Computational Thinking The Fourth ‘R’ Joan Peckham Harriet Taylor National Science Foundation CISE/CNS/EWF

Computational Thinking … Jeanette Wing – CACM, Mar 06, (49,3) “drawing on the concepts fundamental to computer science” “… computing processes, whether they are executed by a human or by a machine” “is a fundamental skill for everyone”

Computational Thinking What is it? Computational constructs & techniques for problem solving –research and practical –interdisciplinary –foundational and applied

Computational Thinking Examples Multitasking Information management Effective/efficient procedures (algorithms) Networks and communication –Security, safety, efficiency, usability Modeling – in all domains HCI - Human interfaces

Computational Thinking Weaving into the Fabric K-12 General education - post secondary Interdisciplinary research

Computational Thinking Activities - NAS/CSTB Computational Thinking for Everyone: A Workshop Series

Computational Thinking Activities - Carnegie Mellon Center for Computational Thinking Carnegie Mellon “way of solving problems, designing systems, and understanding human behavior that draws on concepts fundamental to computer science”

Computational Thinking Activities - Influential Folks Peter Denning - Great Computing Ideas – Marc Snir – Org. of CISE at universities – CRA-E – Andries van Dam - initial chair –Thinking broadly about computing education CSTA – Chris Stephenson – ces.html

Computational Thinking CPATH Activities CISE Pathways to Revitalized Undergraduate Computing Education (CPATH) Focused on transformation of undergraduate computing education on a national scale Community building and institutional transformation activities

Computational Thinking CPATH Activities Many CPATH projects include elements of computational thinking U Illinois – CT into many disciplines Union College/Lafayette College – across all disciplines at institution Brown – humanities and social sciences DePaul – across all curricula

Computational Thinking CPATH Activities More institutional transformations Towson U – new general education course U Nebraska – Renaissance Computing Utah State – early experiences and high school

Computational Thinking CPATH Activities Community Building projects Purdue – CT and sciences VPI and 3 others – Life in the Knowledge Society Focus for community building this year on computational thinking communities

Computational Thinking Other CISE programs Broadening Participation in Computing – project with Los Angeles school district GK computation science in high school disciplines in Newark, NJ

Computational Thinking Where are we now? Where are we headed? What can we work on together?