Computational Thinking

Claudia Danzer
How can we as teachers integrate Computational
Thinking into the elementary classroom?
Standards:

ISTE Educator Standard- CT Competency 1c: Leverage CT and CS

experts, resources and professional learning networks to
continuously improve practice integrating CT across content areas.

ISTE Educator Standard-CT Competency 3c: Plan collaboratively

with other educators to create learning activities that cross
disciplines to strengthen student understanding of CT and CS
concepts and transfer application of knowledge in new contexts.
What is ISTE?

● ISTE stands for International Society for Technology in

Education
● It is a nonprofit organization that serves educators
interested in the use of technology in education.
● The organization has published technology standards for
grades K-12.
What is Computational Thinking?

Computational Thinking is a problem-solving process that

includes the following characteristics:
● Logically organizing and analyzing data.
● Formulating solutions through a series of steps.
● Transferring problem-solving strategies to a wide range
of problems.
 Elements of Computational Thinking

● Decomposition
● Pattern Recognition
● Abstraction
● Algorithms
Your Turn

Give your neighbor an example of how you might have used

Computational thinking in the classroom.
Decomposition

1. Breaking down a problem into smaller more manageable

parts
Pattern Recognition

2. Students use analysis to recognize patterns or connections

among the different pieces of the larger problem
Abstraction

3. The process of filtering out the characteristics of patterns

that we do not need to be able to focus on those that we do
Algorithms
4. Identifies what is to be done, the instructions,
and the order in which they should be carried out
Why is Computational Thinking Important?

● Helps build skills that learners at all levels need.

● People need to be adaptable and flexible problem-solvers.
● Students learn the skills to communicate and work with
others to achieve a common goal.
● Students learn to deal with open-ended problems.
How can you bring Computational Thinking into
your classroom?
● Music- have students identify patterns in rhythm.
● Physical education- ask students to create a workout
routine
● Language Arts- encourage students to consider
alternative endings to a story.
Your Turn

Find a different partner and share how you will implement a

plan to integrate Computational Thinking in your classroom.
Resources

Important Links:

ISTE

Code.org

Google for Education

Staff Questions
Does anyone have any questions?
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