What makes up a digital problem

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Date:

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Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. Which is a complete list of what makes up a digital problem?

A A programming language, a laptop, and a deadline

B A user, a need, the data involved, the environment it sits in, and a desired outcome

2. A Year 11 student keeps missing assignment due dates. Who is the user and what is the need?

A User: the student. Need: a reliable way to track due dates

B User: the teacher. Need: a faster laptop

3. A canteen wants to cut queue times. Which item is DATA involved in this digital problem?

A Order details and the time each student waits

B The colour of the canteen walls

4. Which is the best example of an ENVIRONMENT for a digital problem?

A A list of student names in a spreadsheet

B Students using phones on patchy school Wi-Fi

5. Which is a clear DESIRED OUTCOME for a library book-tracking problem?

A Students can see within 5 seconds whether a book is available

B Make the library better

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1User + need		AA broken screen is a hardware repair, not a digital problem. A digital problem needs a user, a need, data, an environment and a desired outcome.
2Desired outcome		BThe result that shows the problem is solved, such as a booking confirmed in under a minute
3The data involved in a digital problem is the information the system must take in, use or store		CThe environment is the setting the system works in (devices, network, place of use), not the solution itself.
4A problem that is not digital cannot be solved by processing data in a computer system		DData: student names, roll marks, absence reasons
5Digital problem = a faulty laptop screen		EWho has the problem and what they must be able to do or get that they cannot do now
6Environment = the app that will be built		FProblem: the school oval is too muddy to use

Definitions

digital problem

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

problem.____ = "Year 11 student"

problem.____ = "track homework due dates"

problem.____ = ["subject", "due date"]

problem._______ = "see tasks due soon"

problem.___________ = "school laptop"

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A USER: Year 11 student

B NEED: Track due dates

C DATA: Canteen menu prices

Question 2

A USER: Cafe customer

B NEED: Order without queuing

C DATA: Menu items, orders

D OUTCOME: Build a mobile app

Question 3

A USER: Live bus tracking app

B NEED: Know when bus arrives

C DATA: Live bus locations

Question 4

A USER: Nurse on a ward

B NEED: Buy more tablets

C ENV: Busy ward, shared tablet

D OUTCOME: Accurate chart record

Question 5

A USER: Farmer

B NEED: Know when to water crops

C ENV: Office with fast fibre

D DATA: Soil moisture readings

Answer Key

What makes up a digital problem

Section A: Quick Questions

B — A user, a need, the data involved, the environment it sits in, and a desired outcome

A — User: the student. Need: a reliable way to track due dates

A — Order details and the time each student waits

B — Students using phones on patchy school Wi-Fi

A — Students can see within 5 seconds whether a book is available

Section B: Match the Pairs

User + need → Who has the problem and what they must be able to do or get that they cannot do now

Desired outcome → The result that shows the problem is solved, such as a booking confirmed in under a minute

The data involved in a digital problem is the information the system must take in, use or store → Data: student names, roll marks, absence reasons

A problem that is not digital cannot be solved by processing data in a computer system → Problem: the school oval is too muddy to use

Digital problem = a faulty laptop screen → A broken screen is a hardware repair, not a digital problem. A digital problem needs a user, a need, data, an environment and a desired outcome.

Environment = the app that will be built → The environment is the setting the system works in (devices, network, place of use), not the solution itself.

Section C: Definitions

digital problem — A problem made up of a user with a need, the data involved, the system or environment it sits in, and a desired outcome that a digital solution could achieve.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

problem.user = "Year 11 student"

problem.need = "track homework due dates"

problem.data = ["subject", "due date"]

problem.outcome = "see tasks due soon"

problem.environment = "school laptop"

Section E: Spot the Error

C — The data in a digital problem must be what the system needs to meet the need. Tracking due dates needs task names and due dates, not canteen menu prices.

D — The desired outcome is the result the user gets, such as an order ready at pickup. Building an app is a solution, not an outcome.

A — The user is the person who has the need, such as a bus commuter. A tracking app is a possible solution, not the user.

B — A need is what the user must be able to do, such as record patient temperatures. Buying tablets is a solution, so line 2 should be NEED: Record patient temps.

C — The environment is where the system has to work. This farmer is on a remote farm with a weak signal, so line 3 should be ENV: Remote farm, weak signal.