Year 8 Digital Design (DD)
Introduction to Programming
using Jeroo
Yingxi Fu
8.13
Inquiring and
Analyzing
Developing Ideas
Creating the Solution
Evaluating
Need for a solution
Design specification
Plan
Test plan
Research
Design ideas
Technical skills
Evaluate solution
Existing products
Chosen design
Design changes
Improvements
Design brief
Detailed design
Solution presentation
Impact of solution
Rubric
Rubric
Rubric
Bibliography
Rubric
To see Outline in the left panel: View > Show document outline
Developing ideas
Design Specification
Use the “Developing Ideas - Pre-planning” task on Schoology to help you develop your Design
Specification.
Story: After your Jeroo friends threw a party last night and got really drunk, they accidentally
forgot to lock you and your friends’ joint safe that contains everyone’s life savings of winsum
flowers. Now all their life savings are all over the island and they need you to help them collect
it. You are promised to get 50% of the winsum flowers you picked, and your life savings back, if
you make it back safely without being caught in nets set by poachers or drowning.
#
1
Design Specification
Island Type
Maze
Reason
Why did you pick this island
type?
1. You can’t solve it by
hardcoding.
2. It is harder as it is hard
to predict all the exact
turns. This encourages
risk taking, trying out
different paths before
finding the right way.
2
Features
Number of Jeroos: 1-3
Shape of land, water: Different island sizes, modify the
sizes and made some of the islands bigger than normal.
Number of flowers: Varies in different mazes. Too many
flowers to count. More than 20.
Obstacles: at least 25 Nets, a lot of water surrounding
paths
Why did you choose these
features?
1. Jeroo numbers:
2. Different shape and
sizes of Island:
Different island sizes
and shapes enhance
the challenge, requiring
strategic planning and
navigation. The
programmer can’t just
hardcode it. The
programmer would
learn to adapt to
changes and create a
code that works
regardless of the island
size.
3. Different number of
flowers:
Makes the challenge a
bit less predictable, so
the programmer’s
ending code should
work for any other
related mazes with
similar patterns. The
programmer can’t just
match the amount of
flowers with nets, and
throw away unused
flowers, and use this as
a way to let Jeroo know
to stop when it has 0
flowers. The
programmer would
have to create a
specific system of
collecting, the main
skill learned in this lab.
4. At least 20 flowers:
This gives the Jeroo
more things to do,
more flowers to collect,
so the program isn’t
that short and the
programmer has to
really think outside the
box and consider all
the flowers on the
island.
5. A lot of obstacles:
Net: Has a negative
association and
reputation as disaster,
so our instinct would be
to avoid it. This lab
trains you to utilize the
challenges (nets) at
your advantage. As the
nets are like bridges
over water to another
path sometimes.
Water: To make the
Jeroo’s life difficult and
force it to utilize the
nets as bridges.
3
Pre-conditions
1. Jeroo can only start with 1 flower.
2. No more than 3 Jeroos may be used.
3. Use no more than 3 while loops.
4. Use the least amount of if conditions
possible, preferably not more than 10.
5. The Jeroo can begin at any land tile or
flower on each island (as long as it is not
a net or water and is a similar spot on all
4 islands) and ends anywhere as long as
the task is complete.
6. Jeroo faces east on instantiation and east
at ending.
7. Any amount of custom methods is
allowed, but only 2 lines of code (that are
not instantiation or method calls) in the
main method are allowed.
4
Post-conditions
1. All flowers must be picked up in the end.
Why did you decide on these
pre-conditions?
1. makes the programmer
utilize the functions on
the island (you have to
pick up flowers along
the way, something you
have to strategize).
2. Still want to give a
sense of freedom to
the user, but too many
Jeroos used would
make it too easy.
3. To make sure the
programmer’s code is
clear and concise and
as simple as possible.
We don’t want to use
too many while loops
when it can be solved
with one, or else the
code would be too long
and complicated.
4. Too many ”if”
conditions make the
programmer too slow
and inefficient. We
want the program to
run smoothly.
5. It gives the
programmer some
creative freedom for
their own unique
strategy.
6. I just like it that way.
7. It makes sure that
there aren’t too many
repetitive code or any
hardcoded lines. The
programmer would
have to optimize the
amount of lines
allowed.
Why did you decide on these
post-conditions?
