Computational Thinking

Computational Thinking is:

the thought processes involved in formulating problems and their solutions so that the solutions are in a form that can be effectively carried out by an information-processing agent.

- Cuny, Snyder, Wing 2010

Informally, computational thinking describes the mental activity in formulating a problem to admit a computational solution. The solution can be carried out by a human or a machine or, more generally, by combinations of humans and machines.”

• Wing 2010

The “four pillars” of Computational Thinking

Decomposition

• Breaking a problem down into smaller, more manageable pieces: Remembering phone numbers; Reading words; Performing arithmetic operations
• turn larger puzzles into small puzzles
• “The ability to break down a task {or problem} into minute details so that we can clearly explain a process to another person or to a computer, or even to just write notes for ourselves.”

  Pattern Matching (Pattern Recognition)

• Finding similarities between items as a way of gaining information
• find similarities between obstacles
• “The ability to notice similarities or common differences that will help us make predictions or lead us to shortcuts.”

  Abstraction (Pattern Generalization)

• Ignoring certain details in order to come up with a solution that works for a more general problem
• repurpose a previous solution with new details by abstracting out differences
• “The ability to filter out information that is not necessary to solve a certain type of problem and generalize the information that is necessary.”

  Automating with Algorithms (Algorithm Design)

• Controlling a process by automatic means, executing tasks using well-defined instructions
• “The ability to develop a step-by-step strategy for solving a problem.”

Computational Thinking

1. Digital
   • Code.org
2. Unplugged
   • CS Unplugged
   • Code.org Unplugged 3 - Graph Paper Programming; Main Goal: Help students understand how “coding” works. Sample Drawings/Algorithms Kit; Programming Instructions Card; Large grid graph paper; Markers, pens, or pencils (two or three colors)

Notes, Resources and Links

• Computational Thinking - GDrive
• Computational Thinking - GitHub
• computational-thinking - GFolder
• ADST-Content-CompThink - GFolder
• 2016-2017 Elementary Inquiry
• Computational Thinking CT - 2016-2017 Elementary Inquiry - Notes 20170227
• Introduction to Computational Thinking

• https://www.google.ca/search?q=describes+the+mental+activity+in+formulating+a+problem+to+admit+a+computational+solution.+The+solution+can+be+carried+out+by+a+human+or+a+machine+or%2C+more+generally%2C+by+combinations+of+humans+and+machines&rlz=1C1CHBF_enCA700CA700&oq=describes+the+mental+activity+in+formulating+a+problem+to+admit+a+computational+solution.++The+solution+can+be+carried+out+by+a+human+or+a+machine+or%2C+more+generally%2C+by+combinations+of+humans+and+machines&aqs=chrome..69i57&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

  describes the mental activity in formulating a problem to admit a computational solution. The solution can be carried out by a human or a machine or, more generally, by combinations of humans and machines - Google Search

• https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~CompThink/resources/TheLinkWing.pdf

  TheLinkWing.pdf

• https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://web.media.mit.edu/~kbrennan/files/Brennan_Resnick_AERA2012_CT.pdf

  Brennan_Resnick_AERA2012_CT.pdf

• https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=https://www.ijircce.com/upload/2015/november/104_28_A_Conceptual.pdf

  104_28_A_Conceptual.pdf

• https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~15110-s13/Wing06-ct.pdf

  Wing06-ct.pdf