This document discusses computational thinking and provides examples of how it can be applied. It defines computational thinking as using logical reasoning and problem-solving skills to solve problems. It gives examples of computational thinking in everyday life, sciences, archaeology, journalism, and more. The document also discusses teaching computational thinking to others using block-based programming languages like Snap, Scratch, and Pictoblox. Key concepts covered include sequences, loops, conditionals, events, parallelism, operators, and data.

1. Computational Thinking
Mujitha Bai K B
Founder, WhizThinkers
https://whizthinkers.com/
Before 21st century- you had to understand
how computer programs work
In 21st century, you need to know
how to make computers work the way you want

2. Is Computational Thinking just for
- computer scientists
- engineers
- those who want to program or code on computers?
What is Computational Thinking?

3. Computational Thinking holds the power of showing us the “how” of our everyday life

4. Computational Thinking in Sciences & for the Society
Computational Thinking in Everyday Life
Computational Thinking in Archaeology, Journalism, Humanities
Jeannette Wing (Microsoft Research) (previously NSF, US)
rather than saying that computer science is just for computer scientists,
she has championed the idea that computer science is for everyone
Computational Thinking can be a way of expressing oneself.
Up until now, expressing our emotions had been limited to poetry, stories, painting, music
What we often fail to notice is that computing is the base of all of this in one way or other
The very core logic behind poetry, painting, and music is the same as coding

5. Computational Thinking Topics
- What, Why & How
- Computational Thinking versus Coding/Programming
- Block-based Programming using Snap/Scratch
- Pathways to take it forward

6. Computational Thinking
– WHAT, HOW, WHY
Block-based Language
– HANDS-ON

7. Computational Thinking
An Unplugged Activity – Robot in Action
We can learn about computational thinking, or computer science concepts,
without actually having a computer
Robots:
A) Can figure out problems on their own
B) Follow instructions people give them in English
C) Can do only simple things
Robots can only do what they've been told to do, but we don't just tell them using words.
In order to do something, a robot needs to have a list of steps that it can read.
Today, we are going to learn what it takes to make that happen.
Robot in Action

8. Real-world scenarios
• Add numbers from 1 to 200
• Getting ready for school
• Tying shoes
• Getting parents to do what you want
Is Computational Thinking just for
- computer scientists
- engineers
- those who want to program

9. Computational Thinking – Real-world scenarios
For which of these activities you can give a list of ordered instructions:
A) Directions for getting ready for school in the morning
B) Directions for making a sandwich
C) Directions for studying for an exam
Instructions you will give to your Computer
A block-based language
Snap! is a broadly inviting
programming language for kids
and adults that’s also a
platform for serious study of
computer science.

11. WHY Computational Thinking
• Must need for everyone in 21st century (just like read, write, arithmetic)
• Own Creations – everyone aspires to make them come to life
Coding / Programming = Understanding the programming language
+ Applying creativity
+ Problem-solving skills
+ Developing important computational thinking skills
(useful for problem solving across many disciplinary areas)
Computer Programming is just one subset of Computational thinking

12. HOW - Our Approach (Unplugged Activities)
• Interactive Puzzles
• WHY Interactive Programming Puzzles?
• HOW to do an Interactive Programming Puzzle?
Puzzle 1: Starter Code Video
Puzzle 2: Starter Code Video
Puzzle 3: Starter Code Video
Puzzle 4: Starter Code Video

13. Computational Thinking – Quick Review
• DEVELOP (Computational Thinking) - Using Computational Thinking Framework
• Learn basic programming skills by creating interactive storybooks, animations, and
games with Snap / Scratch, which is a block-based visual programming language for
anyone new to coding
• As young people design interactive media with Snap / Scratch, they engage with a set of
computational concepts that are common in many programming languages
• There are seven concepts, which are highly useful in a wide range of Snap / Scratch
projects, and which transfer to other programming (and non-programming) contexts

14. Computational Thinking – Quick Review…….
• Sequence: identifying a series of steps for a task
• Loops: running the same sequence multiple times
• Parallelism: making things happen at the same time
• Events: one thing causing another thing to happen
• Conditionals: making decisions based on conditions
• Operators: support for mathematical and logical expressions
• Data: storing, retrieving, and updating values

