Year 11 - Computing
Careers in programming
Programming: dictionaries and data files
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit introduces pupils to the new data structures of records and dictionaries. They will develop a Caesar cipher encryption program using a dictionary as a cipher wheel. Pupils will explore how data can be read from and written to files and how this data can be used within a program.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to identify the skills and habits good programmers develop and use a range of approaches to program a solution.
Key Notes
- Programmers have to develop good habits when developing code.
- Programmers come from a range of backgrounds and have a range of experiecnce.
- There are alternative approaches to programming solutions.
- Appending to a CSV file is just like appending to a standard text file.
Vocabulary To Learn
- programmer: a person who writes computer programs
- solution: a means of solving a problem
- append(): a file handling mode that allows a program to write extra data at the end of a file without erasing the existing contents of the file
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- There is only one correct solution to a problem when programming.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Describe the system or process from this lesson in clear steps.
Programmers have to develop good habits when developing code. Programmers come from a range of backgrounds and have a range of experiecnce.
2. Define this computing term and give one practical example. 'programmer'
a person who writes computer programs. Add one real device or system example to prove understanding.
3. Correct this common computing misconception.
Mistake: There is only one correct solution to a problem when programming. Correction: There are lots of different approaches to solving a problem in programming. Some solutions can work better than others but the first stage in getting a solution is ensuring that it provides the expected outputs that are required.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 11 Computing guide library.