A small programming task is an interesting opportunity to apply Computational Thinking in which a computer is integrated to carry out the solution. For instance, the program code for measuring pH value – as shown in the previous task – can be expanded to include “beverage identification”. Based on the pH values that were previously recorded, the Arduino board should now identify the drink based on a measured pH value. In the process, the different elements of the problem-solving process come into play:
Understanding the problem
The respective measured values vary within a specific range. Therefore, the program to be created must not respond to only a single value, but it must cover a range of values. For this purpose, several measured values must be collected.
Abstracting
The obtained measurement data are looked at more closely. “Outliers” can be excluded.
Decomposing
The beverages to be identified are determined and the associated pH value ranges are identified.
Developing an algorithmic solution
Depending on the students’ programming skills, their considerations can first be illustrated, for example, using a flowchart or implemented directly in the Arduino programming software. The pattern of the conditional statements will become clear.
Testing and transferring
The developed solution can now be checked using a beverage unknown to the test person.