Computational Thinking & Flowcharts

What is computational thinking?

• Giving Instructions to a computer

• Thinking like a computer (in binary)

• Using a series of techniques or approaches to solve a problem

• Identifying a problem

Why do we need to think computationally?

• To help us program
• To help us solve complex problems more easily
• To help us to think like a computer

Breaking a problem down into smaller parts and solving each one individually.

This is an example of:

• Decomposition

• Abstraction

• Programming

• Algorithmic Thinking

Picking out the important bits of information from the problem, and ignoring the specific details that don't matter.

This is an example of:

• Decomposition

• Abstraction

• Pattern Recognition

• Algorithmic Thinking

Designing a logical way of getting from the problem to the solution. Some of the steps may be reused and adapted to solve similar problems in the future.

This is an example of:

• Decomposition

• Abstraction

• Programming

• Algorithmic Thinking

Which of the following is NOT a computational thinking technique?

• Decomposition

• Abstraction

• Coding

• Pattern recognition

Which of these is an example of Decomposition?

• Breaking the problem of organising a cake sale into smaller parts, such as who will bake the cakes and when to hold the cake sale.

• Taking the problem of baking a cake and thinking about how we can make it the best cake possible.

• Looking at what different kinds of cake can be made.

Which of the following is an example of Algorithmic Thinking?

• Planning out your route when going to meet a friend

• When going to meet a friend, wandering around until you find them

• When going to meet a friend, asking your sister/brother to plan your route for you

You have been asked to draw an image of a cat. Your image must represent all types of cats, and focus on the main aspects.

This is an example of:

• Abstraction

• Algorithm Design

• Pattern Recognition

• Decomposition

You decide to bake a batch of cookies by following your grandmother's chocolate chip cookie recipe.

This is an example of:

• Abstraction

• Algorithm Design

• Pattern Recognition

• Decomposition