Computational Thinking Progress Test 1 (Intro / Decomposition)

Computational Thinking is all about...

• Thinking like a robot
• Coding like a pro
• Solving problems

NOT an element of Computational Thinking

• Abstraction
• Inflation
• Algorithmic thinking

What is decomposition?

• Breaking down a complex problem or system into smaller, more manageable parts
• Adding detail to make a problem more complex
• When you ignore the unnecessary detail in a problem

Why do we decompose a complex problem?

• To make it more difficult to solve
• To change the problem we have
• To make it easier to solve

Which of these is an example of decomposition?

• Watching a mechanic repair a bicycle
• Looking at different bicycles for similarities between them
• Finding out how a bicycle works by looking in detail at the different parts that make up the bicycle

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

How often do we decompose problems?

• We never decompose them, computers do this for us
• On a daily basis, often without thinking about it
• Occasionally, but we don't really need to

Which of these would *NOT* be involved in decomposing a problem?

• Thinking about how the problem could be divided into smaller parts
• Working out who could help you solve a part of the problem
• Adding more parts to the problem so it becomes more complex

Your humanities teacher asks you to write a short essay on the problem of air pollution in the city. What is the best example of decomposition of this problem?

• Start writing immediately
• Make notes about what you know about the issue. Do some research online. Make a writing plan. Write. Check. Submit.
• Copy your partner's work.

Which of these is an example of decomposition?

• Guessing who has solved a crime from looking at patterns that have happened before
• Finding out when, where and how the crime was committed
• Reading a Sherlock Holmes book