Robot Teacher

Can you give perfect instructions?

Year 7 Computer Science — Algorithms

The Problem

Teacher says: "Draw a house."

Robot draws... something. Maybe not what you imagined.

Teacher says: "Make it bigger. Add a door. Put a window somewhere."

What went wrong?

The robot followed the instructions exactly. The problem was the instructions.

The Key Idea

An algorithm is a precise, step-by-step set of instructions.

Computers follow them EXACTLY — no guessing, no common sense, no interpretation.

Every word matters. Every missing word matters too.

Your Challenge

Write instructions for your robot to draw:

A square with 5 cm sides,
with a triangle sitting on top.
The triangle's base = the top side of the square.

Words only — no diagrams
Say exactly where to start, which direction, how far
Your partner will follow your words EXACTLY

SWAP!

You are now a ROBOT

Follow your partner's instructions EXACTLY
Do not guess what they meant
Do not ask for help
If an instruction is unclear — do your best literal interpretation

Writer: watch silently. No hints!

Debug Time

Writer: look at what was drawn. What went wrong?
Find the specific step that caused the problem
Rewrite that step to be more precise
Add any missing steps

Then SWAP again and test the revised instructions.

Discussion

What made your instructions fail the first time?
What word or phrase caused the most confusion?
What does precise mean?
What would happen if a phone app had ambiguous code?
Can a computer ever "guess" what you mean?

Key Takeaway

An algorithm is a precise, ordered set of instructions.

Computers follow them exactly — every single time.

No guessing. No common sense. No mercy for ambiguity.