3.4.1 Abstraction and automation

3.4.1.1 Problem-solving

Be able to develop solutions to simple logic problems.

Be able to check solutions to simple logic problems.

3.4.1.2 Following and writing algorithms

Understand the term algorithm. A sequence of steps that can be followed to complete a task and that always terminates.

Be able to express the solution to a simple problem as an algorithm using pseudo-code, with the standard constructs:

• sequence

•assignment

• selection

• iteration.

Be able to hand-trace algorithms.

Be able to convert an algorithm from pseudocode into high level language program code.

Be able to articulate how a program works, arguing for its correctness and its efficiency using logical reasoning, test data and user feedback.

3.4.1.3 Abstraction

Be familiar with the concept of abstraction as

used in computations and know that:

• representational abstraction is a representation arrived at by removing unnecessary details

• abstraction by generalisation or categorisation is a grouping by common characteristics to arrive at a hierarchical relationship of the 'is a kind of' type.

3.4.1.4 Information hiding

Be familiar with the process of hiding all details of an object that do not contribute to its essential characteristics.

3.4.1.5 Procedural abstraction

Know that procedural abstraction represents a computational method.

3.4.1.6 Functional abstraction

Know that for functional abstraction the particular computation method is hidden.

3.4.1.7 Data abstraction

Know that details of how data are actually represented are hidden, allowing new kinds of data objects to be constructed from previously defined types of data objects.

3.4.1.8 Problem abstraction/reduction

Know that details are removed until the problem is represented in a way that is possible to solve because the problem reduces to one that has already been solved.

3.4.1.9 Decomposition

Know that procedural decomposition means breaking a problem into a number of sub-problems, so that each sub-problem accomplishes an identifiable task, which might itself be further subdivided

3.4.1.10 Composition

Know how to build a composition abstraction by combining procedures to form compound procedures.

Know how to build data abstractions by combining data objects to form compound data, for example tree data structure.

3.4.1.11 Automation

Understand that automation requires putting models (abstraction of real world objects/ phenomena) into action to solve problems. This is achieved by:

• creating algorithms

• implementing the algorithms in program code

(instructions)

• implementing the models in data structures

• executing the code.

	Created by Charlie Turner over 7 years ago

AS level Computer Science (Abstraction and Automation) Note on Abstraction and Automation Specification Reference, created by Charlie Turner on 20/11/2016.