Lesson Plan

• Describe what an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is and its purpose.
• Identify and explain at least five common functions provided by an IDE.
• Compare the advantages of using an IDE versus a simple text editor.
• Demonstrate a typical IDE workflow by performing a simple coding task.
• Evaluate how IDE features support debugging and version control.

• Projector and screen
• Computers with internet access
• Installed IDE (e.g., Visual Studio Code)
• Handout summarising IDE functions and comparison table
• Sample code files for the demo
• Whiteboard and markers

Start with a quick poll: Who has written code using only a basic text editor? Review common frustrations such as manual compilation and limited debugging. Explain that by the end of the lesson students will be able to list the core functions of an IDE and see how these features address those challenges.

1. Do‑now (5’) – Students jot down challenges they face when coding without an IDE; share a few examples.
2. Mini‑lecture (10’) – Define an IDE and present its common functions using slides.
3. Interactive demo (15’) – Instructor creates a new project in VS Code, highlighting syntax highlighting, auto‑completion, built‑in terminal, and debugger.
4. Guided practice (15’) – Learners follow a worksheet to write, run, and debug a simple program, setting breakpoints and inspecting variables.
5. Comparison activity (10’) – In pairs, students complete a Venn diagram contrasting IDE features with a simple text editor.
6. Exit ticket (5’) – Each student writes one IDE feature that would most improve their own coding workflow.

Recap that IDEs integrate editing, building, debugging, and version‑control tools, which streamlines development and reduces errors. Collect the exit tickets to gauge understanding, and assign homework: install an IDE of choice, explore its refactoring utilities, and submit a screenshot of a refactored code snippet for the next class.