Computational Thinking in Teaching and Learning

By: Iwan Syahril, Ph.D.

Center for Learning, Teaching, and Curriculum

Development

“If you learn from a teacher who still reads, it is like drinking fresh water from a fountain. But if you learn from a teacher who no longer reads, it is like drinking polluted water from a stagnant pool.”

If you learn from someone who still learns, it is like drinking fresh water from a fountain. But if you learn from someone who no longer learns, it is like drinking polluted water from a stagnant pool.”

• The “forest view” (big picture) Global education reform Complexities of teaching

• The “tree view” (specific)Computational Thinking as a way to reimagine teaching and learning

• Computational Thinking and Teacher Learning

Overview

Global Education Reform Movement

–McKinsey report, 2007

“The quality of an education system cannot exceed the quality of its teachers.”

“During the more than two years I served as South Korea's minister of education, science, and technology, I found myself frequently astonished by the outside world's lavish praise for our education system. President Barack Obama has often noted in speeches the enthusiasm of Korean parents for their children's education, the high quality of Korean teachers, the number of learning hours that Korean students spend, and the outstanding educational achievements these have produced; for example, top rankings in international academic-achievement tests, and low rates of school dropouts and juvenile delinquency. As reported, in particular, Korean students ranked first in reading, first in math, and third in science in the Program for International Student Assessment among the 30 member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development that participated. While many may look with envy at these achievements, I could not conceal my bewilderment at the fact that, within Korea, that same education system has been called the nation's biggest problem.” ~Byong-man Ahn

Source: http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/01/12/16ahn.h31.html

Education in the Republic of Korea:National treasure or national headache?

Vision and imagination to change for a better world, to push the world forward.

Reimagining teaching and learning

Computational thinking in teaching and learning

How the trend is spreading…

2006 — Prof. J.M. Wing (then at Carnegie Mellon University)discussed computational thinking as a way of solving problems, designing systems, and understanding human behavior that draws on concepts fundamental to computer science.

scientists and engineers K-12 schools

2016

still developing

Computational thinking: A framework for problem solving

• Decomposing: breaking down a big problem into a small manageable steps.

• Pattern recognition: identifying similarities in something.

• Abstraction: understanding what is needed and what can be left out.

• Algorithm: constructing a sequence of instruction or a set of rules to get something done.

• Debugging: correcting and learning from mistakes.

Computational thinking in teaching and learning: Redefining and reinforcing popular concepts

• A framework for problem solving.

• “A structured and systematic way of problem solving” (Dr. Patta, Dean of FST, Sampoerna University)

• Problem-based learning. Project-based learning. Interdisciplinary learning. Integrated curriculum. Creative thinking. Critical thinking.

Computational thinking = meaningful learning

“Methods which are permanently successful in formal education . . . go back to the type of situation which causes reflection out of school in ordinary life. They give pupils something to do, not something to learn; and the doing is of such a nature as to demand thinking, or the intentional noting of connections; learning naturally results” (Dewey 1916, 1944, p. 154).

“In many classrooms, students ‘cover’ lots of facts, vocabulary words, names, dates, and rules. Unfortunately, they also forget much of what they ‘learn' as they leave that information behind and move on to another topic or lesson. Much of this "memory loss" occurs because they never really understood or saw the purpose of what they learned” (Tomlinson, 2001, p. 74).

John Dewey

Carol Ann Tomlinson

Bahasa Indonesia courseAcademic writing and speaking skills but starting with a novel and literature circles.

Faculty Sharing Session at Sampoerna University

Dr. Rizcky Tamarany of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Sampoerna University, presented his research work in the computational materials science.

Student LearningTeachers Teaching

Teacherlearning

“…if we want schools to produce more powerful learning on the part of students, we have to offer

more powerful learning opportunities to teachers.” (Feimen-Nemser, 2001; p.1013)

”Education is NOT a mechanical system. It's a human system. It's about people."

(Sir Ken Robinson, 2013)

Life is an illusion of time. Yesterday seems like a blast. Today feels like forever. Tomorrow looks like a long way to go.

The heart and mind may stay young, may want to stay forever young, but indeed the time moves on each and every second.

May the time be kind to us, and may we be wise with the time we have.  

Iwan Syahril, 2015