Computational Thinking

Technology for STEM Educators: Computational Thinking

Participants in this course will learn best practices for integrating computational thinking activities into their curriculum. They will apply this knowledge by creating a fully-functional, STEM curriculum-aligned activity that utilizes unplugged activities to teach computational thinking skills to their students.

Total Sessions: 5 Estimated Hours: 15

Session One | What is Computational Thinking? | 2 hrs

Outcomes

• Define computational thinking

• Understand the relationship between computational thinking, computer science, and computing

Tasks

1. WATCH the What is Computational Thinking? video.

2. Complete Activity 1.1 - Thinking about Computational Thinking:

a. WATCH the Meet Asimo video.

b. After watching the video, complete Part One of the Thinking About CT reflection form.

c. Solve an Angry Birds Puzzle on Code.org.

d. After completing the puzzle, complete Part Two of the Thinking About CT reflection form.

3. Complete Activity 1.2 - Resource Review by reviewing each of the following resources on the topic of computational thinking:

a. WATCH the video Computational Thinking: A Digital Age Skill for Everyone via ISTE

b. WATCH the video What is Computational Thinking? via Hello Ruby

c. READ: What is Computational Thinking? via CS Unplugged

d. READ & REVIEW What is Computational Thinking? via Digital Promise to learn more about the relationship between Computational Thinking, Computer Science, and Computing

e. READ: Operational Definition of Computational Thinking for K12 Education via ISTE & CSTA

f. WATCH: Love Letters for Computers, Episode 1: What is Computer Science? via Hello Ruby

g. WATCH: Love Letters for Computers, Episode 2: Computational Thinking from Hello Ruby

h. Computational Thinking for All Resources via ISTE & CSTA

i. Computational Thinking Leadership Toolkit via ISTE & CSTA

4. Complete Activity 1.3 - Journal Response by responding to the following journaling prompt via Google Forms: Computational Thinking Journal Response 1b - Shape Summary

a. This activity asks you to use a Shape Summary to reflect on and summarize your thoughts about one of the resources you have reviewed in this lesson. You will be asked to identify the following:

i. 4 things from the article that square with your thinking (you agree with)

ii. 3 new angles or perspectives to consider

iii. question that is left circling your head

Session Two | Core Skills of Computational Thinking | 3 hrs

Outcomes

• Identify the benefits of implementing computational thinking activities into instructional practice.

• Define the core skills of computational thinking and explain examples of these skills found outside the context of CS

Tasks

1. WATCH the Core Skills of Computational Thinking video.

2. Complete Activity 2.1 - Core Skills Identification by considering where you find the core skills of computational thinking in the Asimo video & Angry Birds puzzle from Lesson 1.

a. Respond to the questions found in Google Form: Computational Thinking Journal Response 2a - Core Skills Identification

3. Complete Activity 2.2 - Resource Review by reviewing each of the following resources on the benefits of implementing computational thinking into instructional practices in K12 classrooms:

a. REVIEW: Computational Thinking in K12 Education: Teacher Resources via ISTE & CSTA

b. Computational Thinking in the Early Years via Barefoot Computing

c. 5 Ways to Teach Computational Thinking in the Classroom via Sphero

d. Early Learning Strategies for Developing Computational Thinking Skills via Getting Smart

e. How to Develop Computational Thinkers via ISTE

i. Take it Further: Computational Thinking Topic on ISTE blog

f. Computational Thinking in the Elementary Classroom: More Than Just Computer Science via Juliette Guarino Berg

g. VIDEO: Map of Computer Science via Domain of Science

h. Computational Thinking to Strengthen Elementary Mathematics: Patterning and Abstraction via Origo Education

i. Area of Focus: Computational Thinking via ISTE

4. Complete Activity 2.3 - Journal Response by responding to the following journaling prompt via Google Forms: Computational Thinking Journal Response 2b - CT Examples

a. In your response you will be asked to generate examples of where you find computational thinking skills OUTSIDE the context of computing education.

