Coding, Robotics, Computational Thinking
During the 2018-2019 school year, the library media department will be making a concerted effort to provide all WCPS students with coding, robotics and computational thinking opportunities. For students in PK-5, this will occur as a part of their regularly scheduled library periods. For middle and high school students, it will occur as a part of and integrated, enrichment or club-based opportunity.
7 Steps of Computational Thinking
Collect Data:
Determine sources from which you will collect data, and decide which qualitative and quantitative data to collect.
Analyze Data
Produce and evaluate charts, and use appropriate statistical methods to test a hypothesis.
Find Patterns
Identify patterns to make predictions, create rules and solve other problems.
Decompose Problems
Take large complicated problems, and break them down into manageable pieces.
Abstract
Identify similarities and remove details to create a solution that works for many different problems.
Build Models
Test, tweak and refine an object before building it in real life using design software to predict outcomes.
Develop Algorithms
Create solutions using step-by-step instructions that operate like a road map for performing a task.
Computational thinking is a structured way to solve problems. As described by Jeannette Wing, PhD, in 2006, computational thinking has these qualities: