What is computational thinking? - Introduction to computational thinking - KS3 Computer Science Revision - BBC Bitesize (2024)

What is computational thinking?

Computers can be used to help us solve problems. However, before a problem can be tackled, the problem itself and the ways in which it could be solved need to be understood.

Computational thinking allows us to do this.

Computational thinking allows us to take a complex problem, understand what the problem is and develop possible solutions. We can then present these solutions in a way that a computer, a human, or both, can understand.

The four cornerstones of computational thinking

There are four key techniques (cornerstones) to computational thinking:

  • - breaking down a complex problem or system into smaller, more manageable parts
  • – looking for similarities among and within problems
  • – focusing on the important information only, ignoring irrelevant detail
  • - developing a step-by-step solution to the problem, or the rules to follow to solve the problem

Each cornerstone is as important as the others. They are like legs on a table - if one leg is missing, the table will probably collapse. Correctly applying all four techniques will help when programming a computer.

What is computational thinking? - Introduction to computational thinking - KS3 Computer Science Revision - BBC Bitesize (1)

Computational thinking in practice

A complex problem is one that, at first glance, we don't know how to solve easily.

Computational thinking involves taking that complex problem and breaking it down into a series of small, more manageable problems (decomposition). Each of these smaller problems can then be looked at individually, considering how similar problems have been solved previously (pattern recognition) and focusing only on the important details, while ignoring irrelevant information (abstraction). Next, simple steps or rules to solve each of the smaller problems can be designed (algorithms).

Finally, these simple steps or rules are used to a computer to help solve the complex problem in the best way.

What is computational thinking? - Introduction to computational thinking - KS3 Computer Science Revision - BBC Bitesize (2024)

FAQs

What is computational thinking? - Introduction to computational thinking - KS3 Computer Science Revision - BBC Bitesize? ›

Computational thinking allows us to take a complex problem, understand what the problem is and develop possible solutions. We can then present these solutions in a way that a computer, a human, or both, can understand.

What is computational thinking in short answer? ›

Computational thinking (CT) refers to the thought processes involved in formulating problems so their solutions can be represented as computational steps and algorithms. In education, CT is a set of problem-solving methods that involve expressing problems and their solutions in ways that a computer could also execute.

What is computational thinking quizlet? ›

Computational thinking. Is the thought processes involved in formulating a problem and expressing its solution in such a way that a computer—human or machine—can effectively carry out. Decomposition. Means breaking a problem down into smaller, more manageable parts which are then easier to solve.

What is computational thinking for kids? ›

Computational thinking – in its simplest terms – is simply problem-solving. It's the ability to break down a problem into its component parts, identify trends and patterns, differentiate between relevant and irrelevant data, and using those steps to come up with a solution to a problem.

What is computational thinking easy? ›

Computational thinking requires: exploring and analysing problems thoroughly in order to fully understand them. using precise and detailed language to outline both problems and solutions. applying clear reasoning at every stage of the process.

What is computational thinking in KS3? ›

Computational thinking involves taking that complex problem and breaking it down into a series of small, more manageable problems (decomposition).

What is a simple example of computational thinking? ›

Younger students may recognize computational thinking in how they organize their toys or share with a friend or family member. Older students may recognize this process in how they plan or execute a bike route, organize their schedule, complete homework, set goals or solve real-life problems.

What best describes computational thinking? ›

Definition of Computational Thinking

Computational thinking is a set of skills and processes that enable students to navigate complex problems. It relies on a four-step process that can be applied to nearly any problem: decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction and algorithmic thinking.

What is the key concept of computational thinking? ›

The foundations of computational thinking are abstraction, decomposition, pattern recognition and testing and debugging. The practices of computational thinking are creating algorithms, working with data, understanding systems, and creating computational models.

How do you understand computational thinking? ›

How Do You Become a Computational Thinker?
  1. Practice Breaking Down Problems. Immerse yourself in the basics of analyzing and breaking down problems into smaller parts. ...
  2. Start Identifying Patterns. ...
  3. Engage in Using Abstraction & Algorithmic Design for Solutions. ...
  4. Consider Learning Basic Coding Skills.
Mar 12, 2024

How do you know if an algorithm is working correctly? ›

Formal reasoning. The only way to prove the correctness of an algorithm over all possible inputs is by reasoning formally or mathematically about it. One form of reasoning is a "proof by induction", a technique that's also used by mathematicians to prove properties of numerical sequences.

How would you decompose the task of creating an app? ›

this task, you would need to know the answer to a series of smaller problems:
  1. what kind of app you want to create.
  2. what your app will look like.
  3. who the target audience for your app is.
  4. what your graphics will look like.
  5. what audio you will include.
  6. what software you will use to build your app.

What are two methods of representing algorithms? ›

Algorithms are step-by-step plans for solving problems. They can be designed using pseudo-code and flowcharts.

What is the reason for decomposing a problem? ›

Why is decomposition important? If a problem is not decomposed, it is much harder to solve. Dealing with many different stages all at once is much more difficult than breaking a problem down into a number of smaller problems and solving each one, one at a time.

How do computers solve problems? ›

Computers can solve problems by performing billions of operations per second. A programmer's job is to find solutions. They do this by breaking down problems into easy-to-follow steps for a computer. Programming languages allow people to communicate with computers.

What is the difference between abstraction and decomposition? ›

Abstraction is the process of removing unnecessary detail and focusing on the overview – this allows programs to run faster and use less memory. Decomposition is the process of breaking large, complex problems into smaller, manageable parts.

What are the 4 components of computational thinking? ›

Core Components of Computational Thinking

BBC outlines four cornerstones of computational thinking: decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithms. Decomposition invites students to break down complex problems into smaller, simpler problems.

What is computational intelligence in simple words? ›

Computational Intelligence:Computational intelligence is a branch of artificial intelligence that deals with creating algorithms and systems that can learn from data and make decisions based on what they have learned.

What is computational thinking in real life? ›

Computational thinking is a problem-solving approach that enables individuals to tackle complex challenges by breaking problems down into manageable steps, recognizing patterns, and designing repeatable, step-by-step solutions.

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