Programming I

Programming logic, in plain language, before the syntax.

The essence of a computer program is the logic that turns your instructions, human control inputs, and sensor inputs into robot motions. That logic needs to be coded in a particular syntax called a programming language in order for the computer to understand it. In this introductory Tech Crest you will learn about programming and programming logic — it is important to understand this logic before trying to write real code.

Last updated

April 30, 2026

Requirements

9 items

Sections

3

Target time

~3 hours

For completion

Student / Scout name

Team number / Unit

Trainer / Leader name

Start date

The process

Identify a trainer with your coach's approval and confirm their availability.
Meet with your trainer. Discuss your plan of work and timeline.
Complete the requirements at your own pace. Check off items as you go.
When you have satisfied all requirements, present yourself for review.
Trainer verifies completion and submits the Tech Crest Completion Form.

Scan to Submit

Tech Crest Completion Form

When all requirements are satisfied, trainers use this form to officially record the completion and provide feedback.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdAa-BEWEFTD-7Xy7xBCb7xANrmGfLe8Cgs4L2bm5YexYSiRQ/viewform

Disclaimer

Tech Crests™ are developed by Scouting Robotics, Inc in partnership with FIRST Robotics Competition Team 321, the RoboLancers. Copyright is assigned to Scouting Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved. This document is provided freely for public review. Teams may implement the Tech Crests™ system if they agree to use the provided completion form to provide usage tracking data and feedback. Tech Crests™ is a registered trademark of Scouting Robotics, Inc.

Scouting Robotics scoutingrobotics.org Page 1

Programming I

Foundations

4 requirements

1. Discuss prevention for the types of injuries that could occur during programming activities, including repetitive stress injuries and eyestrain.

Notes

Trainer initials
2. Give a brief history of programming, including at least three milestones related to the advancement or development of programming.

Notes

Trainer initials
3. Explain programming languages:
3a. Explain in your own words: What is a programming language?

Notes

Trainer initials
3b. Create a list of 3 popular programming languages in use today and describe what makes each language unique.

Notes

Trainer initials

Scouting Robotics · Programming I Section: Foundations Page 2

Programming I

Program Elements

2 requirements

4. Explain data types in programming. Identify 3 data types that a program might store and give 2 examples of values for each.

Notes

Trainer initials
5. In your own words, define the following programming terms and explain scenarios when you would use each of them: variable, comment, print statement, if statement, loop.

Notes

Trainer initials

Scouting Robotics · Programming I Section: Program Elements Page 3

Programming I

Pseudocode

3 requirements

ℹ For the following exercises, write pseudocode — a plain English description of program logic that can be translated into the specific syntax of a programming language.

6. Write pseudocode to define two variables, num1 and num2, and assign them any integer values. Then print the sum of the two variables.

Notes

Trainer initials
7. Write pseudocode to print the even numbers from 1 to 100.

Notes

Trainer initials
8. Write pseudocode to print the numbers from 1 to 100. For multiples of three print "Fizz" instead of the number; for multiples of five print "Buzz"; for multiples of both three and five print "FizzBuzz".

Notes

Trainer initials

Student signature

Date: ____________

Trainer signature

Date: ____________

Next step — Trainer action required

After signing, the trainer submits the Tech Crest Completion Form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdAa-BEWEFTD-7Xy7xBCb7xANrmGfLe8Cgs4L2bm5YexYSiRQ/viewform to record this completion and provide usage feedback.

Scouting Robotics · Programming I Section: Pseudocode Page 4