Course Brief
Learners will be exposed to the main concepts of procedural programming, building on the theory previously explored in problem-solving. The principles of effective program design, implementation and debugging will be explored.
- This course is offered in 50 contact hours.
Upon successful completion of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Understand the concepts, principles and features involved in programming in a high-level language;
- Design a computer program;
- Develop programs in a high-level programming language;
- Test a computer program.
Understand the concepts, principles, practices and features of programming in a high-level language:
- Characteristics of programming: low-level languages; high-level languages; generations; algorithms, source code, machine code etc.
- Programming languages and paradigms: procedural; object oriented; functional; event driven; simple overviews and uses
- Language selection considerations, criteria for selection
- Key features of high-level programming languages: comments, variables, constants, functions, procedures, keywords, predefined functions; programming libraries, I/O
- Programming Environments: Compiler, Interpreter; Features of the development environment: code generation, syntax highlighting, line numbering, refactoring, debuggers, watch, breakpoints, single-step, step-throughs; tools and techniques.
- Programming standards and practice: modularization; use of comments, code layout eg. consistent indentation and descriptive identifiers
Design a computer program:
- Systematic approach for the development of a solution to a problem: structure diagrams, data flow diagrams, entity relationship models, flow charts, pseudo code, decision tables, state-transition diagrams
- Basic constructs of algorithms: assignment, sequence, selection and repetition
- Technical documentation: requirements specification, preliminary design, detailed design, data design, input/output design, procedural design, modular design, structured design, object design, file design
Develop programs in a high-level programming language:
- Programming language features, keywords and syntax
- Comments; data types and structures; declare and use variables, constants; variable scope; statements, expressions, creating and evaluating expressions, rules of precedence; assignment operator; operators (arithmetic, relational and boolean); constructs (sequence, selection and repetition)
- Arrays: one and two-dimensional arrays; iterating through; linear search;
- Methods, procedures, functions, subroutines
- Parameters: data types, passing data, return values
- Basic I/O functions: Input and Output – Screen; File Handling: reading and writing files.
- Exception Handling
Test a computer program:
- Program testing and documentation: Debugging; Test documentation; Test plan, Test strategy; black box, white box testing, unit testing, functional testing, regression testing, usability testing; Dry run, trace tables
- Types of error in programs: logic, syntax, runtime
- Test data: Normal, abnormal, extreme
Students must utilize one of the following programming languages:
- Python
- Java
- C-based language
- Diploma in Computing
Your path to a Computing degree starts here.
The next intake for this offering will be in September 2024. For more details on fees and courses Download the Programme Brief
The Diploma in Computing, awarded by SBCS, is an ACTT approved Foundation programme, geared toward CSEC / CXC graduates as an alternative to CAPE or 6th Form. It provides such learners with an affordable and flexible opportunity to pursue a higher level qualification in a Computing discipline by enabling a seamless transfer from Secondary to Post-secondary education.
Overview of the Computing pathwaysGraduates of this Diploma programme will progress directly to Year 1 of the BSc (Hons) Computing from the University of Greenwich.
Click here to see our full suite of Foundation programmes, or here for our 2022 academic schedules.
Related Courses:
- Matriculation to Higher National Diploma: Computing
Your path to a Computing degree starts here.
The Matriculation to the Higher National Diploma (HND) in Computing is a Pearson (UK) and ACTT approved Foundation programme, geared toward CSEC / CXC graduates as an alternative to CAPE or 6th Form. It provides such learners with the opportunity to pursue a higher level qualification in a Computing discipline by enabling a seamless transfer from Secondary to Post-secondary education.
Graduates of the Matriculation programme will progress directly to Pearson's Higher National Diploma in Computing and then onto the final year of an undergraduate honours degree in Computing & Information Systems (University of Greenwich).
Click here to see our full suite of Foundation programmes, or here for our 2018 academic schedules.
Related Courses: