Computational Thinking
Computational Thinking is a key idea in the Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies explore resources resources via the above link.
Computational thinking is both central to computer science and widely applicable throughout education and the workforce. Computational thinking, which is complementary to coding and computer science, provides students a necessary skillset for solving complex problems and is relevant throughout K-12 education in all subjects.
What is computational thinking? - a simple explanation for primary students (and teachers) video by Linda Liukas, Digital Champion, Finland
Useful Links
Wing, J Computational Thinking, COMMUNICATIONS OF THE ACM March 2006/Vol. 49, No. 3 (Computational Thinking for K-12 Education)
CSIRO Digital Careers - Bebras
- BEBRAS COMPUTATIONAL THINKING CHALLENGE (Australia)
- Bebras 365 (Australia)
- Bebras unplugged
- UK Bebras Computational Thinking Activity cards (Unplugged activity cards - UK curriculum terminology used)
Computational Thinking for a Computational World (pdf)
Tutorials on computational thinking - videos from DLTV
Computational Thinking - unplugged lesson video
A model curriculum Paper including appendices with sequence for teaching and assessing Computational Thinking (Colorado USA)
Using Computational Thinking to remember secure passwords video
Google for Education - Computational Thinking Resources
BBC-Bitesize - Computer Science Resources
Barefoot Computing - Computational Thinking Resources (need to register)
Google Computational Thinking for Educators Course (Secondary teachers)
Key Computational Thinking Strategies
Abstraction
Modelling and Simulation
Decomposition (Breaking problems into smaller parts)
Decomposition Infographic (DLTV)
Decomposition in plain English (DLTV) video
Algorithms
BBC-Bitesize - What is an Algorithm?
Algorithms in plain English (DLTV) video
What's an algorithm? (National Computing Science Project)
Learning the fundamentals of algorithms - a computer will only do what it is told (CS-Unplugged)
Making algorithmic thinking visible Classroom activities and tools includes flowchart conventions (CSER webinar)
The friendship algorithm (using a flowchart with branching and decision making) from TV show - Big Bang Theory
Sorting algorithms
Hungarian Folk Dance - Bubble Sort Algorithm video
Lego Bubble Sort Algorithm video
Bubble Sort Dance video
Bubble Sort Explained video
Selection Sort Algorithm Explained video
Insertion Sort Algorithm Explained video
Merge Sort Algorithm Explained video
Quick Sort Algorithm Explained video
Abstraction
Modelling and Simulation
Great site to teach computer modelling and simulation - Star Logo Nova