1. It is linked to the task
mission, and makes
sense. Since there isn’t
really a front and end
stop, it gives the
programmer something
to do. Furthermore, I
want the programmer
to challenge
themselves and go
through all obstacles to
pick up every flower.
They can’t avoid it.
5
Functionality
Do the Jeroo(s) have “must-do” actions or “must-go”
locations?
Jeroos must collect all the flowers. They may end
anywhere as long as the flowers are cleaned up. His
friends would collect him since he is holding their life
supply of winsum flowers. The Jeroo is going to go
through every single path as I have specifically laid
flowers on all the paths in the 4 mazes.
6
Additional Requirements
Add more rows to the table as needed...
Design ideas
Design Iteration #1
Based on your Design Specification, create 4 islands on Jeroo.
Remember to save your jev files in your project folder!
Island 1
Island 2
What is the purpose of these
must-do or must-go
requirements?
It just fits the story and makes it
more interesting.
Collecting all the flowers just
make it more challenging as
the Jeroo has to run through
every path and this is the start
to many creative strategies to
make sure the Jeroo collects all
the flowers.
Island 3
Algorithm expressed in English
Island 4
Create a system of collecting.
1. Collect systematically - since Jeroo program does not support backtracking and is
extremely limited, it is easy to get lost. - Jeroo should collect row by row or column by
columns.
2. Observe carefully first. Know when your program should stop running. Is there a
specific spot that lets you know when to stop? - Hint: Use another Jeroo as a stop
mark at the right bottom corner.
3. More than one custom method should be used to organize your code. There are a lot
of scenarios that need to be taken into account.
4. Break nets instead of avoiding them. - avoiding would just make the path messy and
confusing. - your real enemy is the water.
5. Island 3 is extremely crucial, it is where your strategy is extremely important and would
be the key to solving the other islands. Don’t start with Island 1 despite it being the
easiest - it might just confuse you when solving the other islands.
Seek feedback from your teacher here:
Feedback on the islands
The islands look very challenging. Seems ok. State somewhere
that the jeroo can start on any location as long as it is land or
flower on all the islands.
Feedback on algorithm
State the objective.
State the ending condition more clearly.
Design Iteration #2 - Design iteration #1 is actually my 5th draft for each maze, (I forgot to
record all the other drafts) and according to the feedback the islands don’t really have
any specific problems. I also checked that it matched all the design specifications. I
might make changes in “Creating the Solution”.
Make changes to your islands and remember to save your updated jev files!
Island 1
Island 2
(7th draft) I realised it was unsolvable
Island 3
Island 4
Algorithm expressed in English (updated)
Describe in words the overall strategy or steps of solving your challenge.
Objective: The goal is for the Jeroo to collect all flowers on the island while breaking through
nets, avoiding water, and following a systematic collection method. (A systematic collection is
a must for the programmer if they can do it in other ways, but it really helps to have a system)
Starting Position: The Jeroo can begin at any land tile or flower on each island.(as long as it
is not a net or water)
Key:
1. Choose a Strategy:
Decide whether to collect flowers row by row or column by column. This approach
minimizes confusion and helps prevent getting lost as Jeroo program does not support
backtracking, and various other functions (like determining coordination the Jeroo is at
throughout the running of the program)
2. Observation:
Before starting, observe the layout of the island to identify the best path for collection.
3. Stop Condition: (not a must but it helps)
Use another Jeroo placed at the bottom right corner of the island as a visual marker
for when to stop collecting flowers. Once all flowers are collected and the Jeroo
collecting the flowers reaches the other Jeroo, the process is complete.
4. More than one custom method should be used to organize your code. There are a
lot of scenarios that need to be taken into account.
5. Break nets instead of avoiding them.
- avoiding would just make the path messy and confusing. - your real enemy is the
water.
6. Key to Strategy:
Island 3 is critical for developing an effective strategy. It is recommended to start with
Island 3 instead of Island 1( despite it being the easiest), as it will provide insights that
you might not be able to see from the other islands.
7. Ending Condition:
The algorithm ends when all flowers are collected, and the Jeroo reaches the
designated stop marker. (where is not a must but the flowers must all be collected) At
this point, the task is complete, and the Jeroo should face either east or west, not
north or south.
Chosen design
Check your islands against the Design Specification.
