AP CSP Day 5 - Program Inputs and Outputs
AP CSP Day 5 - Program Inputs and Outputs
Course Information
- Course: AP Computer Science Principles
- Unit: Big Idea 1 - Creative Development (CRD)
- Lesson: Day 5 (50 minutes)
- Learning Objective: CRD-2.C - Identify input(s) to a program
Learning Objectives
Primary Goals
Students will be able to:
- Define what constitutes a program's inputs and outputs
- Identify different types of program inputs and outputs
- Explain how inputs and outputs interact within a program
- Analyze real-world examples of program inputs and outputs
AP Exam Alignment
- Big Idea 1: Creative Development (10-13% of AP Exam)
- Essential Knowledge: CRD-2.C.1, CRD-2.C.2, CRD-2.C.3
- Computational Thinking Practice: 1.A - Investigate the situation, context, or task
Lesson Structure (50 minutes)
Opening Hook (10 minutes)
5.1 Welcome & Lesson Preview (5 minutes)
Teacher Activities:
- Welcome students to Day 5
- Review previous lesson's key concepts
- Introduce today's focus on program inputs and outputs
Student Activities:
- Review previous lesson's materials
- Think about: "What are some examples of program inputs and outputs?"
5.2 Quick Input-Output Matching Challenge (5 minutes)
Activity: "Match the Inputs and Outputs"
Instructions:
- Groups of 4-6 students
- Match given program inputs with corresponding outputs
- Discuss reasoning behind matches
Purpose: Activate thinking about program components
Core Content Instruction (20 minutes)
6.1 What are Program Inputs and Outputs? (10 minutes)
Definition (CRD-2.C.1):
A program's inputs are data provided to the program, while outputs are results produced by the program.
Key Concepts:
- Inputs: Data entered by users or other programs
- Outputs: Results displayed or returned by the program
Examples:
- Calculator app: Inputs - numbers and operations; Outputs - results of calculations
- Weather app: Inputs - location data; Outputs - weather forecast
- Music player: Inputs - song selection; Outputs - audio playback
6.2 Types of Program Inputs and Outputs (5 minutes)
Types:
-
User inputs: Keyboard, mouse, touchscreen
-
Data inputs: Files, databases, APIs
-
Hardware inputs: Sensors, cameras, microphones
-
Visual outputs: Screens, graphs, images
-
Audio outputs: Speakers, headphones
-
File outputs: Saving data, exporting files
6.3 Interaction Between Inputs and Outputs (5 minutes)
How do they interact?:
- Processing: Programs process inputs to produce outputs
- Feedback loops: Outputs can influence future inputs
- Real-time interaction: Continuous input-output cycles
Case Study: The development of a simple game app
- Inputs: User actions, game state data
- Processing: Game logic, scoring system
- Outputs: Visual updates, sound effects
Hands-On Activity (15 minutes)
7.1 Group Project: Input-Output Analysis (15 minutes)
Activity: "Analyze a Program's Inputs and Outputs"
Instructions:
- Groups of 3-4 students
- Each group analyzes a different program
- Identify inputs, processing steps, and outputs
- Discuss how they interact
- Present findings to the class
Materials:
- **List of programs to analyze
- **Analysis worksheet
- **Access to computers or devices
Learning Goals:
- **Identify program inputs and outputs
- **Understand their interaction
- **Practice analysis skills
- **Present ideas effectively
Assessment:
- **Group participation
- **Analysis quality
- **Use of analysis tools
- **Presentation clarity
Closure & Preview (5 minutes)
8.1 Key Concepts Review (2 minutes)
Today's Learning Highlights:
- ✅ Understanding program inputs and outputs
- ✅ Identifying different types of inputs and outputs
- ✅ Analyzing their interaction
- ✅ Reflecting on program effectiveness
AP Exam Connection:
- These concepts will appear in AP exam multiple choice questions
- Identifying inputs and outputs is crucial for the Create Performance Task
8.2 Next Class Preview (3 minutes)
Day 6 Topic: "Program Design Process"
- Learning Objective: CRD-2.E - Develop a program using a development process
- Activity: Practicing program design techniques
- Homework: Think about a recent program you used. What were its inputs and outputs?