IMAT1604 Visual Web Development
Topic
: Problem Solving and Programming
Week number
:2
Session
:1
Overview
In this session we shall start to look at the question “What is
programming?” We shall relate this to the subject of problem solving
and you shall have an opportunity to solve some simple programming
problems using a program called The Cards.
What you should be doing in this class




Make sure you have a plan on how you are going to obtain
bonus marks either in a team or working individually
Work on driving test 1
Work on your portfolio exercises
For the portfolio work and driving tests
o Get help from your tutor and your friends
o Use the material presented by your tutor
o Use the supporting examples in these notes
o Watch the on-line videos on the module web site
Contents
The Cards................................................................................... 1
What You Need to Know ............................................................... 3
So what is Programming? ....................................................... 4
The Cards
You have been provided with a Code Reference Book which contains
short examples of all of the code you will use in the module.
You have your own copy of the book and you may write in it as you
see fit. Your hand annotated Code Reference Book may be taken with
you as a reference in the phase tests.
For this session you will use a program called The Cards which is
available for download from the module web site.
The Cards will present you with programming related questions like
so...
In this case “Display the message hello world in the text box called
txtOutput.”
1
Each rectangle on the green board is a card...
Cards
And may be dragged around the board onto the area marked...
To form an answer like so...
If you think your answer is correct then press the button...
Your tutor will split the class into teams of roughly equal size. The
task of each team is to work together and answer all of the questions
presented by the program.
Each member of the first team to answer all of the questions will be
awarded 2 module bonus points.
Remember to keep in mind all of the tools at your disposal for solving
the problems given to you!
2
What You Need to Know
Take a little while to think about the kind of problems you have solved
so far in your life.
How many of you have travelled to Leicester from another town?
How many of you have been on a long journey of any sort?
Problem solving is a skill that you all possess but probably don’t think
much about it.
Consider going on a journey, say from your home town to arrive here
at the University.
The first step is to identify the problem that needs to be solved...
“I need to arrive in Leicester to enrol at University during enrolment
week. When I arrive in Leicester I need to have a place to stay and
money.”
You are here today, so that means you have solved (at least part of)
this problem. (Obviously if you live in Leicester already, it becomes
simpler!)
Once you have identified the problem the next step is to identify the
set of tools that will assist you in solving the problem.
You will probably have used the following...
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Train / bus timetables
Telephone to make arrangements
Forms to apply for student loans
Discussion with friends and family to get help and advice
As you solve the problem you will constantly be comparing your
solution and progress with the problem.
“Have I used all of the tools to create a suitable solution to the
problem?”
Once you have solved the problem and everything is place you will
then follow the plan that you have devised and the problem is solved.
3
We all have the skill of problem solving and we use it all of the time.
Learning to program requires the same set of skills, however the
problems we solve and the tools we use are different.
So what is Programming?
A problem
Tools
No
Problem Solving
Does the solution
solve the
Yes
problem?
A Solution?
Programming always starts with a problem. This may be a problem
you have found yourself or it could be from your tutor, boss or client.
The first step is to clearly identify the problem and make sure that you
understand it clearly.
For example a client may decide that they want a web site that sells
books. The problem then becomes “how to design a suitable web
site.”
4
Once the problem has been identified and understood a programmer
then enters problem solving mode.
To solve problems we need to think and use our brains, however there
are a number of tools available to us.
One tool is the programming language that we are to use. In the case
of this module we are using VB.NET.
Understanding the programming language is actually not the most
important skill to acquire.
In twenty years time VB.NET will have changed and evolved into
something different. The language specific skills you learn now will
probably be redundant by then.
The problem solving skills will still be valid whichever language you
use.
The programming language is simply a tool to help you solve the
problem.
Other tools that help you solve problems are such things as books and
internet resources. By searching the web you may find that there are
samples of code that do something similar to what you want to do.
In programming it is good to recycle. Adapting existing code to your
own needs is an important skill. (Obviously you must give credit to
the original author.)
Another tool that is at your disposal is seeking advice from other
people. This may be fellow students or your tutor. When solving
problems it is beneficial to work with other people to get help with the
problem solving process.
As you enter into the problem solving process you will start to move
closer and closer to a solution.
Question - How do you know if your solution solves the problem?
Answer – by constantly comparing your solution with the problem.
5
If your solution is not suitable then you enter once again into problem
solving mode.
If your solution solves the problem then you send your customer the
bill.
6