Design Spec
Island 1
Island 2
Island 3
Island 4
Have at least 20
flowers
Yes
Yes
Yes
Definitely
Different Island
sizes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Definitely (48 by
48)
Some islands are
bigger than the
usual islands
(modified and
increased rows
and columns)
Yes (the other
islands are bigger
than island 1 the
easiest and
smallest one)
yes
Yes
Definitely (48 by
48)
A lot of nets
(defined as more
than 25)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Definitely
Water surrounding
islands
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Jeroo has to break
nets to collect all
the flowers
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Different number of
flowers
yes
yes
yes
yes
●
At this stage, you should be able to conclude that your designs for all islands, and your
algorithm, meet the design specifications.
●
If your designs do not meet the specification, then you should make adjustments either
to your proposed specs or to the design of the islands.
Write a short paragraph explaining that your island sketches plus the algorithm does in fact
address all of the features mentioned in your design specification.
Conclusion
The designs for all four islands, along with the algorithm, successfully meet all design specifications.
Each island features at least 20 flowers, ensuring the Jeroo has enough to pick up and break the nets.
The islands vary in size, with the first being the smallest and the fourth expanding to a larger 48 by 48
grid, providing a progressive difficulty curve. Each design has more than 25 nets as obstacles, requiring
the Jeroo to strategically break them in order to collect all the flowers. The varying number of flowers
across the islands encourages different strategies and problem-solving approaches. Overall, these
elements combine to create interesting mazes that follow the design specifications.
Detailed design
The fourth step is to:
1. add additional details to your four island files (see Figures 1 and 2 below).
2. express your solution logic (algorithm) in a flowchart.
Example of an annotated sketch - (delete when you are done with your report)
Figure 4.1 - Annotated Sketch of an Island
Figure 4.2 - Annotated Sketch of an Island
Detailed annotated islands
Island 1
Island 2
Island 3
White circles indicate jeroos’ position. Top left corner is Jeroo 1 and bottom right corner is
Jeroo 2.
Island 4
Paste Annotated Sketch of Island 4
Flowchart
(I cannot guarantee it is 100% correct. I will have to test it out
during Creating the Solution.)
I feel like I still need to edit my algorithm. I will adjust it in
Creating Solutions. But this is basically my strategy right now.
Seeing from the annotations, I think I need a better strategy, as
it wasn’t very efficiently done.
Rubric
Criterion B: Developing ideas
I.
II.
III.
IV.
develop a list of success criteria for the solution
present feasible design ideas, which can be correctly interpreted by others
present the chosen design
create a planning drawing/diagram which outlines the main details for making the chosen
solution
Level
Descriptor
0
1-2
3-4
5-6
The student did not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors below.
I.
states one basic success criterion for a solution
(basic specification)
II.
presents one design idea, which can be interpreted by others
(one island plan only)
III.
creates an incomplete planning drawing/diagram.
(incomplete final island plans)
I.
states a few success criteria for the solution
(2-3 entries in specification with explanation)
II.
presents more than one design idea, using an appropriate medium(s) or
labels key features, which can be interpreted by others
(two to three island plans which can be easily understood by someone else,
brief description of algorithm in English)
III.
states the key features of the chosen design
(evaluated against the specs incompletely)
IV.
creates a planning drawing/diagram or lists requirements for the creation of
the chosen solution.
(Four final island plans)
I.
develops a few success criteria for the solution ( 4-5 detailed specification
with explanation)
II.
presents a few feasible design ideas, using an appropriate medium(s) and
labels key features, which can be interpreted by others
(Four island plans and easily understood by others,
description of algorithm in English with clear pre- and post-conditions)
7-8
III.
presents the chosen design stating the key features
(evaluated against all the specs and a conclusion is provided)
IV.
creates a planning drawing/diagram and lists the main details for the creation
of the chosen solution.
(Four final plans for the islands, clearly presented with all features listed or
labeled, with a basic outline of how they could be solved, flowchart attempted)
I.
develops a list of success criteria for the solution
(6 or more detailed specifications with explanation)
II.
presents feasible design ideas, using an appropriate medium(s) and outlines
the key features, which can be correctly interpreted by others
(Four island plans and easily understood by others,
detailed description of algorithm in English with clear pre- and post-conditions,
evidence of improvements based on teacher feedback)
III.
presents the chosen design describing the key features
(evaluated against all the specs and a detailed conclusion is provided)
IV.
creates a planning drawing/diagram, which outlines the main details for
making the chosen solution.
(Four final plans for the islands that can plausibly be solved by one algorithm,
clearly presented with all features listed and/or labeled. Detailed flowchart is
included.)