Computational Thinking: Algorithms: Computer Science: GCSE (9:1)

Abstraction

Removing unnecessary detail and keeping only what's necessary to solve a problem. An example is storing a chess board as a 2D array of characters. This is a CT skill

Decomposition

Breaking a problem down into smaller steps in order to solve it. E.g. a chess game needs to display the board, input a move, update the board, think of its own move. A CT skill

Algorithmic thinking

Defining the steps needed to solve a problem using sequence, selection and iteration. For example in chess we list all possible moves, then evaluate each move, select the best move, repeat. A CT skill

Computational thinking

A problem solving process using abstraction, decomposition and algorithmic thinking. Results in an algorithm we can code for a computer. Known as CT

Problem solving

Any process used to find a solution to a problem. Can include CT as one of the methods

Relevant

The details you keep and use in your solution in abstraction

Steps

Working out the series of ________ to solve a problem is algorithmic thinking

Smaller

Breaking down the problem into ____________ problems is decomposition.

Sequence

When using algorithmic thinking, we need to work out the order of steps, then we put them together in this construct

Selection

In algorithmic thinking, we work out where the decisions need to be made. The we put this construct into our algorithm

Iteration

In algorithmic thinking we work out what processes need to be repeated, so we use this construct

Road map

This is an abstraction of the geography of the real world. It allows us to plan car journeys without worrying about unnecessary details like hills, rivers or railway lines

Weather

We predict this feature of the natural world by running a large computer model which is an abstraction of the atmosphere of the earth

Subtask

A small part of a larger problem. We break a problem into these during decomposition

Algorithm

A step-by-step procedure for solving a problem, especially by a computer. The result of successful Computational Thinking