THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO

Computational
Thinking
FOR EDUCATORS
What is computational thinking?

Problem Solving.
More specifically, computational thinking is a set of skills and
processes that guide problem solving.

What makes this especially different from other problem-solving

processes is that it, in the end, results in an algorithm, which is
a series of steps a person or computer uses to perform a task or
solve a problem. Computational thinking is derived from the process
computer scientists use to develop code and communicate with
computers through algorithms.

So, computational thinking is coding?

Not quite. While computational thinking is the problem-solving

process that can lead to code, coding is the process of programming
different digital tools with algorithms. Coding is a means to apply
solutions developed through the processes of computational
thinking. Algorithms, in the case of coding, are a series of logic-
based steps that communicate with digital tools and help them
execute different actions.

However, computational thinking results in algorithms for both

computers and people, making it much more broadly applied with
and without technology.

At its core, the steps of the computational

thinking process enable people to tackle
large and small problems.
PAGE 2
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
The Computational
Thinking Process
Computational thinking is a map from curiosity to understanding that
ensures the problem-solving process can be replicated or automated
in the future.

The computational thinking process

includes four key concepts:

Decomposition — Break the problem down into smaller,

more manageable parts.

Pattern Recognition — Analyze data and identify similarities

and connections among its different parts.

Abstraction— Identify the most relevant information needed

to solve the problem and eliminate the extraneous details.

Algorithmic Thinking— Develop a step-by-step process to

solve the problem so that the work is replicable by humans
or computers.

The process starts with data as the input and through a series
of steps, we – like computers (hence the name) – process the
information and produce some sort of output to the problem. In
this way, computational thinking results in an answer to whatever
question was asked at the outset and a systematic process for how
students arrived at the answer. Moreover, computational thinking
is about the process itself just as much as it is about solving the
problem.

PAGE 3
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
Both ‘plugged’ and ‘unplugged,’ computational thinking underscores
the course of student learning in an era in which education is moving
from content acquisition to higher-order thinking skills. Beyond
this, computational thinking requires students to be mindful and
intentional throughout the problem-solving process, which helps
them develop persistence and a growth mindset.

As Marcos Navas, a technology facilitator with the Union City School

District in New Jersey, explained:
Indeed, computational thinking is a lifelong skill that can and should

We are all computational thinkers and computer

scientists; our brains naturally recognize
patterns, create algorithms, and debug solutions.
When a problem arises, I tell my students to
figure it out and work with their peers. We do a
lot of hand holding, but we need to challenge
students to solve it. That’s not just a tip for
coding; it’s a lifelong skill they need.

be built throughout the student learning experience. The remainder

of this eBook will go into more depth about each component of
computational thinking and offer real-world examples for integrating
them in any subject area. Plus, it will explore why computational
thinking is essential for future readiness by cultivating digital skills
and problem-solving prowess.

Let’s dive in!

PAGE 4
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
Decomposition
The power of computational thinking starts with decomposition,
which is the process of breaking down complex problems into
smaller, more manageable parts. With decomposition, problems that
seem overwhelming at first become much more manageable.

If you can’t solve a problem, then there is an

easier problem you can solve: find it.
GEORGE PÓLYA

Problems we encounter both in the course of student learning

and throughout our daily lives are ultimately comprised of smaller
problems we can more easily address. This process of breaking
down problems enables us to analyze the different aspects of them,
ground our thinking, and guide ourselves to an end point.

PAGE 5
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
Examples of Decomposition in Everyday Life
Decomposition is something we inherently do in our daily lives, even
if we don’t realize it.

If you hosted a holiday dinner, you used decomposition to select

the menu, enlist support from others in the kitchen, task people with
what to bring, determine the process by which to cook the different
elements, and set the time for the event.

If you went to the grocery store for said holiday dinner you used
decomposition to build your grocery list, guide the direction you took
as you meandered the aisles, the route you followed to and from the
store, and the vehicle in which you drove.

If you’ve implemented a new program or initiative at your school,

you used decomposition to build your strategic plan, which included
the program’s vision, strategy for gaining buy-in, annual goals, and
everything else involved.

