{"id":212,"date":"2023-09-12T07:09:30","date_gmt":"2023-09-12T07:09:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yesa.org.za\/resources\/?page_id=212"},"modified":"2024-09-04T18:29:46","modified_gmt":"2024-09-04T18:29:46","slug":"computational-thinking","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/yesa.org.za\/resources\/education\/computational-thinking\/","title":{"rendered":"Computational Thinking"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.prod.website-files.com\/5b69a01ba2e409501de055d1\/64c398a0746bcf8451dfecf0_Computational%20Thinker.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"375\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.raspberrypi.org\/blog\/integrating-computational-thinking-into-primary-teaching\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Integrating computational thinking into primary teaching<\/a><br \/>\nComputational thinking is a vital skill if you want to use a computer to solve problems that matter to you. That\u2019s why we consider computational thinking (CT) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.raspberrypi.org\/blog\/computational-thinking-skills-in-our-free-learning-resources\/\">carefully when creating learning resources<\/a>\u00a0here at the Raspberry Pi Foundation. However, educators are increasingly realising that CT skills don\u2019t just apply to writing computer programs, and that CT is a fundamental approach to problem-solving that can be extended into other subject areas. To discuss how CT can be integrated beyond the computing classroom and help introduce the fundamentals of computing to primary school learners, we invited Dr Aman Yadav from Michigan State University to deliver the penultimate presentation in our seminar series on computing education for primary-aged children.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>What is Computational Thinking?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Computational thinking is the ability to solve problems by learning to think like a computer or a computer scientist. This involves analyzing a complex problem, developing possible solutions to the problem, and formatting the solutions so that they can be carried out by a computer (or a human). One example of computational thinking is baking a cake.<\/p>\n<p>The core components of computational are:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Decomposition:<\/strong>\u00a0Break the problem into smaller chunks. For baking a cake, that might involve thinking about the components of a cake (frosting, decorations, and the cake itself).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pattern recognition:<\/strong>\u00a0Identify similarities or patterns that can help you solve the problem. For baking a cake, you might need to think about how many repeating layers the cake will have.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Abstraction:<\/strong>\u00a0Remove any unnecessary details that don\u2019t help you solve the problem. For baking cake, that might mean the order in which you prepare the ingredients is not important.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Formatting a general solution:<\/strong>\u00a0Once the problem is broken down accordingly, take those pieces, solve them individually, and put them together logically. For baking a cake, this can mean determining the steps to make the cake batter, frosting, and decorations, and then putting the completed components together to make the cake. For example, you wouldn\u2019t decorate the cake before you frost it.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"context-panel__header-container\" data-reactid=\".uuz2wd5t34.2.1.0.1.1.0\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"context-panel__header\" data-reactid=\".uuz2wd5t34.2.1.0.1.1.0.0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/bitesize\/guides\/zp92mp3\/revision\/1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Introduction to computational thinking<\/a><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone \" src=\"data:image\/png;base64,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\" width=\"177\" height=\"99\" \/><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: inherit;\">Before computers can be used to solve a problem, the problem itself and the ways in which it could be resolved must be understood. Computational thinking techniques help with these tasks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-reactid=\".uuz2wd5t34.2.1.0.1.1.0.0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/chatgpt.com\/?oai-dm=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ChatGPT<\/a><br \/>\nCopy and past the following questions into ChatGPT &#8211; no login required.<br \/>\n<em>How is Computational thinking used in baking a cake? and<\/em><br \/>\n<em>How is Computational thinking used in teaching children to cross a road safely?<\/p>\n<p><\/em><\/li>\n<li data-reactid=\".uuz2wd5t34.2.1.0.1.1.0.0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.raspberrypi.org\/blog\/uk-bebras-challenge-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Join the UK Bebras Challenge 2024<\/a><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.raspberrypi.org\/app\/uploads\/2024\/08\/UK-Bebras-Challenge-1200-by-628-landscape-768x402.png\" width=\"768\" height=\"402\" \/><\/p>\n<p>UK Bebras is a free-to-enter annual competition that is designed to spark interest in computational thinking among students aged 6 to 19 by providing engaging and thought-provoking activities. The 45-minute challenge is accessible to everyone, offering age-appropriate interactive questions for students at different levels, including a tailored version for students with severe sight impairments. The questions are designed to give every student the opportunity to showcase their potential, whether they excel in maths or computing, or not. With self-marking questions and no programming required, it\u2019s easy for schools to participate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Integrating computational thinking into primary teaching Computational thinking is a vital skill if you want to use a computer to solve problems that matter to you. That\u2019s why we consider computational thinking (CT) carefully when creating learning resources\u00a0here at the Raspberry Pi Foundation. However, educators are increasingly realising that CT skills don\u2019t just apply to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":93,"menu_order":6,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-212","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/yesa.org.za\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/212","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/yesa.org.za\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/yesa.org.za\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yesa.org.za\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yesa.org.za\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=212"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/yesa.org.za\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/212\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":751,"href":"https:\/\/yesa.org.za\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/212\/revisions\/751"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yesa.org.za\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/93"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/yesa.org.za\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}