Binary Representation of Instructions
in this lesson, students explore how binary can be used to store instructions.
Learning Objectives:
Suggested time: 50 mins
Curriculum Mapping:
Learning Objectives:
- Explain how instructions are coded as bit patterns
- Explain how the computer distinguishes between instructions and data
Suggested time: 50 mins
Curriculum Mapping:
KS3:
- Understand how data of various types (including text, sounds and pictures) can be represented and manipulated digitally, in the form of binary digits
COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATORS:
1a: Demonstrate knowledge of and proficiency in data representation and abstraction
- Effectively use primitive data types
- Demonstrate an understanding of static and dynamic data structures
- Effectively use, manipulate and explain various external data stores: various types (text, images, sound, etc.), various locations (local, server, cloud), etc.
- Effectively use modeling and simulation to solve real-world problems
CSTA K–12 CS Standards:
- 2-DA-07: Represent data using multiple encoding schemes.
- 3A-DA-09: Translate between different bit representations of real-world phenomena, such as characters, numbers, and images.
Lesson 1: Theory (Instructions)
Starter
Start the lesson by loading the Little Man Computer simulation (http://www.atkinson.yorku.ca/~sychen/research/LMC/LMCHome.html) (Note: requires Java) and, as a recap, explain to students that the main function of the CPU is to fetch and execute the instructions. Refresh the students’ memories of how the CPU works by showing them an example set of instructions to add two numbers pre-loaded into the simulator (see below).
Starter
Start the lesson by loading the Little Man Computer simulation (http://www.atkinson.yorku.ca/~sychen/research/LMC/LMCHome.html) (Note: requires Java) and, as a recap, explain to students that the main function of the CPU is to fetch and execute the instructions. Refresh the students’ memories of how the CPU works by showing them an example set of instructions to add two numbers pre-loaded into the simulator (see below).
| Address | Instruction | What it does: |
| 00 | 901 | Input a number and put it in the calculator |
| 01 | 399 | Store the number in the calculator in memory slot 99 |
| 02 | 901 | Input a number and put it in the calculator |
| 03 | 199 | Add the number in memory slot 99 to the number in the calculator |
| 04 | 902 | Output the number which is now in the calculator |
| 05 | 000 | End |
Activity 1:
Give students the 'Representing Instructions' PowerPoint (below) and split the class into groups of 2 or 3.
Give students the 'Representing Instructions' PowerPoint (below) and split the class into groups of 2 or 3.
| representing_instruction.pptx |
Explain to students that their main task is to create a podcast explaining how instructions are interpreted by the computer in binary.
Demonstrate how to create a podcast using GarageBand (Alternatively you could use Audacity (Free). Give each group a blank podcast storyboard (see below) along with an example (below) and explain to the students that they must complete the storyboard and have them approved before creating their podcasts.
Demonstrate how to create a podcast using GarageBand (Alternatively you could use Audacity (Free). Give each group a blank podcast storyboard (see below) along with an example (below) and explain to the students that they must complete the storyboard and have them approved before creating their podcasts.
| podcast_story_board.pdf |
| podcast_storyboard_sample.pdf |
For hints and tips on creating classroom podcasts, click here: http://recap.ltd.uk/podcasting/info/educatortips.php
Activity 2:
Students to record their podcasts.
Tip: For students who do not like recording their voice there are a number of free text-to-speech tools online which allow you to download your text-to-speech sample as an .mp3 / .wav. Here are two of my favourites:
Text To Speech FREE - Text to speech generator free online ( TTS Free ) - TTSFree.com
fromtexttospeech.com - http://www.fromtexttospeech.com
Plenary:
If time allows, play some samples of students’ podcasts to the rest of the class.
Students to record their podcasts.
Tip: For students who do not like recording their voice there are a number of free text-to-speech tools online which allow you to download your text-to-speech sample as an .mp3 / .wav. Here are two of my favourites:
Text To Speech FREE - Text to speech generator free online ( TTS Free ) - TTSFree.com
fromtexttospeech.com - http://www.fromtexttospeech.com
Plenary:
If time allows, play some samples of students’ podcasts to the rest of the class.
Tags: Binary, Instructions, GCSE Theory, Bit, Data, Binary Representation, Binary Representation of Sound, Sound, MP3, WMV, WAV, encoding, Amplitude, Frequency, Pitch, Sample rate, Tags: GCSE, KS4, Theory, Computing Theory, CS Theory, Binary, Binary Representation, binary 2, binary conversion, how to do binary conversion, counting binary, binary number to decimal, binary 101, 8 binary, binary digits, binary digit, meaning of binary
