Design Techniques and Wireframes
Choose suitable data, read and create structure diagrams, flowcharts or pseudocode, and design efficient interfaces with wireframes.
How to study National 5 Computing Science
Move from functional requirements to designs and implementation, trace data and code carefully, and support testing and evaluation with evidence.
Core concepts
Concept 1
A software design identifies the data types and structures needed by the problem.
Exam cue: Use the design technique named by the task, or clearly identify a valid technique when choice is allowed.
Concept 2
Structure diagrams show decomposition, flowcharts show control flow, and pseudocode expresses language-independent logic.
Exam cue: Trace every required input, process and output into the design.
Concept 3
A wireframe communicates interface input, output, layout and control choices.
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Writing unexplained program code when a design technique is requested.
Guardrail: Check option route, data type, valid boundary, loop condition, array index, identifier and expected output before committing to the response.
Adding interface controls that do not match the required data or user task.
Guardrail: Check option route, data type, valid boundary, loop condition, array index, identifier and expected output before committing to the response.
Memory anchors
Structure diagram
A hierarchy that decomposes the problem or solution into smaller steps.
Flowchart
A diagram that uses standard symbols and arrows to show algorithm control flow.
Pseudocode
A structured, language-independent description of algorithm logic.
Efficient design
A design avoids unnecessary repeated work or conditions while meeting the requirement.
Wireframe input
Show how the user supplies each required item of data.
Wireframe output
Show how required results, messages and feedback appear.
Checkpoint rule
Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.
Knowledge Check (after reading)
Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.
Check-up Questions
A parking program accepts hours and a discount flag. Which data item is Boolean?
Which requirement includes both a process and an output?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Continue learning
Move forward only after this module is stable.
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