Computational Thinking

Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Subject Area

Digital Literacy and Computer Science

Grade(s)

6, 7, 8

Overview

Have you ever had a complex problem that you needed to solve? This could be a math problem, science experiment, an essay you need to write, and coding and game design. It could even be as simple as planning the best route to school or baking your favorite cookies!

Computational thinking can be used to take a complex problem, understand what the problem is and develop possible solutions to solve or explain it.

Students will complete Quests to learn about the four stages of computational thinking:

  • Decomposition: Decomposition is to break down a complex problem or system into smaller, more manageable parts.
  • Pattern Recognition: Pattern recognition is looking for patterns and sequences.
  • Abstraction: Abstraction is focusing on important information only, ignoring irrelevant detail.
  • Algorithms: Using algorithms you develop a step-by-step solution to the problem, or the rules to follow to solve the problem.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

When you have completed this activity you will:

  1. understand computational thinking [Computational Thinker]
  2. be able to solve complex problems using computational thinking. [Computational Thinker]
  3. be able to break down a problem into smaller more manageable parts. [Computational Thinker]
  4. know how to look for patterns and sequences. [Computational Thinker]
  5. be able to focus on important information only. [Computational Thinker]
  6. be able to develop a step-by-step solution to the problem. [Computational Thinker]
  7. know how to use coding to automate a task [Computational Thinker]
  8. understand computational design by applying technology to a problem [Innovative Designer]
  9. understand programming as you complete hands-on activities, solving problems encountered [Computational Thinker]
  10. understand the coding your program creates [Empowered Learner]
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 6

DLCS18.6.1

Remove background details from an everyday process to highlight essential properties.

UP:DLCS18.6.1

Vocabulary

  • process
  • essential properties

Knowledge

Students know:
  • how to identify details and descriptors

Skills

Students are able to:
  • remove descriptors, only leaving essential details

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • descriptors assist in visualizing a process but do not affect the root process.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 6

DLCS18.6.6

Identify steps in developing solutions to complex problems using computational thinking.

UP:DLCS18.6.6

Vocabulary

  • computational thinking

Knowledge

Students know:
  • how to define the problem.
  • how to plan solutions.
  • how to implement a plan.
  • how to reflect on the results and process.
  • how to iterate through the process again.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • identify the steps involved with formulating problems and solutions in a way that can be represented or carried with or without a computer.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • computational thinking is formulating problems and solutions in a way that can be represented or carried out with or without a computer.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 6

DLCS18.6.7

Describe how automation works to increase efficiency.

UP:DLCS18.6.7

Vocabulary

  • automation

Knowledge

Students know:
  • how automation works to increase efficiency.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • describe how automation increases efficiency.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • automation works to increase efficiency.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 6

DLCS18.6.30

Discuss and apply the components of the problem-solving process.

UP:DLCS18.6.30

Vocabulary

  • problem-solving process

Knowledge

Students know:
  • when solving problems, one should identify the problem, identify possible solutions, evaluate to select a best solution, implement the solution, evaluate the solution and/or seek feedback.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • identify a problem.
  • identify possible solutions.
  • evaluate to select a best solution.
  • implement a solution.
  • evaluate a solution.
  • seek feedback.
  • revise an artifact based on feedback.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • problem-solving is a process that can take multiple iterations.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 7

DLCS18.7.5

Solve a complex problem using computational thinking.

UP:DLCS18.7.5

Vocabulary

  • computational thinking

Knowledge

Students know:
  • smaller tasks are easier to solve than complex problems.
  • that trends in data can also speed up the problem-solving process.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • abstract portions of the problem and focus on smaller tasks to aid in solving a complex problem.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • complex problems can be overwhelming.
  • by decomposing the complex problem into simpler problems, a solution is easier to reach.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 7

DLCS18.7.6

Create and organize algorithms in order to automate a process efficiently.

UP:DLCS18.7.6

Vocabulary

  • algorithm

Knowledge

Students know:
  • algorithms can be used to automate a process efficiently.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • use search and sort algorithms to automate organizing a set.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • algorithms organized and applied to the appropriate task can significant increase proficiency.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 7

DLCS18.7.8

Formulate a narrative for each step of a process and its intended result, given pseudocode or code.

UP:DLCS18.7.8

Vocabulary

  • narrative
  • pseudocode

Knowledge

Students know:
  • that a narrative is a spoken or written account of events.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • identify the intended process in a given code or pseudocode.
  • convert given code or pseudocode to a narrative of expected behavior.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • every line of code has an intended behavior.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 7

DLCS18.7.30

Apply the problem-solving process to solve real-world problems.

UP:DLCS18.7.30

Vocabulary

  • problem-solving process

Knowledge

Students know:
  • the steps to the problem-solving process.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • select and dissect a problem.
  • seek solutions.
  • select a best alternative.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • often there are multiple solutions to real
  • world problems.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 8

DLCS18.8.2

Explain how abstraction is used in a given function.

UP:DLCS18.8.2

Vocabulary

  • function
  • abstraction

Knowledge

Students know:
  • abstraction is the process of removing unessential details (color, size, etc.
    • ).

Skills

Students are able to:
  • recognize when abstraction has been employed in a program or function.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • because code can be so complex, it is often in a programmer's best interest to simplify tasks to include only essential elements.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 8

DLCS18.8.5

Discuss the efficiency of an algorithm or technology used to solve complex problems.

UP:DLCS18.8.5

Knowledge

Students know:
  • that many solutions exist to solve a problem.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • communicate their opinion on the efficiency of problem solving methods.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • while many solutions exist for a problem, some are better suited to meet specific needs, such as efficiency.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 8

DLCS18.8.6

Describe how algorithmic processes and automation increase efficiency.

UP:DLCS18.8.6

Vocabulary

  • algorithmic process
  • automation

Knowledge

Students know:
  • how algorithmic processes and automation have increased efficiency.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • explain how algorithmic processes and automation increase efficiency.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • automation is a useful tool for increasing efficiency.
  • while many things can and have been automated, not everything can be automated using algorithmic processes.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 8

DLCS18.8.29

Create an artifact to solve a problem using ideation and iteration in the problem-solving process.

UP:DLCS18.8.29

Vocabulary

  • ideation
  • iteration
  • problem-solving process

Knowledge

Students know:
  • that problem solving is a process to find the best solution.
  • that through ideation and iteration, the final product or artifact may be a more polished or appropriate solution.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • gather initial data about a topic.
  • informally propose a solution.
  • gather feedback on informal proposal.
  • design a solution to a chosen problem.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • problem-solving is a process.
  • products or artifacts may undergo many revisions after data is reviewed and feedback is received.

CR Resource Type

Learning Activity

Resource Provider

REMC Association of Michigan

License Type

Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike
https://www.remc.org/21Things4Students/21/21-computational-thinking/

Accessibility

Text Resources: Content is organized under headings and subheadings

Approved Date

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