Oldal 94 [94]
OCR
10 PROMOTING ALGORITHMIC/ COMPUTATIONAL THINKING OF BOTH SCIENCES- AND HUMANITIES-ORIENTED LEARNERS (STUDIES 6 AND 7) Algorithmic and computational thinking (AT/CT) are important abilities in an information-based society, ones that all should possess. AT is related to the concept of creating and processing algorithms (Futschek, 2006). Since the term "algorithm" essentially refers to a seguence of logical steps aimed at performing a well-defined task, the creation of algorithms is mainly a human activity. Algorithms are everywhere in modern society. Many fields of modern life involve the processes of following procedures, applying protocols, or implementing technigues, all of which can be viewed as human-processed algorithms. Thus, a developed AT may be beneficial for a wide range of human activities. On the other hand, one of the main characteristics of the digital era is that the control behind the technology that has pervaded all sectors of society is implemented through computer-processed algorithms. Most people come into daily contact with computer-processed algorithms through information technology resources. In 1999, the USA Committee on Information Technology Literacy of the National Research Council (NRC) called for an educational focus on Fluency with Information Technology (FITness). The NRC committee recommended a pedagogical approach that, besides contemporary skills and intellectual capabilities, incorporates ten fundamental IT concepts, including “algorithmic thinking and programming” and “modelling and abstraction”. In other words, being fluent in IT assumes an understanding of the basic concepts and principles of IT resources. From this perspective, AT is closely related to CT (Hu 2011). Accordingly, developing students’ AT should be included as an objective in all educational programmes at all levels and connected to lifelong learning. In addition, this educational issue implies that all students, including adult learners, should need to be familiar with what a computer algorithm is and how it works. Hardly has any technology been as ubiquitous in human history as CS is today. The creation of a genuine educational programme which ensures a proper initiation into AT/CT is a major endeavour. As in most countries there is already a severe computational literacy gap between the different segments of society, this educational programme must be all-inclusive and must address all irrespective of age, gender, race, culture, orientation, or disability. Accordingly, one of the most serious challenges faced by such an initiative is that of dealing effectively with diversity. In this chapter, we focus on one
