Computational Thinking for Educators


It's been a while since I first wrote posts about computational thinking and the resources available since those first posts have grown tremendously. One of my favorite ones for educators is the Computational Thinking for Educators course with Google available here.  While the original course is finished, the modules are still available on the website. Here is a brief video introducing the course:


What I love about it is that it really brings computational thinking (CT)into the world of educators. Through simulations and tasks that participants can interact with, learners see that CT can be applied to various subject areas. For example, in the 'traveling problem,' learners experiment with finding the shortest, most efficient path on an actual Google map with the goal of exploring algorithms. There is the opportunity to explore and find patterns in music using an activity created using Pencil Code. With Turtle geometry, learners have the opportunity to apply CT while finding patterns in geometry.

I found this course is an incredible way to not only learn about CT, but to experience it and reflect on how to apply it to my own teaching practice. The final task of the course was to create a lesson plan that integrates CT - in other words, applying the course content to teaching real kids. There is a collection of CT lessons created by educators available here. It is possible to search for the relevant subject area and age range to make it easier to find lesson just right for anyone to use and bring CT to their classroom. CT is truly for everyone, everywhere.

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