PAGE 6
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
Examples of Decomposition in Curriculum
Indeed, decomposition is a powerful tool that guides how we
approach projects and tasks regularly. And it is also something
employed in student learning. Here are some examples for
accentuating these in curriculum.

Students analyze themes in a text by first

English Language answering: Who is the protagonist and
Arts antagonist? Where is the setting? What is
the conflict? What is the resolution?

Students find the area of different shapes

Mathematics
by decomposing them into triangles.

Students research the different organs in

Science order to understand how the human body
digests food.

Students explore a different culture by

Social Studies studying the traditions, history, and norms
that comprise it.

Students learn about sentence structure

in a foreign language by breaking it down
Languages
into different parts like subject, verb, and
object.

PAGE 7
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
Examples of Decomposition in Computer Science
Then, from a computer science and coding perspective,
decomposition can come into play when students are programming
a new game. For example, students need to consider the characters,
setting, and plot, as well as consider how different actions will take
place, how it will be deployed, and so much more.

Character Actions

Clearly, decomposition is deeply ingrained in how we function

daily and address problems both big and small. The concept
already exists with students, but students need to learn how to
recognize this process as it happens and leverage it when they
feel overwhelmed in the case of a problem, task, or project.
Decomposition teaches students to embrace ambiguity and equips
them with the confidence to learn new things.

PAGE 8
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
Pattern Recognition
As it sounds, pattern recognition is all about recognizing patterns.
Specifically, with computational thinking, pattern recognition occurs
as people study the different decomposed problems.

There are common ways we see patterns. Patterns are

the laws of nature and life that present themselves in all
disciplines of life — from the smallest microorganism
to macrocosm…While patterns aren’t always apparent,
they are continuous and autonomous.
AMY OESTREICHER

Through analysis, students recognize patterns or connections among

the different pieces of the larger problem. These patterns can be
both shared similarities and shared differences. This concept is
essential to building understanding amid dense information and goes
well beyond recognizing patterns amongst sequences of numbers,
characters, or symbols.

PAGE 9
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
Examples of Pattern Recognition in Everyday Life
Pattern recognition is the foundation of our knowledge. As infants,
we used patterns to make sense of the world around us, to begin to
respond verbally and grow our language skills, to develop behavioral
responses, and to cultivate connections in this world.

At a basic level, you use pattern recognition to match your socks

each day.

Additionally, when Netflix recommends shows based on your

interests or a chat bot pesters you on a website, the technology
(Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning) relies on pattern
recognition.

Similarly, when an email is automatically sent to your spam folder,

that’s based on patter recognition. Beyond this, scientists often
use pattern recognition to help determine the source of a disease
outbreak.

PAGE 10
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
Examples of Pattern Recognition in Curriculum
Pattern recognition applies in the classroom as well.

English Language Students begin to define sonnets based on

Arts similarities in separate examples.

Students recognize the specific formulas

Mathematics
used to calculate slopes and intercepts.

Students classify animals based on their

Science characteristics and articulate common
characteristics for the groupings.

Students identify the potential impact

Social Studies different economic trends reap by looking
at data.

Students group different words in a foreign

Languages language by looking at their roots to build a
better understanding of vocabulary.

Students categorize paintings based on

commonalities between artists’ aesthetics
Arts
and detail key characteristics that each
grouping presents.

PAGE 11
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
Examples of Pattern Recognition in Computer
Science
And in computer science, pattern recognition helps students identify
similarities between decomposed problems. If they are coding a
game, they may recognize similar objects, patterns, and actions.
Finding these allows them to apply the same, or slightly modified,
string of code to each, which makes their programming more
efficient.

Character Design

Through the quest to build understanding in unfamiliar scenarios or in

the face of uncertainty, students learn to persist through iteration and
experimentation and accept that failure and struggle are a part of the
learning process.

PAGE 12
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
Abstraction
Also called, pattern generalization, abstraction enables us to navigate
complexity and find relevance and clarity at scale. Decomposition
and pattern recognition broke down the complex, and abstraction
figures out how to work with the different parts efficiently and
accurately. This process occurs through filtering out the extraneous
and irrelevant in order to identify what’s most important and connect
each decomposed problem.

