Day-2

Computational Thinking

Recognizing and applying computing concepts in real-life situations is an important aspect of Computational Thinking. This makes CT a fruitful basis for collaboration of computing teachers with colleagues from other school subjects.

In your working group,

• discuss opportunities to link computing themes to other school subjects, and
• construct examples of such opportunities by describing contexts taken from ‘non-ict’ school subjects, each with a challenging learning activity;
• identify the CT-elements involved in the learning activities and discuss their pedagogical challenges: which success factors, pitfalls, good practices can be recognized?

Background

(from Chris Stephenson's talk)

Thinking computationally

• What is the power/limit of human and computer intelligence?
• How difficult is the problem?
• How can the problem be solved?
• How can technology be applied to the problem?
• What computational strategies might be employed

'Doing' computationally

• Recognizing aspects of computation in the world around us
• Applying computing tools and techniques to understand and reason about natural and artificial systems and processes
• Thinking logically, algorithmically, and (at higher levels) abstractly and recursively

Core concepts

• Data collection
• Data analysis
• Data representation
• Problem decomposition
• Abstraction
• Algorithms and procedures
• Parallelization
• Modeling and simulation

Core capacities

• Design solutions (abstraction, automation, algorithm creation, data collection and analysis)
• Implement designs
• Test and debug
• Model/analyse
• Reflect on practice
• Recognize and move between levels of abstraction
• Innovate, explore, and create across disciplines
• Modeling and simulation
• Problem solve in groups/teams
• Employ diverse learning strategies

Core dispositions

• Confidence in dealing with complexity
• Persistence in working with difficult problems
• Ability to handle ambiguity
• Ability to deal with open-ended problems
• Working with others to achieve a common goal or solution
• Knowing one’s own strengths and weaknesses