Computational Thinking

Definition and understanding of computational thinking

  In today's society it is an era that requires the use of technology and techniques, new ways of thinking to solve complex problems and the application of relevant skills and practices. Computational thinking is an orderly way of thinking, which enables users to solve complex problems and propose these solutions in a way that computers, humans or both can understand. Programmers break down complex problems into more small steps, which allows them to understand the problem more fully. And innovate to develop solutions that work for computers as well as humans. Humans are also using computational thinking techniques outside of programming to break down problems so that the problem solving process can be more easily understood. (McFarland, 2022)

Four key techniques of computational thinking

  Decompose - Decompose a complex problem into smaller, more manageable parts
  Pattern recognition -- looking for similarities between and within problems
  Abstraction - Focus on important information and ignore irrelevant details
  Algorithm - Develop a step-by-step approach to solving problems, or develop rules to follow to solve problems. (McVeigh-Murphy, 2019)
  In computational thinking, the decomposition process involves decomposing it into smaller, more manageable problems. Then, each smaller problem can be examined separately and considered from the perspective of how similar problems were solved before. This is a pattern recognition technology. Then, use abstract techniques to focus only on important details and ignore irrelevant information. Finally, algorithmic techniques help you create simple rules to solve every small problem.

The importance of computational thinking

• Current importance
    This ability to manipulate complex information and think in a way that complements technical processes is critical to students' preparation. As the basis of coding and computer science, computational thinking encourages us to solve problems clearly and consciously by programming. As the basis of technology integration, computational thinking encourages us to consider how to use technology to help us solve these problems -- to automate certain tasks. As the basis of thinking, computational thinking encourages us to work diligently and orderly, planning how to solve a problem from the beginning, but with our in-depth understanding of the data and information, we also accept the liquidity of this process. For current courses that are just starting to learn computing, computational thinking can build a good basic attitude. Learning allows for bold questioning and the confidence to tackle complex problems and the persistence to face difficult problems. The ability to deal with open-ended problems and the ability to communicate and work with others to achieve common goals and solutions.
• The importance of the future
    With the rapid growth of e-commerce worldwide in recent years, Internet users are increasing at a rate of 100% per year, and the majority of companies have stepped into e-commerce one after another. In fact, statistics show that by 2023, global e-commerce sales may reach 6.542 trillion dollars, accounting for 22% of the entire retail market. (Anon,2022). As my undergraduate studies were in business management, I am now switching my major to computer science. My future career plan is to study e-commerce, and to master the basic knowledge of computer network. I will learn the basic skills of website design and maintenance, data analysis and so on. Computer thinking is crucial to employment today and will be a core skill for future employment opportunities. As technology continues to become more complex, we need to understand how to collect and filter data and use it. When faced with complex problems, people need the confidence and ability to come up with logical solutions. Accelerated productivity and smarter working can be achieved by learning to be a skilled person

Reference

  Anon, (2022). What Is Ecommerce? [Definition, How to, & More]. [online] Available at: https://www.ecommerceceo.com/learn/what-is-ecommerce/.
  McFarland, A. (2022). What is Computational Thinking? [online] Unite.AI. Available at: https://www.unite.ai/what-is-computational-thinking/ [Accessed 2 Nov. 2022].
   McVeigh-Murphy, A. (2019). What Is Computational Thinking? And Why Is It Important for Students? [online] equip.learning.com. Available at: https://equip.learning.com/computational-thinking.