Computational thinking
Encyclopedia
Computational Thinking is a new problem solving method, named for its extensive use of computer science
techniques. The term computational thinking was first used by Seymour Papert
in 1996. Computational thinking can be used to algorithmically
solve complicated problems of scale, and is often used to realize large improvements in efficiency.
community as a result of an ACM
Communications article on the subject by Jeannette M. Wing.
The article suggested that thinking computationally was a fundamental skill for everyone, not just computer scientists, and argued for the importance of integrating computational ideas into other disciplines.
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
techniques. The term computational thinking was first used by Seymour Papert
Seymour Papert
Seymour Papert is an MIT mathematician, computer scientist, and educator. He is one of the pioneers of artificial intelligence, as well as an inventor of the Logo programming language....
in 1996. Computational thinking can be used to algorithmically
Algorithm
In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm is an effective method expressed as a finite list of well-defined instructions for calculating a function. Algorithms are used for calculation, data processing, and automated reasoning...
solve complicated problems of scale, and is often used to realize large improvements in efficiency.
Overview
The phrase computational thinking was brought to the forefront of the computer scienceComputer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
community as a result of an ACM
Association for Computing Machinery
The Association for Computing Machinery is a learned society for computing. It was founded in 1947 as the world's first scientific and educational computing society. Its membership is more than 92,000 as of 2009...
Communications article on the subject by Jeannette M. Wing.
Jeannette Wing
Jeannette Marie Wing is a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, and assistant director for Computer and Information Science and Engineering at the NSF....
The article suggested that thinking computationally was a fundamental skill for everyone, not just computer scientists, and argued for the importance of integrating computational ideas into other disciplines.
Center of Computational Thinking
Computational thinking today is spearheaded by the Center of Computational Thinking at Carnegie Mellon. The Center's major activity is conducting PROBEs or PROBlem-oriented Explorations. These PROBEs are experiments that apply novel computing concepts to problems to show the value of computational thinking. A PROBE experiment is generally a collaboration between a computer scientist and an expert in the field to be studied. The experiment typically runs for a year. In general, a PROBE will seek to find a solution for a broadly applicable problem and avoid narrowly focused issues. Some examples of PROBE experiments are optimal kidney transplant logistics and how to create drugs that do not breed drug resistant viruses.Characteristics of Computational Thinking
Computational Thinking is a problem-solving process that includes the following characteristics:- Analyzing and logically organizing data
- Data modelingData modelingData modeling in software engineering is the process of creating a data model for an information system by applying formal data modeling techniques.- Overview :...
, data abstractions, and simulations - Formulating problems such that computers may assist
- Identifying, testing, and implementing possible solutions
- Automating solutions via algorithmic thinking
- Generalizing and applying this process to other problems
External links
- Computational Thinking article in the Scalable Game Design wiki
- Repenning, A., Webb, D., Ioannidou, A., Scalable Game Design and the Development of a Checklist for Getting Computational Thinking into Public Schools, The 41st ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education, SIGCSE 2010, (Milwaukee, WI), ACM Press.
- The Sacramento Regional CPATH Team has created a Think CT website with information on CT developed by this NSF-funded project.
- NUI Maynooth has launched a 3-year BSc degree in Computational Thinking.