Activity 1.2.1 Flowcharting Introduction

Activity 1.2.1 Flowcharting

Introduction

Have you ever made an unconscious decision? When the lunch bell rings and you are dismissed from class, you decide whether you will race to the cafeteria or stay behind and do some extra work. That decision can be unconscious if you make it without truly contemplating your options. It can also be conscious if you weigh factors before making a decision. Most machines do not have the ability to think like humans unless they are programmed in advance. Flowcharts are an excellent tool to verify a logical sequence placed in a machine’s storage.

In this activity you will construct a basic flowchart to perform a task. This is a form of communicating your idea to others. As in any language, you must use the correct symbols so that others can interpret your message.

Equipment

· Paper

· Pencil

· Activity 1.2.1a Flowchart Tutorial if needed

· Flowchart stencils (optional)

· Computer with word processor can be used in place of stencils

Procedure

1. Create a flowchart that portrays the following:

a. Input a radius in inches.

b. Determine the volume of a sphere with this radius.

c. If the volume is less than 33.5 in.3, then display the sphere’s volume.

d. If the volume is greater than or equal to 33.5 in.3, then display the message “Oversized. Enter radius less than _____” where the blank is the radius of a sphere with a volume less than 33.5 in.3. Return to the input component.

Conclusion

1. What processes in your everyday life can be described using a flowchart?

2. What could you do in advance of creating a flowcharting to make the task easier?

Project Lead The Way, Inc.

CIM – Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Activity 1.2.1 – Flowcharting – Page 1