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Computational ThinkingComputer Science(… and other matters ... )
Nebraska Summit on Math and Science Education December 8, 2014
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Leen-Kiat SohDepartment of Computer Science and EngineeringUniversity of Nebraska, Lincoln, NEE-mail: [email protected]
Hmm ….
What is computational
thinking?
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What is Computational Thinking?
• CSTA K-12 standards:– An approach to solving problems in a way that can be
implemented with a computer. – A problem-solving methodology that can be automated
and transferred and applied across subjects. – Students become not merely tool users but tool
builders • Use concepts such as abstraction, recursion, and iteration, to
process and analyze data, and to create real and virtual artifacts.
– The power of computational thinking is that it applies to every other type of reasoning
Based on http://csta.acm.org/Curriculum/sub/CurrFiles/CSTA_K-12_CSS.pdf
What is Computational Thinking?
• Google’s Exploring Computational Thinking:
– Decomposition
– Pattern Recognition
– Pattern Abstraction and Generalization
– Algorithm Design
Based on http://www.google.com/edu/computational-thinking
What is Computational Thinking?
• Decomposition The ability to break down a task into minute details so that we can clearly explain a process to another person or to a computer, or even to just write notes for ourselves• When we taste an unfamiliar dish and identify several ingredients based
on the flavor, we are decomposing that dish into its individual ingredients
• Pattern Recognition The ability to notice similarities or common differences that will help us make predictions or lead us to shortcuts.• People look for patterns in stock prices to decide when to buy and sell
Based on http://www.google.com/edu/computational-thinking
What is Computational Thinking?
• Pattern Abstraction and Generalization The ability to filter out information that is not necessary to solve a certain type of problem and generalize the information that is necessary• A daily planner uses abstraction to represent a week in terms of days and
hours, helping us to organize our time
• Algorithm Design The ability to develop a step-by-step strategy for solving a problem• A chef writes a recipe for a dish, creating an algorithm that others can
follow to replicate the dish
Based on http://www.google.com/edu/computational-thinking
What is Computational Thinking?
Based on http://www.google.com/edu/computational-thinking
Problem Decomposition Pattern
Abstraction & Generalization
Pattern Recognition
Algorithm Design
Problem
Decomposed Problem
Patterns
Algorithms
So, Computational Thinking is …
• Decomposition
• Pattern Recognition
• Pattern Abstraction and Generalization
• Algorithm Design
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Wait a minute … These are things
that we are already capable of doing!!!
What is Computer Science?
• There are many definitions.Computer Science helps us practice our computational thinking better, faster, with larger and more complex problems … …
What is Computer Programming?
• A process that leads from an original formulation of a computing problem to executable programs
CODE …
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_programming
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CODE …CODE …
Resources
• Many CS & Computational Thinking education/outreach resources available online
• National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) “in-a-box” kits http://ncwit.org
• Ensemble, a Portal for Computing Educators http://www.computingportal.org
• CS Education Week http://www.csedweek.org
• Google’s Computer Science for High School (CS4HS) http://cs4hs.com
• Code.org http://code.org
• …
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Google’s Exploring Computational Thinking(https://www.google.com/edu/computational-thinking/)
• Lesson modules
– In particular, the computational creativity exercises:
Lesson Description Grades
Describing an Everyday Object
Using language to describe an object to someone else without the object's name. It's harder than you think.
1-10
Writing a Story Collaborate with others to build a story. Afterwards, find the "bugs" in the story and fix them to give the overall story a more logical flow.
5-8
Ciphering a Sentence
Develop a cipher and encode a sentence and develop an algorithm for encoding and decoding.
3-6
Exploring YourEnvironment
Gather data about a place or environment, organize the data in a table and look for patterns.
1-6
Machine Testing Develop a strategy for testing a mysterious new machine. 3-6
Guessing Game Play a guessing game with your friends and develop a process for efficient guessing.
1-6
• “CS Unplugged is a collection of free learning activities that teach Computer Science through engaging games and puzzles that use cards, string, crayons and lots of running around.”
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“The activities introduce students to underlying concepts such as binary numbers, algorithms and data compression, separated from the distractions and technical details we usually see with computers.”
