computational thinking with scratch workshop

The Mind Lab by Unitec | Computational Thinking | 2016

David Parsons & Karen Baker: ‘Computational Thinking with Scratch’ Workshop

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Presentation from the Digital Horizons conference, Whangarei, New Zealand, June 3rd 2016

www.digitalhorizon.nz www.themindlab.com

http://www.digitalhorizon.nz




The Mind Lab by Unitec | 2016The Mind Lab by Unitec | Computational Thinking | 2016

★ What is computational thinking?★ Why should I care?★ How could you use the Scratch visual programming

language to explore computational thinking?★ How might you use computational thinking in your

own classrooms?

Enjoy the Journey

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The Mind Lab by Unitec | Computational Thinking | 2016The Mind Lab by Unitec | Computational Thinking | 2016

Not a ‘trade’...“just like how not everyone who learns to write will go on to become a professional writer — nor everyone who learns arithmetic will go on to become a professional mathematician — not everyone who learns to code will go on to become a software developer. But all people who learn these things will be immensely better off as a result of their efforts.”

Quincy Larson - “Please do learn to code” (blog post)

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“Computational thinking is a fundamental skill for everyone, not just for computer scientists. To reading, writing, and arithmetic, we should add computational thinking to every child’s analytical ability.”

Jeanette Wing

… but a fundamental skill...

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… that everyone needs“The impact of computing extends far beyond science, however, affecting all aspects of our lives. To flourish in today's world, everyone needs computational thinking.”

Carnegie Mellon Center for Computational Thinking

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Computational Thinking Means...★ Solving problems★ Applying abstraction and decomposition★ Thinking algorithmically - what’s the process?★ Thinking conceptually - what’s the model?★ Understanding how things repeat and scale★ Dealing with errors

...among other things (depends who you read)

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★ Computational thinking is not○ Thinking like a computer

★ Nor even (always)○ Thinking about computation

★ But○ Thinking with the same clarity and strategy that is

required to command machines○ ...even if you are not commanding a machine

What It Is and Is Not

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1960s - Theory of computation (Perlis)1970s - Computing as a medium (Kay and Goldberg)1980s - Constructionism (Papert), procedural literacy (Shiel)2000 - Computational literacy (diSessa)2006 - Computational thinking (Wing)

This week’s fad?

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★ Organise yourselves into height order

Did you use:➔ Sequence?➔ Selection?➔ Iteration?➔ Something else?

Algorithms

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The Mind Lab by Unitec | Computational Thinking | 2016The Mind Lab by Unitec | 2016

scratch.mit.eduScratch is a visual programming tool that helps young people learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively

The Mind Lab by Unitec |Computational Thinking | 2016 10


Play for 5 minutesGo to scratch.mit.edu

Click Create

Make the cat go meowMake it do something elseMake it moveMake it talkMake it draw!

The Mind Lab by Unitec | Computational Thinking | 2016

If you know Scratch already, pair with someone who doesn’t

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm8_pEtm35M


Algorithms & AbstractionsSee if you can create (+ change) the following shapes with a partner

Use (at least) these ‘blocks’ of code


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wdgjWqSjzs


Repetition and Scale

15 The Mind Lab by Unitec | Computational Thinking | 2016 15

goo.gl/tFAE3N

https://goo.gl/tFAE3N

https://goo.gl/tFAE3N


Thinking Conceptually - Art?

A

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goo.gl/EMHfdB

https://goo.gl/EMHfdB

https://goo.gl/EMHfdB


Scaling / Repeating★ Making shapes rotate / resize / recolour / morph?★ Try to turn your shapes into something more

wonderful

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goo.gl/NI7tua


https://goo.gl/NI7tua

https://goo.gl/NI7tua


Linda Liukas is a programmer, storyteller and illustrator. Her children's book, Hello Ruby, raised a total of $380,000 on Kickstarter. She founded Rails Girls, which has organized workshops in over 230 cities, teaching the basics of programming to more than 10,000 women.

Poetry of Programming

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jRREn6ifEQ 18

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jRREn6ifEQ




Dealing With Errors


goo.gl/JWuBLd

https://goo.gl/JWuBLd

https://goo.gl/JWuBLd


Collaborative Coding★ This is a variation on Google’s ‘High Seas’

activity★ This is not a coding exercise!★ It is a metacognitive exercise to explore components of

computational thinking

goo.gl/om3vCB

The Mind Lab by Unitec |Computational Thinking | 2016 20

https://goo.gl/om3vCB

https://goo.gl/om3vCB


goo.gl/vTmaLN

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High Seas Adventure Variant

https://goo.gl/vTmaLN

https://goo.gl/vTmaLN


goo.gl/CNI80K

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High Seas Adventure Starter

Click ‘see inside’ then click ‘remix’ to make your own version

https://goo.gl/CNI80K

https://goo.gl/CNI80K


The Mind Lab by Unitec | Computational Thinking | 2016The Mind Lab by Unitec | Computational Thinking | 2016 23

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjPh0KpUAQI

The Mind Lab by Unitec | Computational Thinking | 2016The Mind Lab by Unitec | Computational Thinking | 2016 https://www.cs-first.com/studentpage/activity-add-ons-1 24

Further Video Tutorials

https://www.cs-first.com/studentpage/activity-add-ons-1

https://www.cs-first.com/studentpage/activity-add-ons-1

The Mind Lab by Unitec | 2016The Mind Lab by Unitec | 2016

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http://www.themindlab.com

http://www.themindlab.com

https://www.facebook.com/themindlabnz/

https://www.facebook.com/themindlabnz/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCby1Fo11UYLJQ1R7Zl1EQyg



http://www.slideshare.net/themindlab

http://www.slideshare.net/themindlab

computational thinking with scratch workshop

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