Teaching computational thinking: how to teach students to think algorithmically and logically
Computational thinking refers to the ability to solve problems logically and algorithmically using skills such as decomposition, abstraction, pattern recognition, and algorithm writing. Integrating computational thinking into teaching not only prepares students for today’s digital world, but also promotes critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity.
As a teacher, you probably know that the LOMLOE (Spain’s current education law) highlights the importance of computational thinking in the curriculum, which gives us the opportunity to reflect on the activities we do and discover new ideas for developing this skill in our students.
However, finding suitable activities to teach in the classroom can be a real challenge. Looking for teaching resources that effectively address the elements of computational thinking and match children’s level can be a good starting point for bringing it into the classroom.
Activities to develop computational thinking
Computational thinking has become a key competency in today’s world, and there are many activities we can bring into the classroom to encourage its development. To introduce computational thinking in the classroom, you can try activities such as:
- Coding with Scratch: Scratch is a fun, visual programming tool that lets students create interactive stories, animations, and games. It is integrated into our math programs, such as EMAT in primary and ONMAT in secondary. Using Scratch, students learn to sequence actions, use loops and conditionals, and solve problems through coding. This tool builds computational thinking in a fun and accessible way. Students who take part in coding activities using Scratch show greater progress in learning math, according to the report La Escuela de Pensamiento Computacional (The School of Computational Thinking), produced by Spain’s National Institute of Educational Technologies and Teacher Training (INTEF).
- Problem solving with chess: Chess is a game that promotes strategic and logical thinking. Students can take part in chess-related activities that require analyzing complex situations, planning moves, and anticipating the opponent’s possible responses. This helps develop computational thinking skills, such as pattern recognition and logic-based decision-making. At tekman, we work on this through Ajedrez en el Aula, a program that introduces the mental workout of chess and helps children, from a very early age, build logical reasoning and computational thinking into their skill set.
- Designing and programming robots: Educational robotics offers a unique opportunity for children to put computational thinking into practice. While building and programming robots, students face challenges that require analyzing problems, breaking tasks down into smaller steps, and writing algorithms. This activity lets them experiment with the problem-solving process in a tangible, concrete way.
- Research and data analysis projects: Research and data analysis projects give your students the opportunity to apply computational thinking across different subjects. They can carry out research using data collection and analysis tools, such as spreadsheets or data visualization software. This lets them break complex problems down into smaller questions, identify patterns in the data, and draw evidence-based conclusions.
How to design activities around the 4 main elements
To teach students to think algorithmically and logically, it is important to design activities that address the four key elements of computational thinking: decomposition, abstraction, pattern recognition, and algorithm writing.
- Decomposition: you can build the ability to break complex problems down into smaller, more manageable parts. For example, give children the task of planning a party and identify the different tasks that need to be done, such as sending invitations, preparing decorations, and organizing games.
- Abstraction: this builds the ability to identify the key aspects of a problem. For example, you can give your students a maze and ask them to find the shortest route to a specific destination, focusing on the basic moves needed.
- Pattern recognition: this involves developing the ability to identify similarities and regularities in different situations. For example, give children a series of numbers and ask them to find the pattern or rule behind it, while encouraging them to predict the next number in the sequence.
- Algorithm writing: here, students learn to design precise, sequential steps to solve a problem. For example, you can suggest a recipe and ask them to follow it step by step to prepare a dish, emphasizing the sequence and following the instructions precisely.
In short, computational thinking is a fundamental skill that we need to include in the curriculum to properly meet the requirements of the LOMLOE. What’s more, by fostering computational thinking, we are preparing students to face the challenges of the future and strengthening their ability to solve problems effectively.
