I designed a classroom activity where students would be asked to create an alphabet and number sequence using their own made-up symbols. This would be an introductory formative task and would lead into more learning about encoding, decoding and binary systems. I created a sample which I have included below:

An activity like this would introduce students to the idea of data representation, in that information can be conveyed using more than just numbers and letters. It coincides with the Year 3/4 content descriptors of;

• Recognise different types of data and explore how the same data can be represented in different ways (ACTDIK008), and
• Plan, create and communicate ideas and information independently and with others, applying agreed ethical and social protocols (ACTDIP013)