Computational Thinking
4 MAIN ASPECTS OF COMPUTATIONAL THINKING
Decomposition: Breaking down a big problem into small, manageable parts
Pattern Recognition: Observing similarities and patterns in these smaller parts, to help us solve complex problems more efficiently
Abstraction: Identifying and extracting the important parts of the problem
Algorithm: Creating the step-by-step instructions of solving the problem. Making a sequence.
Test and Debug: I add this because it is a very important part of coding. Students should expect that they will need to go back and change any program. They learn so much from when things do not work.
Computational Thinking is the logic and skillset behind Coding and Programming, including the ability to decompose, recognize patterns, abstract, and algorithmize!
Computational thinking is a soft, transferable skill that isn’t strictly tied to technology and computers. It’s a problem-solving skill that can be learned using offline activities and applied to everyday problems.
According to various education experts, ages 4 to 7 is an appropriate time to pick up Computational Thinking.
From Tiny Thinkers
Computational Thinking
Computational Thinking is an approach to problem solving with four key thinking processes; decomposition- taking ideas and problems apart, pattern recognition- looking for similarities or trends, abstraction- focusing on what’s most important, and algorithm design- creating step-by-step instructions to solve a problem. Introducing these skills and providing time to practice them in all subject areas allows students to build their confidence as innovative problem solvers. Students begin to recognize the use of these skills in reading, math, science, social studies and even the everyday structures of the school day. They practice communicating their ideas clearly through the lens of these processes so that others can understand their thinking and collaborate with them.
From Wakefield Public Schools
Links of Interest:
ISTE: Computational Thinking: https://iste.org/blog/why-you-should-integrate-computational-thinking-into-your-curriculum
Singapore's TinyThinkers: https://www.tinythinkers.org/
Wakefield Public Schools: https://www.wcpss.net/domain/17003