This document discusses using computational thinking and scenario-based learning to teach students. It defines computational thinking as a problem-solving process that uses tools and technology to solve problems. Scenario-based learning focuses on having students define real-world problems and scenarios without a single right answer, while problem-based learning often has predefined problems and answers. The document provides examples of scenarios and shares resources developed through an NSF grant, including a Google Sites template for building scenarios and a rubric for assessing computational thinking skills. It encourages teachers to partner with businesses to develop authentic scenarios that help students build important critical thinking abilities.

1. Successful Teaching Using
Computational Thinking via
Scenario Based Learning
Chuck Winer, Professor, Computer Information Technology and
Graphics, Purdue University Calumet
Anastasia Trekles, Director of Learning Technology, Purdue
North Central
Jennifer Werner, Adjunct Professor of Computer Information
Technology and Instructional Designer, Community Healthcare
Systems

3. Objectives
 Explain the concepts of Computational Thinking and
Scenario Based Learning as powerful tools for supporting
authentic student learning
 Discuss the benefits to serving as a Subject Matter Expert to
classrooms employing scenarios
 Demonstrate how teachers and businesses can work
together to bolster important critical thinking and problem-
solving skills in students
 Share the research produced from the ASSECT NSF grant,
including a Google Sites template and Computational
Thinking rubric

4. Background
 NSF grant project (ASSECT: Advancing the Successful IT
Student Through Enhanced Computational Thinking)
 Partnership of universities in five regions
 Marriage of Jeanette Wing’s Computational Thinking (CT)
with a framework for building instructional elements
 Focus on Scenario-Based Learning (SBL) combined with CT
to help teachers deliver engaging lessons that help students
develop important critical thinking skills within authentic
career-oriented situations

5. What exactly is Computational
Thinking?
 A problem-solving process
 A way of dealing with complexity
 A method of using available tools, including technology, in
logical ways to solve problems and answer questions
 ISTE’s definition:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFcUgSYyRPg&feature=y
outu.be
 Jeanette Wing’s description: http://youtu.be/C2Pq4N-iE4I

6. Problem-Based Learning Scenario-Based Learning
PBL vs. SBL
 Project or problem is often
already defined for the
student
 Solution may involve a
particular “right answer”
 Teacher guides students
toward the right answers
 Project may be contrived or
not based on real situations
 Exact problem details not
given; students define the
problem
 There is not necessarily a
right answer
 Teacher serves purely as a
facilitator and co-learner
 Project involves real outside
experts and situations

7. Examples of SBL/CT Scenarios
 Our list research-based scenarios can be found at
https://sites.google.com/site/workshopctandsblresourcesite/s
haring-our-research-experience
 Experiential Learning Center: http://learnpbl.com
 Computer Science Teachers Association:
http://csta.acm.org/Resources/sub/ResourceFiles/CompThin
king.pdf
 Examples from Ross Smith, a teacher trained in our
workshops:
 http://whoreallydiscoveredamerica.weebly.com
 https://sites.google.com/a/hammondacademy.org/middle-ages-
project/
 https://sites.google.com/a/hammondacademy.org/standard-of-
living2/

8. The CT Rubric
 Helps to assess computational thinking skills, including
logical thinking, strategizing, abstract thinking, procedural
thinking, and optimizing
 https://sites.google.com/site/workshopctandsblresourcesite/c
omputational-thinking-rubric

9. The Scenario-Building Template
 Workshop link with context and other information:
https://sites.google.com/site/workshopctandsblresourcesite
 Google Sites Scenario-building template:
https://sites.google.com/site/assectworkshop/home

10. Google Sites
 Certainly not the only tool you can use –
http://education.Weebly.com is another great option
 Google Sites is free and relatively easy to work with, but it
does require a Google account
 A great tutorial: http://edutraining.googleapps.com/Training-
Home/module-5-sites
 Note that Sites does not work like Docs in that you cannot be
working on the same page with someone else at the same
time

11. More Resources
 LearnPBL: http://learnpbl.com
 Interesting SBL article:
http://www.learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/1108/how-to-
engage-learners-with-scenario-based-learning-
 Mobile scenarios from Intel:
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/education/k12/mobil
e-learning/action/scenarios.html

12. Thank you!
 Chuck: winer@purduecal.edu
 Staci: atrekles@purdue.edu
 Jen: jencruse@hotmail.com