1. Successful Teaching Using
Computational Thinking via
Scenario Based Learning
Chuck Winer, Professor, Computer Information Technology and
Graphics, Purdue University Calumet
Anastasia Trekles, Director of Learning Technology, Purdue
North Central
Jennifer Werner, Adjunct Professor of Computer Information
Technology and Instructional Designer, Community Healthcare
Systems
2.
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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=y
outu.be
Jeanette Wing’s description: http://youtu.be/C2Pq4N-iE4I
6. 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
7. Examples of SBL/CT Scenarios
Our list research-based scenarios can be found at
https://sites.google.com/site/workshopctandsblresourcesite/s
haring-our-research-experience
Experiential Learning Center: http://learnpbl.com
Computer Science Teachers Association:
http://csta.acm.org/Resources/sub/ResourceFiles/CompThin
king.pdf
Examples from Ross Smith, a teacher trained in our
workshops:
http://whoreallydiscoveredamerica.weebly.com
https://sites.google.com/a/hammondacademy.org/middle-ages-
project/
https://sites.google.com/a/hammondacademy.org/standard-of-
living2/
8. 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/c
omputational-thinking-rubric
9. 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
10. Google Sites
Certainly not the only tool you can use –
http://education.Weebly.com is another great option
Google Sites is free and relatively easy to work with, but it
does require a Google account
A great tutorial: http://edutraining.googleapps.com/Training-
Home/module-5-sites
Note that Sites does not work like Docs in that you cannot be
working on the same page with someone else at the same
time
11. More Resources
LearnPBL: http://learnpbl.com
Interesting SBL article:
http://www.learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/1108/how-to-
engage-learners-with-scenario-based-learning-
Mobile scenarios from Intel:
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/education/k12/mobil
e-learning/action/scenarios.html