Share Paper: Computational Thinking via Toy Problems

  1. Gerard Rambally, University of North Texas at Dallas, United States
Wednesday, March 23 10:45 AM-11:15 AM Regency D

Abstract: This paper examines the idea that toy problems represent an informal, motivational context in which complex computational thinking (CT) occurs. Using a range of toy problems, this paper demonstrates how key CT skills including algorithmic thinking, problem reduction, abstraction, problem decomposition, exhaustive search, heuristic reasoning, and backtracking can be fostered. Such toy problems may be seamlessly integrated into the secondary and tertiary mathematics, science, and computer science curricula. The paper presents a seamless, problem-driven approach to fostering CT which expose students to habits of mind beyond the standard secondary and core undergraduate university curricula thereby providing them with a broader, ...