Computational Thinking
Computational Thinking is a problem solving process. It is a fundamental skill for everyone, and involves solving problems, designing solutions and systems to solve open ended problems based on multiple variables. We illustrate the concept in this week's session with the following quotes:
“Everyone should learn how to program a computer, because it teaches you how to think.” (Steve Jobs, cited in Sen, 1995)
"Computational thinking is a way humans solve problems; it is not trying to get humans to think like computers." (Wing, 2006)
“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 University, n.d.)
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)
Scratch
We will use Scratch in class, a visual programming tool that is free of charge. Scratch is a project of the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab, and it helps young people learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively. With Scratch you can program your own stories, games and animations and share and use other projects in the online library.
Pair Programming
Pair programming is a common technique in agile software development. One member of the pair is the ‘driver’ (does the typing, and focuses on tactics) while the other is the ‘navigator’ (can review and suggest, and focuses on strategy). When pair programming you should change your roles within the pair on a regular basis, and also change your partner on a regular basis.
Scratch Examples
With Scratch examples you can click the 'See Inside' button to see how the code was written and, if you want to, you can make a copy to modify yourself by pressing the 'Remix' button. An example we show demonstrates Repetition and Scale
References:
Carnegie Mellon University. (n.d.). Center for Computational Thinking. Retrieved from https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~CompThink/
Sen P. (1995). Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview, Retrieved from: https://itunes.apple.com/au/movie/steve-jobs-the-lost-interview/id632407040
Wing, J. M. (2006). Computational thinking. Communications of the ACM, 49(3), 33-35.
Mindsets
Mindsets are beliefs; how you think about yourself, your intelligence and talents, what it is you can and cannot do. Ultimately, this affects how you perceive other people and their abilities, talents and capabilities, what they are and are not capable of.
In class we will begin by completing a quiz to explore your own mindset
Intelligence
In the session we will address the question of whether Intelligence is innate and, therefore, cannot be developed beyond what you are born with. Claxton (2008) notes that "intelligence [has] become defined as the kind of mind that responds most readily to the peculiar demands of school."
Dweck's Theory of intelligence
Dweck (2006) descried two different views of intelligence. The previous view is that there is a fixed intelligence that can be measured using an IQ Test. No matter how much you learn, or how hard you work, your intelligence stays the same. Her view of intelligence is that the brain is malleable: it is like a muscle that can get stronger and work better as you learn and stretch yourself. Over time, you can get smarter. This leads to two contrasting views of mindset, fixed and growth:
Fixed Mindset
People with a Fixed Mindset believe that the abilities and capabilities they have are fixed traits. Their intelligence is set, they are talented at certain things and not others. They believe that it is whether or not someone is talented at something is what allows them to be successful at something or not. Intelligence is fixed and can be measured.
Growth Mindset
People with a Growth Mindset believe that their intelligence, and abilities can be developed and grow. Through hard work, dedication and time, people can learn new talents, learn new things and become more intelligent. Teaching a growth mindset encourages learning, develops relationships and self efficacy. The brain is malleable, it can grow, stretch and expand. The harder you work, the more you can learn.
Ways to Develop a Growth Mindset
By changing the language we use. The power of 'not yet' in the classroom. "I have not learnt this yet" shows a growth mindset, rather than saying "I can't do this", or "I failed" which shows a fixed mindset. Changing the way we talk in the classroom, 'What we are learning' rather than 'Here is the work to do'. What is it that we value? Do we value the end product or the learning process? (Dweck, 2006)
Critiquing Growth Mindset
Explore and critique these different ideas around Growth Mindset.
