Computational Thinking: The Catalyst of Humanity

by Joshua Parmley

From the printing press to nuclear physics, the logic of computer science shaped history. Education should focus on that logic to shape the future.

Jeannette Wing, Columbia University's Data Science director, defines computational thinking as "taking an approach to solving problems, designing systems, ...[by drawing] on concepts fundamental to computing". It is an approach to problem solving guided by computational principles, such as the development of functions. For example, say your family can never agree on which restaurant to go to. You could bicker  each time you want to go out, or you could develop a function to streamline the process. For example, you might develop a tournament system. Everyone nominates restaurants in order to fill a bracket, then eliminates one name at a time by a majority vote. The last restaurant represents the overall best choice. This method develops an easy to follow procedure (function in computer and math languages) that prevents excessive contention and saves you time. It is a computational approach to decision making.