“CS Unplugged is suitable for people of all ages, from elementary school to seniors, and from many countries and backgrounds. Unplugged has been used around the world for over fifteen years, in classrooms, science centers, homes, and even for holiday events in a park! ”
CS Unpluggedhttp://csunplugged.org
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go
CS Unpluggedhttp://csunplugged.org
Created by Tim Bell, Ian H. Witten, and Mike Fellows, and illustrated by Matt Powell
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CS Unplugged In-A-BoxAs NCWIT’s Computer Science-in-a-Box: Unplug Your Curriculum
(http://www.ncwit.org/resources/computer-science-box-unplug-your-curriculum)
• Examples: Magic card show – error detection; Treasure island – finite state machines; Sorting game – sorting networks
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Pathways: K-12 courses
• AP CS Principles– To be launched AY 2016-
2017– http://csprinciples.org
• Exploring CS– http://www.exploringcs.org
• AP CS (existing) – There used to be AP CS A
and AP CS B
Computational Thinking Practices, Big Ideas, Key Concepts, Supporting ConceptsConnecting computing; Creating computational artifacts; Abstracting; Analyzing problems and artifacts; Communicating; CollaboratingBig IdeasCreativity; Abstraction; Data and Information; Algorithms; Programming; The Internet; Global Impact
Draw on the curricular framework listed in Levels II and III of the ACM’s A Model Curriculum for K-12 Computer Science (2003)Human computer interaction; Problem solving; Web design; Programming; Computing and data analysis; Robotics; integrated topics on ethical and social issues
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Pathways: @ UNL
• CSE Day– March/April annually
• Site visits to our Holland Computing Center, UAV Nimbus Lab, etc., @ UNL
• Local school visits to do CS unplugged activities
• AP CS Principles course under development
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CSTA Local Chapters
• Computer Science Teachers Association
– 1st Local Chapter in NE: Nebraska Huskers
– 2nd Local Chapter in NE: NE Omaha Metro
• Resources available online http://cstanebraska.org
• Monthly meetings to discuss and share curricula, course designs, activities, pedagogy, resources
• Current NE Huskers members: Steve Carr (President), Scott
Burns (Vice President), Leen-Kiat Soh (Secretary), Chuck Riedesel(Treasurer), Lloyd Summerer (Communications Officer), Deb Bulin, Scott Handelman, Michael Hanus, Alan Holdorf, Brent Jarosz, Kent Steen, …
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And Circling Back …
• Computer science is the study of computation—what can be computed and how to compute it.
• Computational thinking thus has the following characteristics:
• Conceptualizing, not programming
• Fundamental, not rote skill
• A way that humans, not computers, think
• Complements and combines mathematical and engineering thinking
• Ideas, not artifacts
• For everyone, everywhere
Based on Wing, J. (2006). Computational Thinking, Communications of the ACM, 49(3):33-35.
Finally …
“Computational thinking is a fundamental skill for everyone, not just for computer scientists. To reading, writing, and
arithmetic, we should add computational thinking to every child’s analytical ability.” – Jeannette Wing, CACM 2006
“I’m proud to join the students, teachers, businesses, and non-profit organizations taking big new steps to support
computer science in America’s schools. Learning these skills isn’t just important for your future – it’s important for our
country’s future. If we want America to stay on the cutting edge, we need young Americans like you to master the tools
and technology that will change the way we do just about everything.” – President Obama, December 2013, on
Computer Science Education Week
Just Today …
Today, the Administration is announcing new commitments that will help give millions of additional K-12 students access to CS Education:• Commitments by more than 60 school districts, including the seven largest
school districts in the country, to offer computer science courses to their students. Together, these districts reach over 4 million students in more than 1,000 high schools and middle schools, in partnership with Code.org.
• Over $20 million in philanthropic contributions to train 10,000 teachers by fall 2015 and 25,000 teachers to teach computer science to in time for the school year beginning in fall 2016.
• New partnerships by the National Science Foundation (NSF), including a new Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science course by the College Board that emphasizes the creative aspects of computing and a focus on real-world applications. Leading partners, including Teach for America and the National Math and Science Initiative, will assist in implementation and scale-up of the course.
• New steps to increase the participation of women and under-represented minorities in computer science, including a new computer-science classroom design prize and innovative outreach efforts.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/12/08/fact-sheet-new-commitments-support-computer-science-education
• CSTA Nebraska Huskers local chapter
• e-mail [email protected]
• website http://cstanebraska.org/
• Computer Science & Engineering• University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
• website http://cse.unl.edu
• Leen-Kiat Soh
• e-mail [email protected]
• website http://cse.unl.edu/~lksoh
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Contact Info
