**Lesson Plan: Introduction to BASIC Programming Language**
**Subject:** Information Communication Technology (ICT)
**Grade Level:** Senior Secondary 1
**Duration:** 80 minutes
**Lesson Topic:** Introduction to BASIC Programming Language
**Objectives:**
1. Students will understand what BASIC programming language is.
2. Students will learn the history and evolution of BASIC.
3. Students will grasp the syntax and basic concepts of BASIC.
4. Students will write and execute simple BASIC programs.
**Materials Needed:**
1. Computers with BASIC programming environment installed (e.g., FreeBASIC, QBASIC)
2. Projector and screen for demonstration
3. Whiteboard and markers
4. Handouts with sample BASIC programs
5. Internet access (optional, for additional resources)
---
**Lesson Outline:**
**1. Introduction (10 minutes)**
- Greet students and introduce the topic.
- Briefly discuss the importance of learning programming languages.
- Explain why BASIC is a good starting language:
- Simple syntax
- Historical importance
- Foundation for understanding other programming languages
**2. History of BASIC (10 minutes)**
- Provide a brief history:
- Developed in the mid-1960s by John G. Kemeny and Thomas E. Kurtz at Dartmouth College.
- Early aim: To make programming accessible to students and beginners.
- Discuss the evolution from Dartmouth BASIC to modern variations (e.g., QBASIC, FreeBASIC).
- Mention notable uses of BASIC in the early days of personal computing.
**3. Basic Concepts and Syntax of BASIC (15 minutes)**
- Introduce basic elements of the language:
- Keywords, variables, constants, data types.
- Explain simple concepts with examples:
- PRINT statement for output.
- LET statement for variable assignment.
- INPUT statement for user input.
- Demonstrate on the projector:
```BASIC
PRINT "Hello, world!"
LET A = 5
PRINT "The value of A is"; A
INPUT "Enter your name: ", userName$
PRINT "Hello, "; userName$
```
**4. Hands-on Practice (20 minutes)**
- Guide students to write simple programs on their computers:
- A program to add two numbers.
- A program to display a message based on user input.
- Walk around to assist students and answer questions.
- Example:
```BASIC
INPUT "Enter first number: ", num1
INPUT "Enter second number: ", num2
LET sum = num1 + num2
PRINT "The sum is"; sum
```
**5. Debugging and Common Errors (10 minutes)**
- Discuss typical errors students might encounter:
- Syntax errors
- Logical errors
- Runtime errors
- Show how to read and understand error messages.
- Demonstrate debugging techniques.
**6. Recap and Q&A (10 minutes)**
- Summarize key points from the lesson.
- Open the floor for questions and clarifications.
- Encourage students to share any insights or difficulties they encountered.
**7. Assignment (5 minutes)**
- Hand out a worksheet with additional BASIC problems to solve.
- Inform students when the assignment is due and how it will be graded.
- Encourage students to explore more BASIC resources online.
**Conclusion:**
- Remind students about the next class topic.
- Encourage students to practice programming regularly for fluency.
- Thank students for their participation and enthusiasm.
---
**Assessment:**
- Formative: Observing students during hands-on practice and Q&A.
- Summative: Homework assignment to be submitted and graded.
**Homework Assignment:**
- Write a BASIC program that asks for the user's age and calculates the year they were born.
- Write a BASIC program that takes an input and prints it in reverse order.
**Additional Resources:**
- Online tutorials and documentation for BASIC programming.
- Books: "Programming in BASIC" by various authors.
- Websites with free compilers and interactive environments.