Dive Brief:
- While the idea of teaching computational thinking on the way to computer science and other STEM subjects can be daunting, many teachers already incorporate these lessons when they ask students to problem-solve.
- EdTech: Focus on K-12 reports sixth grade computer science teacher Sheena Vaidyanathan says concepts of computational thinking are introduced as early as kindergarten when teachers ask students to solve problems using a series of steps.
- Vaidyanathan says teaching this type of thinking is more important than even coding and recommends teachers consider Google’s Exploring Computational Thinking lesson plans and tools, as well as CS Unplugged, both of which are accessible for teachers who might be intimidated by computer science otherwise.
Dive Insight:
There has been a massive focus on teaching young children to code as an entry into computer science and future STEM careers, but this focus may be leaving students without the skills they’ll actually need. The most popular coding language changes with relative frequency and it is true that students who learn one language will have an easier time picking up another, but perhaps more important — and certainly more transferrable — is learning the fundamentals that undergird computer science.
Stanford University computer science professor Mehran Sahami has written about this. If students learn problem-solving, logical deduction and precise thinking, they will be prepared to be better citizens. That, along with preparing a workforce, should be at the heart of embracing computer science education.