Foundation Level A

Have you ever wondered how a toaster knows how to make your toast the same every time you want it? Amazingly, it is because it is digital. (Click here to see what is inside a toaster). Almost everything in our daily lives is digital. The are:
  • Lots of digital devices (smartphones, computers, TV, alarms, cars, fridges, music and lots more.
  • Most digital systems use data and information to function and improve our daily lives.
  • Through digital technologies we can create solutions to make our life easier or better.

What is a digital system? Digital means anything that uses a computer. A "system" is when more than one item combines to make something else. For example an iPad plus a printer is a digital system. The Internet and a smartphone is a digital system. As a class compose a list of possible digital systems.

Teacher Directed Learning.

  1. Use classroom display technology to watch and discuss the video about posture (top right).
  2. Talk and discuss: good posture habits for using iPads and tablets.

 

Student Assisted /Guided Learning.

  1. Watch the video (right) to learn the basics for using an iPad.
  2. Practice using the;
    • expand window icon on the video
    • volume control
    • ESC key
  3. Play Monster Mansion Match (See right)

Independent Student Learning.

  1. Use your mouse skills to put together a computer system jigsaw puzzle.
  2. Experiment to learn how to select, turn and move the puzzle pieces.
  3. Computer System Jigsaw Puzzle
  4. Play Monster Mansion Match (see right).

Introduction to iPads

Play Monster Mansion Match at ABCYA.com

Data and information?  Humans invented digital systems to be useful and functional. Like any tool, when you or I use a digital system we create data or information. Data and information can take many forms. It might be sound data for enjoying music. It could be video data. It might be image data for photos and so on. 

As a class create a list of all the different types of data that we create in our daily lives. Can you match occupations with types of data? For example a film studio uses lots of sound and video data.

Teacher Directed Learning.

  1. Discuss how digital sound data is beneficial to our society. In particular consider how sound enhances the lives of visually impaired people.
  2. If your class does not have access to iPads you could:

 

Student Assisted/Guided Learning.

  1. Watch the video (right) to learn about the Singing Fingers App for  iPads
  2. Ask each student to create sound data
  3. If possible connect to classroom display technology and ask students to present their sound creativity.

Independent Student Learning.

  1. Visit this website > https://splice.com/sounds/beatmaker
  2. Create you own beat.
  3. Play the beat to your teacher

Singing Fingers.

This iPad app will allow you to make sounds to patterns you create.

Website: http://singingfingers.com/     Download the App

Play Letters and Numbers Trace Beat

Creating Digital Solutions. Our everyday lives are full of patterns and routines. Routines are patterns that humans and animals repeat knowing that they solve a problem. Think about how you got dressed this morning. Your routine would basically be the same as yesterday. Yet, if the weather was very different you would change your routine to add or change clothing to suit the weather. In this example think of the weather as a problem. As the weather changes your routine (pattern) is changed to achieve the best comfort. You have in fact, changed the routine to solve a problem. Another word for patterns and sequences is algorithm. Digital systems can be written to solve human problems. For example a weather App is a digital algorithm.

Teacher Directed Learning.

  1. Discuss and compose a list of routine tasks that we commonly undertake on a regular basis.
  2. Select ONE task.
  3. Using several blank sheets of paper write each different step on separate sheets.
  4. Jumble the sheets and ask students to re assemble the task in the correct sequence.
  5. Discuss how the selected routine task might differ in different cultures.

 

Student Assisted/Guided Learning.

  1. Use display technology to watch the video (right).
  2. As a class create a dance algorithm to match the song.

 

Independent Student Learning.

  1. A recipe is an algorithm
  2. Write a recipe for a plain vanilla cake that you might bake.
  3. Change the recipe (algorithm) so you can bake a chocolate cake with candles to take to a birthday party.
  4. Play Fuzz Bug patterns at ABCYA.com (see right)

  • By the end of Level A, students recognise common digital systems that are used to meet specific everyday purposes.
  • Students react to different types of data and how digital systems can be used to represent data as images.
  • Students recognise that routine tasks involve completing a set of steps.