KPRIDE Python Programming Pedagogy

KPRIDE

Keywords

The code snippet below contains each of these key python programming concepts. Can you identify which line number they're on?

Being able to understand and use the right words to describe the code you're looking at helps you know what to search for and how to ask for help when you're writing your own code

Progress:

arithmetic operator: symbol or characters used to perform a mathematical process on input data

assignment: setting the value of a variable

boolean: True or False

built-in subprogram: a type of pre-existing subprogram which you can use in python without having to import any modules or defining it yourself (e.g. input / print)

character: individual symbol, letter or digit that forms part of a string

comments: code is easier to read when each line or section of code is described in a way that helps other programmers understand what it does

constant: named value which is set once but remains the same whilst the program runs

indentation: code is easier to read when tabs or spaces are used to move blocks of code across to the right. This is necessary in python but optional in other programming languages

integer: a whole number

iteration: using FOR to loop through each value in a data structure (e.g. list or string)

library subprogram: a type of pre-existing subprogram which you can use in python if you import a module (e.g. random or turtle)

list: data structure which can grow or shrink to store as many values as required, keeping them in order

parameter: value passed into a subprogram which then behaves like a local variable for the scope of that subprogram

read: loading data from a file

real: a number with a decimal point

relational operator: symbol or characters which compare two values giving the result as a boolean True or False

selection: using if to decide what to run next based on a boolean expression

string: data structure which stores multiple characters in order

subprogram call: part of the code which causes a subprogram to actually run

variable: named memory location which can store a value which can change when the program runs

whitespace: code is easier to read when blank lines are used to break the code into logical paragraphs

write: saving data to a file, overwriting what's already there

Score: 0%

1/22: arithmetic operator

symbol or characters used to perform a mathematical process on input data

Type in a line number where you can see this keyword in the python code then press check, or click on a line number

Line number:

 
# ------------------------------------------------------------
# Modules
# ------------------------------------------------------------
import turtle
 
# ------------------------------------------------------------
# Constants
# ------------------------------------------------------------
FILENAME = "ukraine.txt"
OFFSET_X = -140
OFFSET_Y = 100
SCALE_X = 1.4
SCALE_Y = 1.8
 
# ------------------------------------------------------------
# Global variables
# ------------------------------------------------------------
f = None
lines = []
line = ""
x = 0
y = 0
t = None
first_point = True
 
# ------------------------------------------------------------
# Main program
# ------------------------------------------------------------
 
# open the file
f = open(FILENAME)
lines = f.read().split("\n")
f.close()
 
first_point = True
t = turtle.Turtle()
 
# plot each point
for line in lines:
  
  # extract x and y coordinates
  if "," in line:
    x,y = line.split(",")
    x = int(x) + OFFSET_X
    y = int(y) + OFFSET_Y
    x *= SCALE_X
    y *= SCALE_Y
    t.goto(x,y)
    
    # treat the first point differently so we can start filling in the shape
    if first_point:
      t.pendown()
      t.begin_fill()
      first_point = False
  
  # treat an empty line differently so we can fill in a shape
  elif line == "":
    t.end_fill()
  
  # assume anything else is the colour to draw a shape
  else:
    t.color(line)
    t.penup()
    first_point = True
    
# draw the text
t.penup()
t.goto(0, 50)
t.write("We stand with", font=("Arial", 20), align="center")
t.goto(0,0)
t.color("#005bbc")
t.write("Ukraine", font=("Arial", 20), align="center")
 
# Challenges:
# 1) Draw a black rectangle behind the image
# 2) Make the text bigger and change the font
# 3) Adjust the offset and scale so that the image is in the middle of the screen

Predict

What do you think this program will output? What values do you think each variable will hold?

 
# ------------------------------------------------------------
# Modules
# ------------------------------------------------------------
import turtle
 
# ------------------------------------------------------------
# Constants
# ------------------------------------------------------------
FILENAME = "ukraine.txt"
OFFSET_X = -140
OFFSET_Y = 100
SCALE_X = 1.4
SCALE_Y = 1.8
 
# ------------------------------------------------------------
# Global variables
# ------------------------------------------------------------
f = None
lines = []
line = ""
x = 0
y = 0
t = None
first_point = True
 
# ------------------------------------------------------------
# Main program
# ------------------------------------------------------------
 
# open the file
f = open(FILENAME)
lines = f.read().split("\n")
f.close()
 
first_point = True
t = turtle.Turtle()
 
# plot each point
for line in lines:
  
  # extract x and y coordinates
  if "," in line:
    x,y = line.split(",")
    x = int(x) + OFFSET_X
    y = int(y) + OFFSET_Y
    x *= SCALE_X
    y *= SCALE_Y
    t.goto(x,y)
    
    # treat the first point differently so we can start filling in the shape
    if first_point:
      t.pendown()
      t.begin_fill()
      first_point = False
  
  # treat an empty line differently so we can fill in a shape
  elif line == "":
    t.end_fill()
  
  # assume anything else is the colour to draw a shape
  else:
    t.color(line)
    t.penup()
    first_point = True
    
# draw the text
t.penup()
t.goto(0, 50)
t.write("We stand with", font=("Arial", 20), align="center")
t.goto(0,0)
t.color("#005bbc")
t.write("Ukraine", font=("Arial", 20), align="center")
 
# Challenges:
# 1) Draw a black rectangle behind the image
# 2) Make the text bigger and change the font
# 3) Adjust the offset and scale so that the image is in the middle of the screen

My predictions:

Write each prediction of what the program will output.

You can also predict variable values e.g. a = 10

Predict / Run

See how accurate your predictions were. Did the code behave as you expected?

Investigate

Experiment by editing the code.

Ideas:

Try the program with different input data
Run it line by line (Ctrl and full stop) to see how variables change.
Read through the comments and see if there are any challenges to complete
Change the values of some variables or constants and see how that affects the program
Is there any input data that can crash the program?
Change the logic of the program to make it do something different
Add comments explaining what you've discovered

Debug

This code has been sabotaged with some common mistakes. Can you find and fix them all?

Click on the button to add 5 more errors to the code

Extend

Use your creativity along with what you've learned to create your own python project.

You get more points for each python skill you use from the keywords section

Click on "tests" to see a description of which python skills to aim for and keep track of which ones you've already used