and confusion. Here are a few of those mistakes and some tips on how to fix them.
Not Being Clear:
One big problem is not clearly stating what the procedure should do. Sometimes, students write procedures without understanding what they need to put in and what they will get out. This can lead to a procedure that doesn't solve the problem at all.
Tip: Start with a clear plan. Before writing any code, explain the procedure in simple words. Break down the steps needed to get the job done.
Forgetting About Parameters:
Beginners often forget to include important details called parameters. Parameters are the pieces of information a procedure needs to work. If, for example, a procedure is supposed to calculate the area of a rectangle but doesn’t have values for width and height, it won't give the right answer.
Tip: Always check what parameters are needed. Remind students to think about the information their procedure needs to work correctly.
Using Confusing Names:
Picking names that are unclear or don’t match what the procedure does can make things harder to understand. For instance, a procedure called "doStuff()" doesn’t tell anyone what the code is actually doing.
Tip: Encourage students to use descriptive names. Instead of "doStuff()", they could name it "calculateArea()". This helps others (and themselves) know what the code is meant to do.
Not Testing Procedures:
Sometimes new programmers forget to test their procedures with different inputs. Without testing, mistakes can go unnoticed and cause problems later.
Tip: Create a testing phase where students run the procedure with various inputs. This helps to make sure everything works as it should.
By fixing these common mistakes early on, students can learn to define and use procedures better. This will help them build a strong foundation in programming.