COMPUTATIONAL THINKING

A guide for teachers.

Computational ThinkingComputational thinking is the process of looking at a

complex problem, attempting to understand it and thinking about the best way to solve it.

It enables problem solving, the designing of systems and demonstrates the capabilities of technology.

There are several key principles of computational thinking. These will be explained in the following slides.

AlgorithmsAlgorithms are step by step instructions for performing a specific task.

They are the solution or rules to follow to solve a problem.

This image shows an example of an algorithm in Scratch.

DecompositionDecomposition is a process which involves breaking the problem down into smaller chunks to make it easier to solve.

Logical Reasoning

Logical reasoning is taking a systematic approach to solving a problem.

It might involve using the process of elimination to break down the problem.

Debug

Debugging is detecting and correcting errors in a computer program.

Abstraction

Concentrating on the most important information only and ignoring the irrelevant and unnecessary detail.

Inputs/OutputsInput:An action by the user such as pressing a key on a keyboard, clicking a mouse, speaking into a microphone, movement in front of a camera or sensor. Information provided to a computer system.

Output:The computer’s response to the input, usually displayed onscreen, through speakers or a printer.

In this scenario, the input is the user clicking the green flag.The output is then the penguin’s costume (or appearance) changing.

Before green flag is pressedWhen green flag is pressed

VariablesVariables are similar to containers. They hold numbers, phrases and other similar data that can change throughout the running of a game. They may be in the form of a score, the user’s name or the duration left. variable value