Sunday, July 3, 2016

Slide Animation for Computational Thinking


Computational Thinking (CT)
 is a problem solving process that includes a number of characteristics and dispositions. CT is essential to the development of computer applications, but it can also be used to support problem solving across all disciplines, including the humanities, math, and science. Students who learn CT across the curriculum can begin to see a relationship between academic subjects, as well as between life inside and outside of the classroom. 

When I think of computational thinking, I lean towards this definition. Nowhere in this definition does it talk about coding. While I think coding is an important skill, it is not for everyone. However, being able to problem solve is a skill for everyone.

Last year I was teaching the third-grade different aspects of Google Slides. I brought them through many aspects of how to use Slides and finally got to animation.




Google Slides, and I am sure PowerPoint has this function as well, allows you to choose to animate on click, after previous, or with previous object. It is a good way to introduce or practice, if ... then ... thinking.

Animations within Slides can get very complex, but they can also be simple enough for any student to do. Animations in Google Slides is a practical way to integrate computational thinking into any subject.

1 comment: