5 – Flowing Flowcharts

• Develop problem solving skills by using decomposition
• Learn how to represent algorithms using flowcharts
• Understand how abstraction can help solving complex problems
• Implement solutions using sequencing and repetition
• Develop further understanding that programming bridges the gap between algorithmic solutions and computers

• decomposition
• algorithms

• flowcharts
• sequence

• repetition
• flowol

• In the last lesson we looked at a program called Flowol that lets us use flowcharts to control and interact with situations called “mimics”.
• Today we are going to use Flowol to create a sequence of instructions to solve certain problems.
• Computers follow instructions or sequences programmed into them. A flowchart can be used to help design a sequence. Actions can be ordered, reordered or removed if no longer necessary.

• Look at this video to see the sequence of lights on a traffic light.

• Copy the table below by selecting it by clicking and dragging you mouse from the top left to the bottom right.
• Paste it into a PowerPoint slide and complete the rest of the instructions, use the video above for help.

Red light ON

DELAY for __ seconds

Red light ON and amber light ON

• Finish your sequence for the problem by finishing all steps required to reach a solution.
• Upload your sequence to www.bournetolearn.com, Week 5 Silver for Problem Solving.

• Remember that a flowchart is a type of diagram that represents an algorithm, workflow or process, showing the steps as boxes of various kinds, and their order by connecting them with arrows.
• Each shape represent some steps in the algorithm.

• The following is a simple example of using flowchart to describe the steps to a simple problem of determining if an user’s input numbers are odd or not.

• Launch the application Flowol 4, click on File->New and select the Bridge Lights mimic by clicking on it. It should be on the top row of mimics.
• Follow the video to make a flowchart that controls one set of lights.

Your flowchart should look like this after following the video:

• You’re halfway to the Gold badge, but at the moment only one set of lights work.
• See if you can work out how to make the second set of lights work with the first by showing a red light when the first shows green, amber at the same time and green when the first shows red.
• Your finished Gold badge work should make your lights look like this video, if they don’t then try again.

• HINT: Click on one of your Output blocks, you can change both sets of lights using one block.
• If you get stuck, remember to ask your teacher for help.
• Screenshot your completed flowchart and upload it to Bourne to Learn.

• Now you are familiar with how Flowol works.
• For your Platinum badge you need to download the PDF file at the link below:

• Follow the instructions and complete the 3 flowcharts it instructs you to complete.
• Then screenshot your flowcharts and upload to the Platinum badge for Week 5.

In this lesson, you…

• Continued to use Flowol to create flowcharts to follow a sequence in an algorithm.

Next lesson, you will…

• Use flowcharts and Flowol to incorporate selection and iteration into your algorithms.

• Finish your sequence for the problem by finishing all steps required to reach a solution.
• Upload your sequence to www.bournetolearn.com, Week 5 Silver for Problem Solving.

• Work out how to make the second set of lights work with the first by showing a red light when the first shows green, amber at the same time and green when the first shows red.
• Then screenshot your completed flowchart and upload it to Bourne to Learn.

• Follow the instructions and complete the 3 flowcharts it instructs you to complete.
• Then screenshot your flowcharts and upload to the Platinum badge for Week 5 on Bourne to Learn.