Problem solving is one of the most vital skills a student can learn in school. Without learning how to solve problems that arise in their lives and adapt, students will struggle to cope with the constant changes and road blocks life throws at them.
This is why learning computation thinking is so important. Being able to take a problem that can seem very large and unsolvable and breaking it down into manageable parts can help reduce the overwhelming feeling that comes with problems. Also, by breaking down the problem, you can start to discover patterns or similar problems that you have faced in the past. The decomposition of a problem also helps you recognize what is important to focus on and what needs to be fixed. This is a skill that can be used in an academic setting and in with real world problems.
Coding in a great way to help students understand computational thinking in a fun and creative way. Using a website called Code, teachers can have their students great a game by following easy steps. However, if there is a problem with the code or a student forgets a portion of it, then the students will need to problem solve to figure out what went wrong.
Another great way integrating coding and computational thinking into the classroom is by having your students create a step by step plan on how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in their Science class and have the teacher follow the exact steps to show the importance of including every detail. However, I wonder how a teacher may do this while being mindful of the limited class time. Learning this is a great lesson for the start of a Science class to show how if the instruction for a task or experiment is not detailed enough, it could go in a very different direction.