Algorithmic thinking refers to the ability to solve problems in a logical and systematic way, like a computer program. It involves breaking down complex tasks into smaller steps and developing a clear plan or set of instructions (algorithm) to solve them. It is about solving problems in an organized and methodical manner, similar to how a computer processes information.
Full definition
In today's Q&A, we get a K - 12 overview
of algorithmic thinking from educators Greg Breese (Head of Mathematics at Glen Waverley Secondary College, Victoria) and David Shigrov (Year 7 and 8 STEM teacher at Seymour College, Adelaide, and President of the Mathematical Association of South Australia).
Insight problems are those for which methodical,
algorithmic thinking don't yield a solution and depend instead on flashes of insight.
Four times a year, the groups work on worksheets with problem sets that require the
same algorithmic thinking to solve, but each student's problem set has different numbers, so students can not simply copy the answers from each other.
With algorithmic thinking, it means younger students have more time to develop effective habits in their processing of tasks and problem solving.
DS: It is not uncommon for many teachers, students and parents to have the misconception that
algorithmic thinking requires an understanding of coding, programming or the use of a computer.
David Shigrov: At a primary level, some might refer to it
as algorithmic thinking, others may refer to it as computational thinking.
Algorithmic thinking does not require these — it is essentially being able to arrive at a solution to a problem via a series of clearly defined steps.
GB:
Algorithmic thinking skills support the development of general reasoning, problem - solving and communication skills by giving students the skills to fluently interpret and design structured procedures and rule systems.
This has been identified as a major concern for Australia's economic well - being and our capacity to compete in a world increasingly reliant on computational and
algorithmic thinking.
What activities do you use to help students develop abstract thinking and
algorithmic thinking?
Algorithmic thinking, or computational thinking, refers to thinking about these processes for solving problems.
In many ways, we are faced with opportunities to exercise procedural or «
algorithmic thinking» regularly in our lives.
It might also be worth considering the paralleled step - by - step nature of
algorithmic thinking that could lend itself to reduced anxiety in learning.
The point of this is the need for teachers to demonstrate
the algorithmic thinking process to students and when a hurdle or challenge is encountered, further demonstration of how this is incorporated into the process.
Algorithmic thinking has the potential of doing this.
Algorithmic thinking and «coding» are often conflated, but the two disciplines are quite different.
The focus of
algorithmic thinking is the algorithm or problem - solving strategy, whereas, the focus of coding is the translation of the algorithm into a language that a computer can execute, a process called implementation.
Is
algorithmic thinking the same as coding?
We will need to be able to draw on
our algorithmic thinking (see glossary) in order to write the necessary instructions and make use of any functions we want to include, like variables and loops to implement our end product.
We will see how this relates to a computational thinking framework of
algorithmic thinking, evaluation, decomposition, abstraction and generalisation (Selby and Woollard 2013).
We will need to be able to draw on
our algorithmic thinking (see glossary) in order to write the necessary instructions.
There will be workshops on basis of software programming and
algorithmic thinking, on blockchain and machine learning as well as on document automation tools.
The algorithmic thinking skills you gain by learning to program matter.