“But it is a pipe.”
No, it’s not. It’s a drawing of a pipe.
Get it? All representations of a thing are
inherently abstract. It’s very clever.
JOHN GREEN

Abstraction is similar to the selective filtering function in our

brains that gates the neural signals with which we are constantly
bombarded so we can make sense of our world and focus on what’s
essential to us.

PAGE 13
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
Examples of Abstraction in Everyday Life
Another way to think about abstraction is in the context of those
big concepts that inform how we think about the world like
Newton’s Laws of Motion, the Law of Supply and Demand, or the
Pythagorean Theorem. All of these required the people behind
them to think about big, broad, and complex concepts; to break
down the problem and to experiment; to find patterns amongst
the experimentations; and to eventually abstract this concrete
knowledge to package it into these sterile statements that shelter
us from the complexity and difficulty waded through to arrive at this
law.

Educators use abstraction when looking at vast sets of student data

to focus on the most relevant numbers and trends. And educators
also use it when helping a student complete an assignment. There
may be kids running around the classroom or making loud noises,
but they can tune that out to focus on what the kid in need is asking
– until of course it reaches an apex level of rambunctiousness and
an intervention must be had.

PAGE 14
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
Examples of Abstraction in Curriculum
Like the other elements of computational thinking, abstraction
occurs inherently and can be addressed throughout curriculum with
students. Here are some ideas.

English Language Students summarize a novel into a book

Arts review.

Students conduct a survey of peers and

analyze the data to note the key findings,
Mathematics
create visualizations, and present the
results.

Students develop laws and theorems by

Science
looking at similar formulas and equations.

Students coalesce the most important

Social Studies details shared in articles about a current
event and write a brief about the event.

Students create a personal guide that

dictates when to use the formal and
Languages informal ‘you’ in Spanish class or the two
‘to know’ verbs in French, which, mind
you, always confounded me.

Students generalize chord progressions

Arts for common musical genres into a set of
general principles they can communicate.

PAGE 15
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
Examples of Abstractions in Computer Science
Abstraction in coding is used to simplify strings of code into different
functions. It hides the underlying complexity in a programming
language, which makes it simpler to implement algorithms and
communicate with digital tools.

Abstraction helps students return to the larger problem that prompted

this whole computational thinking adventure and identify the most
important details from the earlier phases.

Understanding abstraction enables students to make sense of

problems they encounter, helping them to not be overwhelmed in
the face of something complex and to persist, compute, iterate, and
ideate.

PAGE 16
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
Algorithmic Thinking
An algorithm is a process or formula for calculating answers, sorting
data, and automating tasks; and algorithmic thinking is the process

Effective algorithms make assumptions,

show a bias toward simple solutions, trade
off the costs of error against the cost of
delay, and take chances.
BRIAN CHRISTIAN & TOM GRIFFITHS

for developing an algorithm.

With algorithmic thinking, students endeavor to construct a step-
by-step process for solving a problem so that the work is replicable
by humans or computers. Algorithmic thinking is a derivative of
computer science and the process to develop code and program
applications. This approach automates the problem-solving process
by creating a series of systematic, logical steps that intake a defined
set of inputs and produce a defined set of outputs based on these.

In other words, algorithmic thinking is not solving for a specific

answer; instead, it solves how to build a sequential, complete, and
replicable process that has an end point – an algorithm. Designing
an algorithm helps students to both communicate and interpret clear
instructions for a predictable, reliable output. As was said earlier, this
is the crux of computational thinking.

PAGE 17
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
Examples of Algorithms in Everyday Life
And like computational thinking and its other elements we’ve
discussed, algorithms are something we experience quite regularly
in our lives.

Whether you’re an amateur chef or a frozen meal aficionado, you follow

recipes and directions for preparing food, and that’s an algorithm.

Measure
Pancake mix

Add Water

Mix Well

Spreadable Too Thick

When you’re feeling groovy and bust out in a dance routine –

maybe the Cha Cha Slide, the Macarena, or Flossing – you are also
following a routine that emulates an algorithm while simultaneously
being really cool.

Outlining a process for checking out books in a school library or

instructions for cleaning up at the end of the day is developing an
algorithm and letting your inner computer scientist shine.

