Do you know how to make a sandwich? More importantly do you know how to write down a set of precise, detailed instructions that could tell someone else how to make a sandwich? I’m sure you think you could, but after watching this video below you might feel less sure.
This video has been used in some classrooms as a fun way of talking about how precise and correct an algorithm needs to be in order to run a program correctly. Josh, the dad in the video, asks his children (Johnna and Evan) to write out some instructions to make a peanut butter and jelly (jam) sandwich. They all speak the same language (English) so the instructions don’t have to be converted into machine language for the computer (dad) to run the program and make the sandwich, but as you’ll soon see, it’s harder than his children think. They do get there in the end though… kind of.
See if you can write your own set of instructions and then get someone to follow them exactly.
Incidentally, the image used to illustrate this article has been “…assessed under the valued image criteria and is considered the most valued image on Commons within the scope: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. You can see its nomination here.” Only the best peanut pics on this site! You can see all the images that didn’t win here.
Watch …
- Make a sandwich [EXTERNAL]
Part of a series of ‘whimsical fun in computing’ to celebrate April Fool’s (all month long!).
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