Successful Teaching Using Computational Thinking via Scenario Based LearningChuck Winer, Professor, Computer Information Technology and Graphics

Anastasia Trekles, Clinical Associate Professor, Instructional Technology

Jennifer Werner, Adjunct Professor of Computer Information Technology and Instructional Designer, Community Healthcare Systems

Purdue University Calumet

Hammond, IN

Objectives Explain the concepts of Computational Thinking and

Scenario Based Learning as powerful tools for supporting authentic student learning

Discuss the benefits to serving as a Subject Matter Expert to classrooms employing scenarios

Demonstrate how teachers and businesses can work together to bolster important critical thinking and problem-solving skills in students

Share the research produced from the ASSECT NSF grant, including a Google Sites template and Computational Thinking rubric

Background NSF grant project (ASSECT: Advancing the Successful IT

Student Through Enhanced Computational Thinking) Partnership of universities in five regions Marriage of Jeanette Wing’s Computational Thinking (CT)

with a framework for building instructional elements Focus on Scenario-Based Learning (SBL) combined with CT

to help teachers deliver engaging lessons that help students develop important critical thinking skills within authentic career-oriented situations

What exactly is Computational Thinking? A problem-solving process A way of dealing with complexity A method of using available tools, including technology, in

logical ways to solve problems and answer questions ISTE’s definition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v

=VFcUgSYyRPg&feature=youtu.be Jeanette Wing’s description: http://youtu.be/C2Pq4N-iE4I

Problem-Based Learning Scenario-Based Learning

PBL vs. SBL

Project or problem is often already defined for the student

Solution may involve a particular “right answer”

Teacher guides students toward the right answers

Project may be contrived or not based on real situations

Exact problem details not given; students define the problem

There is not necessarily a right answer

Teacher serves purely as a facilitator and co-learner

Project involves real outside experts and situations

Examples of SBL/CT Scenarios Our list research-based scenarios can be found at

https://sites.google.com/site/workshopctandsblresourcesite/sharing-our-research-experience

Experiential Learning Center: http://learnpbl.com Computer Science Teachers Association:

http://csta.acm.org/Resources/sub/ResourceFiles/CompThinking.pdf

Examples from Ross Smith, a teacher trained in our workshops: http://whoreallydiscoveredamerica.weebly.com https://sites.google.com/a/hammondacademy.org/middle-ages-pr

oject/

https://sites.google.com/a/hammondacademy.org/standard-of-living2/

The CT Rubric Helps to assess computational thinking skills, including

logical thinking, strategizing, abstract thinking, procedural thinking, and optimizing

https://sites.google.com/site/workshopctandsblresourcesite/computational-thinking-rubric

The Scenario-Building Template Workshop link with context and other information:

https://sites.google.com/site/workshopctandsblresourcesite Google Sites Scenario-building template:

https://sites.google.com/site/assectworkshop/home

Thank you! Chuck: winer@purduecal.edu Staci: atrekles@purdue.edu Jen: jencruse@hotmail.com