QR Challenge: Year 11 Computer Science

Created using the ClassTools QR Treasure Hunt Generator

Teacher Notes

A. Prior to the lesson:

1. Arrange students into groups. Each group needs at least ONE person who has a mobile device.

2. If their phone camera doesn't automatically detect and decode QR codes, ask students to

• Download a QR reader (e.g. I-Nigma | NeoReader | Kaywa) onto their mobile devices
• Bring these devices into the lesson.

3. Print out the QR codes.

4. Cut them out and place them around your class / school.

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B. The lesson:

1. Give each group a clipboard and a piece of paper so they can write down the decoded questions and their answers to them.

2. Explain to the students that the codes are hidden around the school. Each team will get ONE point for each question they correctly decode and copy down onto their sheet, and a further TWO points if they can then provide the correct answer and write this down underneath the question.

3. Away they go! The winner is the first team to return with the most correct answers in the time available. This could be within a lesson, or during a lunchbreak, or even over several days!

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C. TIPS / OTHER IDEAS

4. A detailed case study in how to set up a successful QR Scavenger Hunt using this tool can be found here.

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Questions / Answers (teacher reference)

Question	Answer
1. Describe the difference between a constant and a variable	A variable's value can change by the program as it runs. A constant's value is fixed.
2. Describe what is meant by an array?	Is data structure that stores a collection of individual values that are of the same data type.
3. State what is meant by a procedure.	A set of instructions that perform a specific task as part of a larger program.
4. What is a Logical error?	Error that arises from incorrect algorithm design.
5. Briefly describe how a STEP tool can help programmers detect and resolve errors.	Used to run through the code line by line
6. Describe the main purpose of the central processing unit (CPU).	Essentially the ‘brain’ of the computer – carries out tasks and has direct control over the hardware. It fetches and executes instructions stored in memory.
7. State what is meant by clock speed of the CPU.	‘Clock speed’ refers to the number of operations carried out per second by the processor.
8. What is meant by non-volatile memory?	Non-volatile memory is a type of memory that can retain the stored information even when not powered.
9. How many bytes are there in a kilobyte?	1024 or 1000
10. Convert these hexadecimal numbers into binary 33 and 5D.	(00)110011 and (0)1011101
11. How can a bitmap image store greater colour depth?	By assigning more bits/bytes to each pixel
12. State what is meant by a prototype.	An early model of a program built to test concepts or identify possible improvements.
13. State what is meant by a network.	A group of interconnected computers and devices.
14. Describe one way in which coding for a web-based application (using client-server) differs from that of a standalone application.	Data is stored primarily on online servers for web apps, but for stand-alone apps it will be stored locally on the computer that installed the software.
15. Describe what is meant by an external code source.	Code which is stored independently from the applications that access it. This enables multiple web sites or applications to access the same source code.
16. State what is meant by a database?	A persistent, organised store of data.
17. Explain the difference between a primary key and a foreign key.	The primary key field in a table uniquely identifies each record in that table. The foreign key field represents the value of primary keys in a different table.
18. Describe how data is physically written to a hard drive.	A read/write head magnetises tiny sections on a spinning metal platter.
19. Describe the purpose and importance of Virtual Memory.	Virtual memory is used when the RAM runs out of available space to store instructions/data currently in use. It is temporary memory allocated on a secondary storage device.
20. Using an example, describe the importance of reliability in computer systems?	Due to our dependency on computer systems, computer system failures can potentially cause

 

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