The most valuable thing I learned in this module is how to deal with things I don't know at all, which shows my improvement in problem-solving. For example, When I'm doing the website part of this assessment, a very general problem came to me: how can I put things in the place I want them to be? To be honest I have no idea at all. I know I can look at all those HTML tutorials online, spend hours learning all the HTML features then I'm capable of doing everything I want - but definitely, that's the most complex way to achieve this. Since I've learned about computational thinking, I notice that I need to decompose my problems into more specific requirements so that I can search for them or ask others. Then I realize I want my website to show stuff in a number of squares, and I want to move those squares like playing jigsaw or lego. After figuring out my more specific need, then I just google "HTML move things like a jigsaw", which leads me to a youtube video named "34: How to Use CSS Position to Move Elements | Learn HTML & CSS | HTML Tutorial | mmtuts".
Let's summarize this.
Done! That's how computational thinking works.
That's it but not all of it. I can feel my thinking aspects changed a little after training myself in computational thinking. When people come up with a problem, actually there is a lot of background information without saying but inside the method of how they come up with the problem. When I'm asking "how to move things around in HTML pages", it is for sure that I have no idea about "container" or "box". Moreover, It's definitely easier to find the relevant answers when I'm asking "how to change the HTML layout", and I must have read some HTML tutorials to get those terms in mind.
Problem Solving is a bigger set that contains Computational Thinking, and the term is not in my mind before taking part in this module. Computational Thinking relates to a lot of relevant techniques, which all will enhance the performance of how I reflect on the challenge and opportunities in the future. And it really got me thinking that I also need to develop my anti-pressure ability and planning skills that I can live a well-prepared life. In a word, I'm able to solve problems that I haven't learned related terms before, which will strongly enhance my learning ability to any other modules or subjects. and now I have a better vision of my ability map, I can better plan my learning route in the future.
© Qiye Zhou 2021