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This Battleships—Searching Algorithms activity also includes:
- Computer Science Unplugged: Binary Search – Divide and Conquer
- Game
- Activity
- Printable
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How does a computer perform a search in order to find data? The lesson begins with a demonstration on finding one number out of 15. Pairs then play three games of Battleship by using different search techniques. The lesson plan finishes with a section to tie the games to the ways a computer searches for data.
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Concepts
Instructional Ideas
- Challenge the class to think of different ways to search for things and make a list
- Try to determine what kind of search algorithm computers use when doing specific types of searches, such as searching for a word in a document or searching for a data file in a data base
Classroom Considerations
- The class should know something about check digits in order to understand how a computer uses hashings to search
Pros
- The exercise actively involves the pupils in the learning
- Resource includes additional game pages
Cons
- There is no assessment to see if the pupils understood the concept