Computational Thinking in the PYP

Supporting young learners’ development of computational thinking skills begins with algorithmic thinking —the ability to follow a series of ordered steps to solve a problem. For early learners, teachers and parents might consider introducing students to algorithmic thinking using tangible objects, which students could manipulate by following symbols or sounds or basic coding principles (Futschek and Moschitz 2011). For primary years learners with a slightly more developed algorithmic skill, the learning community might consider suitable programming environments such as Tynker, Kodable, Scratch, CodeSpark Academy, Swift Playgrounds and so on.

By applying computational thinking, learners “become not merely tool users but tool builders” (Barr and Stephenson 2011). They also innovate as they use critical and creative thinking skills to combine, adapt to and develop new technologies, as needed, to identify solutions and to create real and virtual artifacts.