Decomposition

Self study resources

• • Barr, V. and Stephenson, C. (2011) Bringing Computational Thinking to K-12. ACM Inroads 2:1 48-54

  • Wing, J. (2006). Computational thinking. Communications of the ACM, 49:3 33-35

  • Wing, J. (2008) Computational thinking and thinking about computing. Philos Transact A Math Phys Eng Sci. 2008 October 28; 366(1881): 3717–3725.

  • How to make a simple calculator. Have taught this to low ability year 5 - extension for year 4. Great for introduction to algebra as well as variables. 

• Scratch automated Maths Quiz. Have taught this with year 6 pupils who have already studied the calculator lesson. The two variables are added and the result stored in another variable. The user answer is compared to total variable. The score is recorded in a third variable. The children designed it on the Nintino ds game suitable for year 2 children. 

• Creating a shape calculator in Scratch where the number of repetitions is dependent on the number of sides on a shape. 

• Rec.Puzzles archive - a treasure trove of problems and puzzles on which trainees can hone their problem solving skills, including decomposition.

• 140 Google Interview questions. Not all of these involve problem solving, but decomposition would be an effective strategy for at least some of those which do.

Resources for lectures or group study

• • Jeanette Wing's slides on Computational Thinking and Thinking about Computing. See also this recording from 2009. 

  • Computing A simple Prezi explanation of the four elements of computer science (decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction and algorithm design).

Resources for use with pupils

• • Before pupils create something in Scratch it can be useful to look at a working example and decompose what is happening. Spider Game on the Scratch website is here. Use right and left arrows to steer the spider. Spider Game planning is here.

  • Children begin by working in small groups to develop a dance routine and record it on a flip cam. They break down the dance routine into parts and develop flow charts for each part.Pupils then edit screen gabs of them in different dance positions, whilst performing dance routine then import into Scratch costumes. Finally pupils use Selection and repetition to reconstruct the dance routine in scratch. Have taught this to years 4 - 6. Think it would work with year 3 though.

  • Thinking Myself: Computational Thinking in K-12 A peek into computational thinking through a series of lessons and games for children in grades K-12 defining the terms decompose, patterns, abstraction, algorithms and variables through examples and interactions.