Week 11

In this week's content we will be looking at computational thinking: explaining algorithms clearly through a realistic Level 3 IT context. You will be required to translate a real-world process into precise algorithms and explain why ambiguous instructions create unreliable software.

Steps to complete:
1. Reorder a learner-prepared set of everyday instructions into an unambiguous sequence.
2. Read “Algorithms are instructions, not magic” and identify the difference between a rule, input, process and output.
3. Trace simple pseudocode and record the value of variables after each step.
4. Convert plain-English instructions into structured pseudocode using sequence, selection and iteration.
5. Design a triage algorithm for a fictional college helpdesk and explain key decisions in 250 words.
6. Swap algorithms and highlight any step another person could interpret in two ways.

By the end of the session you should have a traced algorithm set, structured pseudocode and an explanatory design rationale.

Week 11 Student Resource Pack

Last Updated
2026-09-14 09:19:59