Computational Thinking

Abstract

This chapter focuses on computational thinking, recognized as one of the central twenty-first century skills. Computer science teachers should be familiar with computational thinking to build their own conception of its essence and central ideas for two main reasons: First, computational thinking is connected to computerized processes (but not only); second, computer science teachers have a special role in the implementation of computational thinking in educational systems and in the promotion of its conceptualization. This chapter presents several common educational approaches to computational thinking, analysis of the relationships between computer science and computational thinking, recommended pedagogical principles for implementation in the MTCS course, and activities to be facilitated in the MTCS course and in computer science teachers' professional development programs.