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Future Ready Schools

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Session Description

This session explores valuable research relevant to personalized learning along with technology integral to Future Ready Schools. When used efficiently, technology can power classroom collaboration, inquiry, and composition, as well as foster global connections.

Technology Learning Strategy

Background

Critical thinking remains a key dexterity for students to develop. It is defined as a combination of skills, including reasoning, the ability to make judgments and decisions, solve problems. Another key component include systems thinking. This involves analyzing "how parts of a whole interact with each other to produce overall outcomes in complex systems."

Strategy: Computational Thinking

Computational thinking is defined as "solving problems, designing systems, and understanding human behavior, by drawing on the concepts fundamental to computer science" (Source). It is a set of problem-solving thought processes derived from computer science but applicable in any domain.

Activity #1 - Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich Algorithm

Instructions

With a partner, put together an algorithm (a step by step set of directions) for making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. To simplify the process, we'll be substituting gnutella for peanut butter and jelly, as well as crackers in lieu of bread.

Share Results

Take a picture of your creation and the process you went through. Submit both--along with your names--online.

Activity #2 - Hotel Tour

Description

In this activity, you will explore computational thinking via an "unplugged" activity regarding algorithms. Algorithms allow critical thinkers to solve a problem once and then, as long as they have checked it carefully, avoid having to think about it ever again.

This activity is an example of creating an algorithm that is a simple sequence of instructions to do in order. It shows that if we have written down a solution to the problem in the form of an algorithm then we are able to do tours in future just by following the steps, without having to work it out from scratch again. Test the algorithm we can check that it definitely works by following it step by step on paper.

Task

Devise a tour that gets a tourist from their hotel to all the city sights and back to their hotel. Work it out on paper then submit it online.

Share Results

Activity #3 - Prime Numbers with Tynker

See Algorithms in Action

Encourage your child to write out their morning algorithm, or the algorithm for an even simpler task, like brushing their teeth or eating cereal. Without knowing it, they’ll be exploring important computational concepts like repetition (brush bottom left teeth five times), sequencing (put cereal in bowl and then put in milk), and conditional logic (if the bowl is empty, stop eating).

Challenge your child to be as specific with the instructions as possible. Computers don’t understand your intentions, so if you don’t specify that you need to get out the bowl first, you’ll end up pouring milk on the floor!

Algorithmic thinking, or the ability to define clear steps to solve a problem, is crucial in subjects like Math and Science. Kids use algorithms without realizing it all the time, especially in Math. To solve a long division problem, kids apply an algorithm that they’ve learned in order to iterate through the digits of the number they’re dividing. For each digit of the dividend (the number being divided), the child must divide, multiply, and subtract. Algorithmic thinking allows kids to break down problems and conceptualize solutions in terms of discrete steps in a procedure.

Kids can strengthen their algorithmic thinking skills by completing coding activities on our Hour of Code page. To complete puzzles, kids design simple algorithms based on sequencing, repetition, and conditional logic to solve fun problems. Just like all skills, kids can improve their algorithmic thinking through daily practice and by completing creative projects to apply their skills. To learn more about algorithms and problem-solving, try a subscription to our courses!

Explore how this algorithm works

In Math class, kids learn about prime numbers and how to determine if a number is prime. But with large numbers, this is very difficult! For the number 493, you’d have to try over 15 calculations to learn that 493 is not prime (17 * 29 = 493). Kids can write an algorithm in Tynker to determine if a number is prime.

Reflection: Implementation Barriers

Take a moment to reflect on your experiences with algorithms, either in teams or alone. Respond to this question:

How does Computational Thinking prepare learners for the future?

Share your word or phrase online

Fostering Global Connections

One Idea

Have students collaborate at a distance to create an algorithm that solves a problem. Students can collaborate using Google Docs, Word Online, or some other tool to solve a common task.

Some sample problems include:

Research & Resources

A variety of resources cite research describing the learning strategy. All include some measure of critical thinking, of which systems thinking plays a key component.

Google Sites

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