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Purple Zeus

Why promote computational thinking?

18/10/2015

0 Comments

 
What is it?

It is solving problems. That's pretty much it. More specifically, it means breaking down the problem into a list of required steps solve it accurately and efficiently. Just because it has the word computer in the title doesn't mean we can't be talking about solving a maths problem, or constructing a cooking recipe. 
So why the need to promote it?

Well, because the world has problems. And we haven't solved them all. Not even some of them. Most of them are still pretty bad too. World hunger and pollution are two issues that spring to mind. 

And who can fix them? Me? Yes. Ok, no probably not but one of my students perhaps? In five years, or fifty years? And the solution will come about because they have been trained to accurately understand problems and develop accurate and executeable solutions to it. 

It sounds like a stretch, but its really not. To bring an age ld argument older than me, JFK challenged his country to reach the moon when it sounded ridiculous, and that was solved. 
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How am I promoting it?

On a computer. Sorry, but I'm a computing teacher so that's what I work with. But please don't let that discourage you. Currently, I'm encouraging my students with my own real passion for coding and building. I do this with a variety of products including LittleBits, Minecraft, MakeyMakey, Arduinos, Scratch, Visual Basic, Python and Robotics. All will involve some aspect of getting students to solve a range of problems to within specific criteria of expectation levels.

My next endeavours will involve the implementation of open source coding onto Raspberry Pi devices into the year eleven course starting next year. This, coupled with some additional work in Python, will hopefully lead students to want to experiment with their physical hardware devices on a more advanced level.
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​I'd also like to thank Joachim and Katherine at Intel Australia for generously promoting computational thinking at Yass High School by offering an Intel Galileo as an annual prize. The prize will be awarded to a senior student who promotes computational thinking in the classroom and supports others. The first such award will be given in December 2015. 
​Additional thank you goes to Owen, the University of Sydney, and all the staff at MadMaker for generously promoting computational thinking at Yass High School by offering us a set of Arduino Esplora boards to be enable my students to enter the MadMaker Challenge.
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Students in tech club straight back into the term with the @MadMakerSTEM challenge! #stem #coding pic.twitter.com/K3UN7K9bRf

— Yass High School (@YassHighSchool) October 6, 2015
I want to incorporate more computational thinking. What should I do?
Strictly speaking remember that computational thinking is breaking down a problem into a series of explicit statements designed to solve a problem. So you may already be doing it, just without identifying it. Think along the lines of giving instructions to bake a cake, or build a go-cart. Now you might just need some support to investigate the construction of flowcharts, but they're generally quite clear once you've been shown. Thousands of examples are present throughput the web, just try searching for your own learning area and you're bound to find something meaningful. There's an example on the right for changing a light bulb.

Also, consider joining a group or social network with a passion for the concept. ICTENSW is a great organisation that readily promotes plenty of computational thinking, often in conjunction with Google.

Be willing to experiment. There is always hesitancy when trying new things, but when we're talking about puzzles, my experience suggests most kids find it fare more engaging to complete a task or activity when they are given the freedom and trust to create errors. 
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A busy tech club today with @MadMakerSTEM challenge captivating students with #computationalthinking skills #ICTENSW pic.twitter.com/WKrDZ4RD0S

— Yass High School (@YassHighSchool) October 20, 2015
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Promoting my subject

28/8/2015

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In order to garner interest for my learning area, I often try different things to promote the type of learning that would be experienced. It's a struggle I constantly face, what can I do to get more kids interested in computing? Below is a video I've created for this year as I try to develop the course Information and Software Technology for 2016. 
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MakerSpace experience

24/3/2015

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Why encourage making? Makers will help shape the future, so we need to encourage students to build and create! 

After attending the ICTENSW conference last week, I have been inspired to implement MakerSpace into the classroom at my school. Thanks to some generous individuals at the conference, I walked away with not only a plan on how to implement MakerSpace, but some physical devices to support the immediate implementation!

Some of the items, I intend on supporting were not all at the conference, but the point is MakerSpace right? I should adventure out and establish my own MakerSpace and the let the kids help me to evolve it. I already had a few things I personally owned or had gained prior approval for, before the MakerSpace concept had reached me, so I'll be able to fall back on my Mindstorms robots and Rasperry Pi, but to be greedy, I want more!

Not only do I want to implement MakerSpace to support the students at school, I want to play in MakerSpace. What better time to implement than right now, as we prepare to move into the most innovation-inspiring workplace environment at school. The #YHSRebuild is due for completion in the next few weeks, and we should be ready and teaching in the new building next term. 
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On my wish list thus far:

LittleBits
Occulus Rift
Leap Motion
3Doodler
BrickPi
Rasperry Pi
Makey Makey
Arduino Galileo
Arduino Shields
Arduino
3D printer
LED lights
Batteries
Copper tape 
Google Cardboard
Mindstorms robots

Can't seem to drag myself away from #makerspace at #ictensw. Definitely the hit of the conference. @GreatPD pic.twitter.com/bJpHjDuw02

— Nick Biddle (@nabiddle) March 15, 2015

Introducing #MakerSpace for @YassHighSchool. Thanks to @dan_bowen for supporting TECH club. pic.twitter.com/2M7KVNeI4v

— Yass High School (@YassHighSchool) March 17, 2015
.... I know there's more stuff, so if you have anything to suggest, please just let me know!
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    A Computing teacher with a passion for collaboration and open source teaching.

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 © Purple Zeus website and logo 
created and designed by N. Biddle
Newcastle High School
  • Home
    • About
    • Open source
    • Privacy
  • Coding
    • Visual Studio
    • Python
    • Arduino
    • Java
    • Scratch
    • EV3 Mindstorms
  • SDD
    • HSC >
      • Social and ethical issues
      • Application of software development approaches
      • Defining and understanding the problem
      • Planning and design
      • Implementation and delivery
      • Testing, evaluating and maintaining
      • Programming paradigms
    • Prelim >
      • Social and ethical issues
      • Hardware and software
      • Software development approaches
      • Defining the problem and planning software
      • Construction and manipulation of software
  • IST
    • Project Management
    • Authoring and multimedia
    • Internet and website development
    • Software design and development
    • Artificial intelligence
    • Robotics
    • Networking systems
    • Three-dimensional modelling
  • ISTEM
    • STEM Fundamentals
    • Mechatronics
    • Aerodynamics
    • Motion
    • Design for Space
    • 3D CAD/CAM Manufacturing
    • STEM Project
  • Digital
    • Control Technologies
    • Graphics Technologies
  • Contact
    • Samples
    • Humour
    • Blog
    • References