Introduction

Unit 5: Week 1: Basic Scripting Concepts and Review

Unit 5: Week 1: Basic Scripting Concepts and Review

Essential Questions

  • How can I make repetitive tasks more bearable?
  • How can I use the technology resources at my disposal to make my job easier and make me more efficient?

Big Ideas

Scripts are short lines of code or code-like statements that allow IT staff to perform routine operations or processes without having to key them in every time. And because IT staff run into similar kinds of needs regardless of where they work, many people make their scripts available to others. They can be copied and used as they are or customized to specific needs.

There are different languages and tools that can interpret scripts. To work in IT Support, you most likely won’t be writing long lines of code, but you may have to find, read and understand, and use scripts.

Connection to Student Lives

Have you ever used block coding? Maybe you had a class or went to an afterschool club where you practiced using block coding with activities from Hour of Code or another coding tool? Or maybe you used programmable robots that had to run an obstacle course or accomplish some other task?

Scripting uses many elements similar to coding or programming, but they usually aren’t as long as codes for software, or a game, or other uses. Scripts are short snippets of code or code-like statements that you can use to automate processes that you have to do over and over. Creating a short script of 5-10 lines that can do something over and over without you even needing to be present can save you lots of time so you can work on other things, maybe like getting back to those programmable robots?

Framing Problem

Use Windows PowerShell to create and run basic scripts.

Cornerstone Assessment

Students work through a script example, making and recording their observations as to how the script operates and what the outcomes are or should be.

DPI Standards

  • NCCTE.2020.II22.04.08 - Identify the basics of scripting.

A+ Standards

TOPIC 18E: Basic Scripting Concepts

1002-4.8 Basics of scripting

Knowledge

  • The difference between a compiled program and a script that is interpreted
    • Examples of compiled language programs, such as Perl, Java™, C, and C++®
    • Examples of general purpose scripting languages, such as Visual Basic®, Python®, and JavaScript®
    • Batch files and PowerShell® in Windows OS and shell scripts in LINUX are also script files
  • File extensions for common scripting languages
  • General characteristics and how to run batch files, Windows PowerShell scripts, a LINUX shell script, VBscript, JavaScript (which is different from Java), and Python scripts
  • Basic scripting constructs, such as
    • Why comments are helpful in scripts and the comment syntax for the script languages listed so far
    • Common environment variables that identify a storage location in the OS command shell
    • How branches and loops operate
  • Basic comparison operators
  • How to compare conditions using logical operators
  • Data types
  • Escape characters and why they are used

Skills

  • Explain how to run batch files, Windows PowerShell scripts, a LINUX shell script, VBscript, JavaScript (which is different from Java), and Python scripts
  • Use basic scripting constructs so you can interpret what a script is intended to do
  • Read comments in a script
  • Use the set command in Windows or the printevnv or env command in LInux  to view and change variables
  • Interpret branching or looping scripts
  • Read or use escape characters in a script

Vocabulary

Basic Scripting Concepts

Script file

Scripting language

  • Interpreter
  • Command interpreter
  • Executed
  • Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

Compiled program

Comment Line

Identifier

  • Stored value: Variable or a Constant
    • Declared variable
    • Data type
    • Routine
    • Undeclared variables

Environment Variable

Branch

Loop

Comparison Operators: ==, !=, <, L, <=, >=

Logical Operators: AND, OR, XOR

Data Types

  • Integers
  • Floating point numbers
  • Boolean values
  • Characters
  • Strings
    • Escape character

Weekly Map

Monday

Introduction to problem: Reading and Creating Basic Scripts

Online Pre-assessment  (available for student practice, as well)

Tuesday

Review content resources with whole group: Topic 18E: Basic Scripting Concepts

Small group and independent exploration of resources

Wednesday

Hands-on exploration with IT professionals: 18-7: Using Windows PowerShell

Activity 18-6: Discussing Scripting

Thursday

Hands-on exploration with IT professionals: 18-7: Using Windows PowerShell

Optional Review Time

Friday

Progress check with individuals or whole whole group

Online post-assessment

Optional Review Time

Lesson Ideas

Using examples of scripts, many of which can be found online, have students practice determining the outcome of the script by exploring simple script syntax and features. As they compare short scripts in different languages, have them identify basic elements such as comments, variables and constants, branches and loops, and operators. Students are not going to become fluent programmers in a few days; however, they can recognize common scripting elements and determine how they are structured. They can be encouraged to find their own examples of scripts, perhaps those they can test in Windows PowerShell.

Potential Resources

The Official CompTIA A+ Core 1 & Core 2 Instructor Guide for Exams 220-1001 and 220-1002

  • Topic 18E: Basic Scripting Concepts (pp. 1032-1040)
    • Activity 18-6: Discussing Scripting (p. 1041)
    • Activity 18-7: Using Windows PowerShell (pp. 1042-1047)

ITProTV

Professor Messer at ProfessorMesser.com and YouTube offers numerous free videos of various lengths for many of the topics for the CompTIA 220-1001 A+ Exam. They are easy to understand, narrated videos with visuals. If you are teaching a CompTIA course, the site notes “You’re welcome to use them as much as you’d like, provided you embed the videos with the associated YouTube link or link directly to my site. Please click the “Contact Us” link at the top of our web page and let me know how you’re using them.”

Entry Level I.T. Training from Technology Gee

Microsoft Support

Other Articles and Resources:

How to create and run a PowerShell script file on Windows 10 by Mauro Huculak for Windows Central (contains advertisements)