Session Three | Using Unplugged Activities to Teach Computational Thinking | 2 hrs

Outcomes

• Define “unplugged activities”

• Understand how unplugged activities teach computational thinking skills

• Review a variety of unplugged activities

Tasks

1. WATCH the Using Unplugged Activities to Teach CT video.
   https://youtu.be/aNhNE8YbW3k

2. Complete Activity 3.1 - Resource Review by reviewing each of the following resources on unplugged activities to consider which activities you might like to explore further:

a. Mini Missions via Barefoot Computing

b. CS Unplugged

i. Classic CS Unplugged

c. Hour of Code Activities via Code.org

i. Check “No computers or devices” in the sidebar to filter for unplugged activities

d. Unplugged Coding Activities for Kids via Teach Your Kids Code

e. 6 Unplugged Coding Activities for Hour of Code via ThinkFun’s Education Blog

f. CS Unplugged via Colorado School of Mines (designed for Middle School)

g. Unplugged Coding Activities: The Ultimate Guide for Elementary via Kodable

h. CS Fundamentals Unplugged Lessons via Code.org

i. CS First Unplugged from Google for Education

j. Unplugged / Zero Cost Computational Thinking Activities via STEM Activity Clearinghouse

Session Four | Exploring Unplugged Activities | 3 hrs

Outcomes

• Select two unplugged activities to practice

• Reflect on the experience through a journal entry

Tasks

1. WATCH the Exploring Unplugged Activities video.

2. Complete Activity 4.1 - Hands-On Exploration by practicing a couple of unplugged activities.

a. Select TWO (2) unplugged activities that interest you from the resources shared in Lesson 3.

b. Execute these activities with at least one other person (or whatever is called for by the activity if more are required).

i. This can be done with family members, friends, colleagues, or students.

c. Have fun!

d. Official Guide to Tinkercad Classrooms

3. Complete Activity 4.2 - Journal Response by responding to the following journaling prompt via Google Forms: Computational Thinking Journal Response 4a - Unplugged Reflection

a. In your response, you will be asked to share about the unplugged activities you chose to practice and reflect on the experience.

Session Five | Computational Thinking Project | 5 hrs

Outcomes

• Develop and teach a lesson that implements unplugged activities to teach computational thinking with students

• Submit lesson plan and reflection on the lesson

Project Overview

WATCH the Computational Thinking Project overview video:

As discussed in the video, there are 3 steps to your final project:

1. Design a lesson plan.

2. Teach your lesson.

3. Submit your lesson plan & a reflection through Google Form.

Please consult the Project Guide document for additional overview information and the Project Rubric.

Integrating Computational Thinking into STEM Curriculum

For your final project you are asked to design a lesson plan utilizing at least one (1) unplugged activity to teach computational thinking with your students that aligns with your STEM curriculum. You will need to identify where this lesson fits into your STEM curriculum and how it aligns to standards and curriculum goals.

• Lesson plans must be aligned to your STEM curriculum and your school’s preferred standards

  • If you are not working directly with STEM curriculum, you may align to another content area.

Teach Your Lesson

After designing your lesson, you will implement and carry out your lesson plan featuring computational thinking with your students.

Lesson Documentation & Reflection

Finally, you will submit documentation of your lesson in the form of a full lesson plan following your school’s preferred template and a reflection on how the lesson went following implementation.

In your reflection, you must address each of these 6 prompts:

1. How does this lesson align with your STEM curriculum? (or other curriculum?)

2. What student outcomes does this lesson address?

3. What standards does this lesson align with?

4. Do you consider this lesson to be a success? Why or why not?

5. What would you do differently next time?

6. Do you plan to carry on using this technology? Why or why not?

Project Submission

Your project will be submitted to us for review in order to receive your CPD credit.

Along with your submission, you will be asked to complete two short surveys to provide feedback on the course and reflect on your experience with the content and measure your new learning and progress with the topic.

Submit your project here: Computational Thinking Project Submission Form

Additionally, please take a few minutes to complete the following forms to provide feedback on the course and your experience with the content:

• Course Feedback Form

• Retrospective Pre/Post Survey