Computational Thinking/CE21/CSPrinciples 1

What is Computational Thinking?

Owen Astrachan

Computational Thinking/CE21/CSPrinciples 2

What is Computational Thinking?

Potter Stewart, 1984, Jacobellis v Ohio I shall not today attempt further

to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description of [computational thinking]; and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it,

Computational Thinking/CE21/CSPrinciples 3

Computational Thinking

Leverages the power of computing Has the potential to scale, to

process lots of data Accessible to lots of people with

varied backgrounds Not just about metaphors, but

about facilitating doing things: Computational Doing

Computational Thinking/CE21/CSPrinciples 4

Computational Thinking Practices

Part of the CS Principles project/course Practices associated with evidence

centered design Content X Practices = claims and

evidence

Seven Big Ideas, Six CT Practices See by example what we will use to

develop assessments

Computational Thinking/CE21/CSPrinciples 5

URL for CS Principles documents

http://bit.ly/csthinking

What is bit.ly? Where is bit.ly mostly used? What does http://bit.ly/f2eAHN

reference What about http://bit.ly/f2eAHN+

Is this computational thinking?

Computational Thinking/CE21/CSPrinciples 6

Inculcate Computational Thinking

Not done solely by computer scientists

Not done solely by college professors

Not done without lots and lots of funding

Not done without lots and lots of education

Harambee

Computational Thinking/CE21/CSPrinciples 7

Ladder from ‘white’ to ‘house’ White, while, whale, shale, …

I can do that… optimally My brother was an English major My ladder is 16, his is 15, how?

The key is sough Voila, 14 words!

Guarantee optimality!

A Computational Thinking Story

Computational Thinking/CE21/CSPrinciples 8

Finding Computational Thinking

If I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own back yard.

Dorothy to the Tinman

Computational Thinking/CE21/CSPrinciples 9

Tufte: best graphic ever

Computational Thinking/CE21/CSPrinciples 10

http://chir.ag/projects/preztags/

http://nyti.ms/prezdent