http://kevin-flynn.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] kevin-flynn.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2007-01-23 05:58 pm
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Zen Computer Science - Period 3 - Tuesday - Week 3

"Last week, some of you learned how to think outside the box, as it were." He glanced around the room.

"Only one pair actually figured out and correctly identified what was in the box."

"This week, we're going to focus on abstract thinking."

Flynn pulled up a screen, showing various bits and bobs of software running various tasks.

"Computers use software to think and calculate, much like we do."

"So your assignment for the week is to design a program that does something.
What that something is, is up to you."

He waited for the sighs to come, as he knew this would be misunderstood.

"Now, you don't have to program it. Programming and designing are two different things."
He stood up. "I want you to design a program to do whatever you want."
"Then, break it down into sections, showing how each bit of the program would actually do it."

"For example. I want to create a program that calculates taxes. So I'd need a page that has boxes to fill information in,
then a part to run the calculations that are needed from each box, and so on..."

"Break down each individual part of the software, design the interface, and tell me what each bit does."

"It does sound complicated, but you'd be surprised how easy it can be."

And with that, he sat down at his desk, and stared into his monitor.

Re: Ask Flynn!

[identity profile] willbedone.livejournal.com 2007-01-24 12:02 am (UTC)(link)
Willow raised her hand. "What platform?"

Re: Ask Flynn!

[identity profile] willbedone.livejournal.com 2007-01-24 01:37 am (UTC)(link)
Willow heard her own answers sometimes. "You're right, I'll aim cross-platform."

She then got to designing and programming a new word processing program.

Re: Ask Flynn!

[identity profile] slr-mercury.livejournal.com 2007-01-24 12:18 am (UTC)(link)
Ami raised her hand. "Stand-alone or browser based? If browser, client or server based?"

Re: Ask Flynn!

[identity profile] slr-mercury.livejournal.com 2007-01-24 01:35 am (UTC)(link)
Ami nodded. "Thank you."
the_merriest: (confused now)

Re: Ask Flynn!

[personal profile] the_merriest 2007-01-24 06:48 am (UTC)(link)
Rikku raised her hand tentatively. "So ... when you say design but not program ... does that mean I just have to write about it on a piece of paper, and hand that in?"