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