15. Scratch

16. Pictoblox

17. Snap

18. Beetle Blocks

20. Computational Thinking in:
Everyday Life
Archaeology, Journalism,
Humanities
Jeannette Wing (Microsoft Research) (previously NSF, US)
rather than saying that computer science is just for computer scientists, she has
championed the idea that computer science is for everyone
Sciences & for the Society

21. Computational Thinking can be a way of expressing oneself.
Up until now, expressing our emotions had been limited to poetry, stories,
painting, music
What we often fail to notice is that computing is the base of all of this in one
way or other
The very core logic behind poetry, painting, and music is the same as coding

22. Computational Thinking – Basic Concepts
We frequently exhibit aspects of computational thinking in our everyday lives!
1. Sequences & Loops
• How do we give instructions to a robot or chat with a bot?
• Give someone directions to a nearby store
• Write out some dance moves
2. Variables, Events & Nested Loops
• How can you learn about abstraction by creating a movie
scene?
• Make an interactive map using lists
• You'll learn (and do it yourself - DIY) in this module
3. Conditional Loops, IF Statements
• Want to make a game that ends when you "catch" an
object?
• Maybe you get points based on how close you came?
• You'll do that in this class!

23. We frequently exhibit aspects of computational thinking in our everyday lives!
4. Nested IF, Compound Conditionals
• How to program a complex "choose your own adventure"
game?
• How can your soccer game determine goals, balls out of
bounds, and corner kicks?
5. Abstraction, Methods & Lists
• How do gamers cause things to happen when they hit
buttons on their controller?
• How does the computer keep track of gamer's scores?

24. Unit 1) Sequences
Interactive Puzzles
Puzzle 1: Starter Code Video
Puzzle 2: Starter Code Video
Puzzle 3: Starter Code Video
Puzzle 4: Starter Code Video
Programming Puzzle: Draw a House
Additional Programming Puzzles

25. Unit 1) Loops
Interactive Puzzles
Puzzle 1: Starter Code Video
Puzzle 2: Starter Code Video
Puzzle 3: Starter Code Video
Puzzle 4: Starter Code Video
Programming Puzzle:
Additional Programming Puzzles

26. 3. Conditional Loops & IF Statements
• Fixed vs Conditional – Real-life Scenarios
Examples
• Some examples of your own - Fixed vs Conditional:
• Interactive Puzzles – Conditional Loops

27. References
5 Best Scratch Coding Alternatives for Teaching Kids to Code
• https://thestempedia.com/blog/scratch-coding-alternatives-for-teaching-kids-to-code/
MOOCS and Online Courses
• Get Coding with Snap! at openSAP
Manuals and documentation
• Reference Manual
Books
• Codierte Kunst, by Joachim Wedekind (in German)
• The Coding Book, by Virginia King, Lee Ryall and Invent the World
• Computer Science with Snap!, by Eckart Modrow

28. In this session, you’ll learn
- How to navigate the program’s interface and will create some highly
individual artwork.
- To create sprites, costumes, “for-loops” and much more.
- You’ll become even more adventurous, applying concepts such as
randomness, building functions, cloning, and recursion.
- Armed with all this, we’ll set you loose to discover your inner artist – and
computer scientist!

29. Hans-On Exercises
•Unit 1: Create Your Own Virtual Flower Garden
•Unit 2: Getting Edgy with Polygons: Working with Geometric Shapes
•Unit 3: Spiraling Around: The "For Loop"
•Unit 4: Be Reflective: Mirror Images
•Unit 5: Escape the Maze: My First Interactive Game
http://snap.berkeley.edu/
“Using Snap! Without an Internet Connection”

30. The topic for this week is Tough Stuff with Blocks.
Here are the units you can look forward to:
Unit 1: Building with Blocks: Eliminating Chaos
Unit 2: Rumour Has It: Building a Function
Unit 3: Cloning
Unit 4: Recursion: How to Grow a Tree
Unit 5: Fireworks: Cloning Your Recursion
Unit 6: Putting it All Together: Making it Pop!

31. Approach
Desired output
Interactive Puzzle
Snap Playground
OR