← Years 5–6 Creating Digital Solutions

Functional requirements

Starts a functional requirement: one thing a digital solution must do. It says what the solution does, not how, and covers one action. Example: The solution must show the score.

Part of: 5-6 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Creating Digital Solutions — Module 4, VCE Applied Computing - U1O1 - Data analysis — Module 64, VCE Software Development - U3O1 - Programming — Module 1, VCE Software Development - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 28, VCE Data Analytics - U3O1 - Data Analytics — Module 2, VCE Data Analytics - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 19, 7-8 Digital Technologies: Defining and decomposing problems — Module 8, VCE Applied Computing U1O2 Programming: Requirements and design tools — Module 1, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 1 — Understanding Digital Problems — Module 38, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 1 — Programmed Solutions — Module 1, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2 — Data-Driven Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 30, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2 — Data and Programming Techniques — Module 5, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 3 — Real-World Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 15, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 4 — Complex Digital Data Exchange Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 9, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Pseudocode and Algorithm Design — Module 5

Understanding Functional requirements in Years 5–6 Creating Digital Solutions

What it does: It names the action (play a sound) and leaves out how to build it, such as which blocks to use. The need becomes one clear action the solution must do, written as 'The solution must...'. A requirement names the action. How it gets built (boxes, loops, code) is decided later when designing. Each requirement is one thing the solution must do. Split a long one into three separate requirements. 'Save' and 'send' are two different actions, so they need two requirements. Marking a student absent is an action the solution does, so you can test it. 'Professional' is too vague.

Common mistakes: A functional requirement must start with 'The solution must' and name one action. It should be 'The solution must log minutes'. This says how to build it, not what the solution does. A requirement states the action, like 'The solution must show score'.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 1–10) and word search (Modules 1–20).

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Learning
Duo
Which one is a functional requirement for a quiz app?
The solution must show the score at the end.The quiz should be fun.
Matches
The solution must show the score and play a sound and save the name.
↓
It has three actions in one requirement. Each requirement should cover only one action.
Applying
Meanings
Term
The solution must
Meaning
Starts a functional requirement: one thing a digital solution must do. It says what the solution does, not how, and covers one action. Example: The solution must show the score.
Practice
The solution must show each question.
Testing
Gaps
The must show the score.
Check Answer
Spots
1Need: Track reading minutes
2Log the minutes somehow

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Quick Questions

1. Which one is a functional requirement for a quiz app?
A. The solution must show the score at the end. ✓
B. The quiz should be fun.
A functional requirement says one thing the solution must do. 'Fun' is a feeling, not an action you can check.
2. Which sentence starts a functional requirement the right way?
A. The solution must play a sound when the player wins. ✓
B. The solution is nice and colourful.
Functional requirements use 'The solution must...' followed by an action the solution does.
3. A requirement says what the solution does. Which one says WHAT, not HOW?
A. The solution must let the user pick a name. ✓
B. The solution must use a blue box with a for loop to pick a name.
A requirement names the action. How it gets built (boxes, loops, code) is decided later when designing.
4. Which requirement covers only ONE action?
A. The solution must add a new task, delete it and print the list.
B. The solution must add a new task. ✓
Each requirement is one thing the solution must do. Split a long one into three separate requirements.
5. A student says: 'I need to know when my bus is coming.' Which is the best requirement made from this user need?
A. The solution must be about buses.
B. The solution must show the time of the next bus. ✓
To turn a user need into a requirement, ask: what must the solution do so this need is met? Then write it as 'The solution must...'

Match the Pairs

The solution must show the score. → A functional requirement: it says one thing the solution must do.
The solution must let the user pick a colour. → A functional requirement about one action the user can do.
A requirement says WHAT the solution does, not HOW it does it. → The solution must play a sound when time is up.
Turning the user need 'I need to remember my homework' into a requirement. → The solution must save a list of homework tasks.
The solution must show the score and play a sound and save the name. → It has three actions in one requirement. Each requirement should cover only one action.
The solution must use a forever block to move the sprite. → It says HOW to build the solution (a forever block) instead of WHAT the solution must do.

Key Term

The solution must
Starts a functional requirement: one thing a digital solution must do. It says what the solution does, not how, and covers one action. Example: The solution must show the score.

Fill in the Blanks

1. The solution must show the score.
Hint: Type the word for the digital thing that the requirement describes.
2. The solution must play a sound when I win.
Hint: Type the word that shows the solution is required to do this.
3. The solution must save the player's name.
Hint: Type the three opening words that start every functional requirement.
4. Need: I want to know how I am doing. The solution must show the score.
Hint: Type the action word that says what the solution does to meet the need.
5. A requirement covers one action only.
Hint: Type the number of actions that each requirement should cover.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Need: Track reading minutes
B Log the minutes somehow
C The solution must show total
Line B — A functional requirement must start with 'The solution must' and name one action. It should be 'The solution must log minutes'.
Question 2
A Need: Quiz game for my class
B The solution must show a quiz
C The solution must mark answers
D The solution must use a loop
Line D — This says how to build it, not what the solution does. A requirement states the action, like 'The solution must show score'.
Question 3
A Need: A to-do list for Sam
B The solution must add a task
C The solution must add and sort
D The solution must show tasks
Line C — This requirement has two actions, add and sort. Each requirement should cover one action, so it should be 'The solution must sort tasks'.
Question 4
A Need: Weather app for Year 5
B The solution must show temp
C The solution must be awesome
Line C — 'Be awesome' is not an action that can be checked. A functional requirement names one thing the solution does, like 'The solution must show wind'.
Question 5
A The solution will start timer
B The solution must stop timer
C The solution must show time
Line A — A functional requirement starts with 'The solution must', not 'will'. It should be 'The solution must start timer'.

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