WEEK 7 COMPUTATIONAL THINKING

Your name: Steven Perri

Your classroom (Provide a brief description of your classroom/grade/subject/specialization, etc):

My science classroom is full of 5th graders who are studying the quality of water in a nearby river for our
hydrosphere unit.

Based on the definitions provided by this week and last weeks articles, along with the
examples on p. 52 of this weeks article, complete the chart below to provide specific
examples of how you would encourage CT and problem solving in your classroom.

CT Principle How you would define it How would it manifest in your

(in your own words) class

Seeking out important Collecting samples of water in

Data Collection information that can be of use in the river so that students can
solving a problem. examine its quality.
Comparing and contrasting the Looking at organisms and
Data Analysis collected data so that meaning chemicals in water samples.
can be made.
Sharing results with others in anCreating a bar graph
Data Representation appropriate visual display. representing the levels of
chemicals and amount of
organisms in each water
sample.
Breaking down parts of a large Trying to determine as a class
Problem Decomposition problem into smaller separate what is causing the poor water
problems. quality and cleaner water
quality.
Weighing out the causes and Students are using their problem
Abstraction effects of a plan/proposal in an solving skills to determine
organized flow chart. causes of water quality in a
systematic order.
The basic knowledge that is Students will learn basic
Algorithms and Procedures necessary to know about a rising chemicals and plant/animal
problem in order to resolve it. cycles that take place in fresh
water.
 Using equipment to help Students will be using
Automation diagnose problems and develop microscopes and thermometers
ideas to create a positive to characterize the water quality.
outcome.

Comparing new data to old data Students will compare river

Parallelization that has been tested and water samples to water samples
approved. from years previous.
Testing out a solution to a Students will be using their
Simulation problem to determine its knowledge of the water quality in
effectiveness. near by river to take an
assessment.