PAGE 18
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
Examples of Algorithms in Curriculum
Beginning to develop students’ algorithmic prowess, however, does
not require formal practice with coding or even access to technology.
To get started, here are ideas for incorporating algorithmic thinking in
different subjects.

Students map a flow chart that details

English Language
directions for determining whether to use
Arts
a colon or dash in a sentence.

In a word problem, students develop

a step-by-step process for how they
Mathematics
answered the question that can then be
applied to similar problems.

Students articulate how to classify

Science
elements in the periodic table.

Students describe a sequence of smaller

Social Studies events in history that precipitated a much
larger event.

Students apply new vocabulary and

practice speaking skills to direct another
Languages student to perform a task, whether it’s
ordering coffee at a café or navigating
from one point in a classroom to another.

Students create instructions for drawing

Arts a picture that another student then has to
use to recreate the image.

PAGE 19
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
Examples of Algorithms in Computer Science
These are obviously more elementary examples; algorithms –
especially those used in coding – are often far more intricate and
complex. To contextualize algorithms in computer science and
programming, below are two examples.

Standardized Testing and Algorithms: Coding enables the adaptive

technology often leveraged in classrooms today. For example, the
shift to computer-based standardized tests has led to the advent of
adaptive assessments that pick questions based on student ability as
determined by correct and incorrect answers.

If students select the correct answer to a question, then the next

question is moderately more difficult. But if they answer wrong, then
the assessment offers a moderately easier question. This occurs
through an iterative algorithm that starts with a pool of questions.
After an answer, the pool is adjusted accordingly. This repeats
continuously.

The Omnipotent Google and Algorithms: Google’s search results

are determined (in part) by the PageRank algorithm, which assigns a
webpage’s importance based on the number of sites linking to it.

So, if we google ‘what is an algorithm,’ we can bet that the chosen

pages have some of the most links to them for the topic ‘what is
an algorithm.’ It’s still more complicated than this, of course; if you
are interested, this article goes into the intricacies of the PageRank
algorithm.
There are over 1.5 billion websites with billions more pages to count,

PAGE 20
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
but thanks to algorithmic thinking we can type just about anything
into Google and expect to be delivered a curated list of resources in
under a second. This right here is the power of algorithmic thinking.

The Google algorithm was a significant

development. I’ve had thank-you emails
from people whose lives have been saved
by information on a medical website
or who have found the love of their life
on a dating website.
TIM BERNERS-LEE

In whatever way it’s approached in the classroom, algorithmic

thinking encourages students to communicate clearly and logically.
Students learn to persevere throughout its multiple iterations,
challenges, and solutions. To arrive at an algorithm (especially as
algorithms advance in complexity), they must apply computational
thinking and practice metacognition as they do so. In this
process, students become more adept critical thinkers, eloquent
communicators, and curious problem solvers that ask bold questions
and flourish in ambiguity and uncertainty.

PAGE 21
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
The Whole Shebang: Four Computational
Thinking Projects for Students

Now that we have explored the nuances of decomposition, pattern

recognition, abstraction, and algorithmic thinking, this section will
offer four project examples in math, English language arts, science,
and social studies. These can all be easily modified to fit different
grade levels, too.

Data Analysis in Math Class

In a middle school math class, students embarked on an inquiry-

driven project in which they curated and collected data and analyzed
it algebraically. They mapped the quantitative variables in scatter
plots to identify trends and then used r-value representations to
show their findings.

The teacher emphasized throughout this project that “data is a tool to

get people to hear you.” With concise analysis and engaging visuals,
students were able to create compelling projects on topics about
which they were passionate.

One student analyzed instances of breast cancer by using an online

database to curate data dating back to 1995. Having had her mother
diagnosed with the disease as well as two family friends, she wanted
to study the rates of mortality and measure the rate of increases in
diagnoses. Looking at the data, she applied computational thinking
skills to find patterns and abstract the most important information.

PAGE 22
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
Understanding Character Connections in
English Language Arts
Language arts classes are also opportunities to leverage
computational thinking in the classroom. In this example, students
used computational thinking skills to perform literary analysis on
books like Hamlet and Harry Potter. Students developed network
diagrams and interaction graphs to abstract the different connections
between characters.