- Recognizing and Overcoming False Growth Mindset
“It all started when my Australian colleague Susan Mackie informed me that she was seeing more and more false growth mindset. This is when educators think and do all sorts of things that they simply call growth mindset. And then I started noticing it, too.” (Dweck, 2016)
- What Having a “Growth Mindset” Actually Means
“...it’s still not easy to attain a growth mindset. One reason why is we all have our own fixed-mindset triggers. When we face challenges, receive criticism, or fare poorly compared with others, we can easily fall into insecurity or defensiveness, a response that inhibits growth. Our work environments, too, can be full of fixed-mindset triggers.” (Dweck, 2016)
- The Growth Mindset : Telling Penguins to Flap Harder ?
“it seems to me that this is a theory which describes the world as we would want it to be, rather than the world as it is.”
Stop Motion Movie Making
Stop motion is an animation technique that physically manipulates an object so it appears to move on its own. An object is moved in small increments, then individually photographed, creating the illusion of movement when played. Dolls, LEGO® and clay figures (claymation) are often used since they are easy to re-position. Stop motion films can also involve humans, household appliances etc. for comedic effect.
Stop Motion Tools
You can make stop motion movies manually using generic video editing tools like MovieMaker, iMovie or WeVideo, or use a dedicated stop motion tool like Stop Motion Maker (iOS), Stop Motion Animator (Chrome) or Pic Pac (Google Play Store/Android)
Growth Mindset in Leadership
If you want to include the role of growth mindset in your leadership assignments, you might consider some of these ideas.
Growth mindset in a leadership context comes from a belief that those we lead can be motivated to improve and grow their practices. This choice usually involves including many stakeholders in decision-making, over-communicating the vision, mission, and goals, building shared values, and providing specific, targeted, timely feedback.
A Growth-Minded [Leadership] Choice (Diehl, 2013) might be one that:
- Validates and addresses staffs fears and barriers
- Communicates the vision explicitly
- Provides support to those who lack knowledge or skills
- Creates an opportunity to share research and information
- Allows everyone access to growth opportunities
- Shares the work load among all staff
An Oracle blog post (Oracle, 2015) suggests that leadership is all about the willingness to grow and change and to help your people do the same. The Harvard Business Review (2014) suggests that organizations focused on employees’ capacity for growth will experience significant advantages.
References:
Claxton, G. (2008). What's the point of school? Richmond: Oneworld.
Diehl, E. (2013). Leading Change with a Growth Mindset. Community.mindsetworks.com. Retrieved from http://community.mindsetworks.com/blog-page/home-blogs/entry/leading-change-with-a-growth-mindset
Disidealist. (2014). The Growth Mindset: Telling Penguins to Flap Harder? Retrieved July 26, 2016, from https://disidealist.wordpress.com/2014/12/05/242/
Dweck, C. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House.
Dweck, C. (2016, January 11). Recognizing and Overcoming False Growth Mindset. Retrieved July 26, 2016, from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/recognizing-overcoming-false-growth-mindset-carol-dweck
Dweck, C. (2016, January 13). What Having a “Growth Mindset” Actually Means Carol Dweck. Retrieved July 26, 2016, from https://hbr.org/2016/01/what-having-a-growth-mindset-actually-means
Harvard Business Review. (2014). How Companies Can Profit from a “Growth Mindset”. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2014/11/how-companies-can-profit-from-a-growth-mindset
Oracle. (2015). Are You Leading With a Growth Mindset? Retrieved from https://blogs.oracle.com/sandye/entry/are_you_leading_with_a
Day 5
Not yet
Class display
Language of learning
Praise - effort and persistence
Is it bad to fail - grade/feedback…
Targeted programmes - GATE Special needs? Do we need them? Inclusive
Ourselves as learners - lifelong learners
Code
New language. Diverse set of people...diff view of tech.
Eratostheme algorythm
Kids consume rather than create on tech...need to code to create and solve problems make them fluent
Scratch good to teach any area of curric - pair programming - end result better and faster. Have conversation - 1 asks questions and watches while other does typing.
Constructivist/constructionist
Coding gave love of maths
Should we teach computational thinking
Shouldn't not do it just because you don't know it - takes courage and mindset
Mindcraft - can build computer and other stuff - very cool
Make a backwards bike?
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