AP CSP Day 4 - Program Function and Purpose
AP CSP Day 4 - Program Function and Purpose
Course Information
- Course: AP Computer Science Principles
- Unit: Big Idea 1 - Creative Development (CRD)
- Lesson: Day 4 (50 minutes)
- Learning Objective: CRD-2.B - Explain how a program or code segment functions
Learning Objectives
Primary Goals
Students will be able to:
- Define what constitutes a program's function
- Identify different types of program functions
- Explain the purpose of a program or code segment
- Analyze how programs solve problems or enable creative expression
AP Exam Alignment
- Big Idea 1: Creative Development (10-13% of AP Exam)
- Essential Knowledge: CRD-2.B.1, CRD-2.B.2, CRD-2.B.3
- Computational Thinking Practice: 1.A - Investigate the situation, context, or task
Lesson Structure (50 minutes)
Opening Hook (10 minutes)
4.1 Welcome & Lesson Preview (5 minutes)
Teacher Activities:
- Welcome students to Day 4
- Review previous lesson's key concepts
- Introduce today's focus on program function and purpose
Student Activities:
- Review previous lesson's materials
- Think about: "What makes a program useful?"
4.2 Quick Program Analysis Challenge (5 minutes)
Activity: "Program Feature Guess"
Instructions:
- Groups of 4-6 students
- One person knows the secret feature of a program
- Others ask yes/no questions to guess the feature
- Rotate leadership every 5 minutes
Purpose: Activate thinking about program features
Core Content Instruction (20 minutes)
5.1 What is a Program's Function? (10 minutes)
Definition (CRD-2.B.1):
A program's function describes what it does when run by a computer.
Key Concepts:
- Input: Data provided to the program
- Processing: Operations performed on the data
- Output: Results produced by the program
Case Study: The development of a simple calculator app
- Inputs: Numbers and operations
- Processing: Mathematical calculations
- Outputs: Results of calculations
5.2 Types of Program Functions (5 minutes)
Types:
- Data processing: Handling and transforming data
- User interaction: Responding to user actions
- Automation: Performing repetitive tasks
- Creativity support: Enabling creative expression
Examples:
- Spreadsheet software: Data processing
- Video games: User interaction
- Scripting tools: Automation
- Graphic design apps: Creativity support
5.3 Importance of Understanding Program Purpose (5 minutes)
Why is it important?:
- Problem-solving: Programs are designed to solve specific problems
- Creative expression: Programs can enable new forms of creativity
- Efficiency: Automating tasks improves productivity
- Innovation: New programs can create entirely new possibilities
Discussion Questions:
- How do programs help solve real-world problems?
- What types of programs support creative expression?
- Why is automation important in computing?
Hands-On Activity (15 minutes)
6.1 Group Project: Program Function Analysis (15 minutes)
Activity: "Analyze a Program"
Instructions:
- Groups of 3-4 students
- Each group analyzes a different program
- Identify inputs, processing, and outputs
- Discuss the program's purpose
- Present findings to the class
Materials:
- **List of programs to analyze
- **Analysis worksheet
- **Access to computers or devices
Learning Goals:
- **Identify program components
- **Understand program purpose
- **Practice analysis skills
- **Present ideas effectively
Assessment:
- **Group participation
- **Analysis quality
- **Use of analysis tools
- **Presentation clarity
Closure & Preview (5 minutes)
7.1 Key Concepts Review (2 minutes)
Today's Learning Highlights:
- ✅ Understanding program function and purpose
- ✅ Identifying different types of program functions
- ✅ Analyzing program components
- ✅ Reflecting on program effectiveness
AP Exam Connection:
- These concepts will appear in AP exam multiple choice questions
- Understanding program function is crucial for the Create Performance Task
7.2 Next Class Preview (3 minutes)
Day 5 Topic: "Iterative Development Process"
- Learning Objective: CRD-2.E - Develop a program using a development process
- Activity: Practicing iterative development techniques
- Homework: Think about a recent program you used. What was its function and purpose?