This technique helped contextualize the literature for students so

they can better create understanding about the work, like power
dynamics or important relationships that drive the narrative. This
helped students to build a more complete understanding of the
readings and track the flow of narratives on anything from the Cat
in the Hat to Beowulf. As explained by the writer, this sort of analysis
enabled students to understand the questions that data can answer
and what data analysis can be automated.

PAGE 23
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
Using Design Thinking to Build Models in
Science
In this Science class, students applied computational thinking,
physics, and engineering design to build earthquake resistant
bridges. The unit started with understanding the function of
bridges and the different types. Students then moved to studying
earthquakes and the impact of their forces.

When it came time to design the earthquake resistant bridge,

students used their computational thinking skills. Computational
thinking enabled them to analyze a variety of bridge models to find
patterns in their structure and abstract from this the important elements
needed in a functional design.

As they tested the different prototypes, computational thinking

allowed them to collect data and find opportunities to improve the
structure.

This can be a great unplugged project that hones student

collaboration and critical thinking through working to design functional
models and also enhance their engineering design skills.

PAGE 24
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
Decoding Cryptography in Social Studies

In studying the importance of cryptography for sending coded

messages in World War II, specifically focusing on the German
Enigma machine, students learned how secret codes can be both
developed and cracked using algorithms and other aspects of
computational thinking. In this example of computational thinking,
students designed their own cipher wheel to send coded messages
and learned how algorithms are integral to developing coded
languages.

While this example is great to engage students in a unit about World

War II with collaborative, hands-on practice, it can also be translated
into similar projects for other coded languages used in combat,
Morse code, or language in general. Language, in essence, is a
series of patterns from which we can abstract different rules, making
it an excellent way to engage students in computational thinking in
real-world contexts. Beyond growing their understanding of code in
World War II in this unit, students also deepen their understanding of
language and ability to recognize patterns that exist all around us.

Learning.com’s EasyTech K-12 digital literacy curriculum

includes a library of more than 1,000 classroom-ready
lessons, activities, interactive games and videos that help
build computational thinking skills across core subjects.
The lessons can be implemented by teachers without any
special technology training, and not all require a device.

Learn more at learning.com/easytech

PAGE 25
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
More Than Just Problem Solving
Computational thinking is a shift in how we approach problem
solving. With a formulaic process, we can navigate complexity and
stay focused on what is important without losing sight of the solution
amongst all the noise. With it, we can solve problems with mass
amounts of data and lead unknown journeys through these data-
filled landscapes. This ability to navigate complex information and to
think in a way that complements technological processes is essential
to student readiness.

Beyond critical thinking and other problem-solving skills,

computational thinking builds essential attitudes like:

• Embracing ambiguity with confidence.

• Persisting through iteration and experimentation.
• Practicing teamwork.
• Leading learning with inquiry.
• Situating oneself as a lifelong learner.

Through this process, students learn to ask bold questions

and persist through complexities toward yet-to-be imagined
solutions. In applying computational thinking, students collect and
analyze resources, think critically and creatively in collaborative
environments, and develop a growth mindset by learning to
embrace ambiguity and reframe challenges as opportunities, both
with and without technology.

PAGE 26
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
These abilities empower students to be intentional and mindful in
their thoughts, their actions, and their connections they build.

What’s the takeaway?

Computational thinking is more than just problem solving.

As a foundation for coding, computational thinking encourages us

to reflect clearly on a problem we’re solving and intentionally program
solutions for it.

As a foundation for technology integration, computational thinking

encourages us to consider how we can leverage technology to aid
us in solving these problems – to automate certain tasks.

As a foundation for problem solving, computational thinking

encourages us to be diligent and organized in our
work, to plan from the outset how we want to solve
a problem but to embrace the fluidity of the process
as we come to more and more understanding of the
data and information we’re navigating.

As a foundation for thought,

computational thinking encourages us
to push the bounds of our creativity, to
imagine impossible solutions and strive
to make these possible, and to think
according to potential and not limits.

PAGE 27
The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators
To learn more visit Learning.com or
contact us at [email protected].

Copyright © 2019, 2021 by Learning.com. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any format without written
permission except in the case of brief quotations used in articles or reviews.