Computational Thinking and Design

In the Information Age, problems look different. Information comes at us faster than ever before, and our ability to solve problems depends on us being able to make sense of and synthesize this information. We must also design new solutions using all available technology and tools.

Digital-age problem solving combines three key skills and concepts essential to understanding and solving problems in the information age: data literacy, design thinking, and computational thinking. Data literacy is the ability to analyze, interpret, and tell stories using complex sets of data. Design thinking is the ability to understand problems and develop creative solutions. Computational thinking is the process of expressing solutions so that humans and computers can understand them.

Throughout this MOOC-Ed, you'll have the opportunity to dig into digital-age problem solving, engage with its component skills and concepts, and learn how to integrate them into your instructional practice. This course will not be heavy on coding, and you won't need to know any code going in - it will focus on how to integrate digital-age problem solving in a practical way into your classroom.

• Understand the components of digital-age problem solving: design thinking, computational thinking, and data literacy;
• Connect digital-age problem solving to existing content and problem-solving processes;
• Engage in the digital-age problem solving process through simulated activities;
• Apply digital-age problem solving in a real-world context;
• View digital-age problem solving in a variety of careers and subject areas;
• Explore connections to computer science, coding, and making.