Computational+Thinker+S18

**Rating**: 10/10 - Familiarity, accessibility, use within school & business environments, many functions for applying computational thinking formulas, ability to merge with other programs, etc. Many online forums are available for training and computational formula development. Development of worksheets to extract data sets for analyzing, breaking down into more descriptive parts for further data mining, algorithmic thinking challenges, and much more are all presented & available when approaching Sheets/MS Excel from a computational thinker standpoint. **Description**: When it comes to computational thinking, it is hard to piece together any technology assisted methods prior to the proper collection & application of data sets, which both Google Sheets & MS Excel do for us with ease. As stated above, these programs are often the backbone of computational data collection, mining, and analysis before more advanced computational methods are applied. **Alignment**: These resources align with all four ISTE Computational Thinker standards: 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d
 * Jennifer Pittman **
 * Resource**: Google Sheets or MSExcel

Computational Thinking – Jasmaine Bartee


 * Resource Name: [|Bebras Challenge]
 * Identify as educational website, software program NOT hosted on the internet, or app. Educational Website
 * Rate the resource overall on a scale of 1-10 and explain your rating in 2-3 sentence: Rating 10 - I give this site a rating of 10 because of its ease of use. The use of color and userfriendliness lends itself to being a great resource for students.
 * Brief description of the resource including how it can be used with classroom instruction or professional development in 3-5 sentences. : this is a website that helps kids using computations and logic. solve Students can work collaboratively or alone, with the authorization and monitoring of a teacher. Games are used to encourage learning. Students must register with the assistance of their teacher.
 * Explain how the resource aligns with the instructional strategy examined for the week in 2-3 sentences. **// Computational Thinking: //** Students develop and employ strategies for understanding and solving problems in ways that leverage the power of technological methods to develop and test solutions. ** 5a ** Students formulate problem definitions suited for technology-assisted methods such as data analysis, abstract models and algorithmic thinking in exploring and finding solutions

Nicole Graham


 * Name of Resource:** PBSkids.org
 * Identify the resource as an educational website, software program or app ** : Website as well as an app


 * Rate the Resource on a scale of 1 to 10: ** 10/10 I love that its free. Kids can do it at school as well as at home. It can be a website use on a computer or an app on an any type of device.

**Brief description of the Resource and how it can be used with classroom instruction or training in a work** **setting. (3 - 5 sentences):** I like that this site can be used to follow up many of the lessons I teach in class. It also makes if fun for kids to see characters from stories and/or tv in the games they are playing. I love that there is also printable activities as well as activities that can be done on the site. Is is child friendly. Designed for all ages but mostly tailored to preschool-2nd grade.

ISTE Standards: 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d.
 * How does the resource align with instructional strategy examined for the week (2 - 3 sentences): **

5a Students formulate problem definitions suited for technology-assisted methods such as data analysis, abstract models and algorithmic thinking in exploring and finding solutions.

5b Students collect data or identify relevant data sets, use digital tools to analyze them, and represent data in various ways to facilitate problem-solving and decision-making.

5c Students break problems into component parts, extract key information, and develop descriptive models to understand complex systems or facilitate problem-solving.

5d Students understand how automation works and use algorithmic thinking to develop a sequence of steps to create and test automated solutions.



Jessica McDonald

Alice : an educational website

**Rating**: I rate this resource a 10/10. It is completely free, easy to use and fun for kids.

**Description**: Alice is a website designed to teach computational thinking skills and the basics of programming through story or game creation. It was created by Randy Pausch and others at Carnegie Mellon University. It works best for middle school, high school and college level students. Alice includes tutorials, lessons, projects, and an audio library. Students are able to use a drag and drop method to learn the fundamentals of programing without all of the technical jargon.

**ISTE Standard Alignment**: This resource best aligns with standards 5c and 5d. Students must learn and create the story or animation in a step-by-step fashion. They also have to problem solve as they learn the basics of programming. In addition, students go through a series of trials and errors. They must continually test their animations to see if they are working correctly and then adjust as necessary.

5c Students break problems into component parts, extract key information, and develop descriptive models to understand complex systems or facilitate problem-solving. 5d Students understand how automation works and use algorithmic thinking to develop a sequence of steps to create and test automated solutions.




 * Student: ** Kate Albert


 * Name of the Resource: ** [|www.PBSKids.org]


 * Identify the resource as an educational website, software program or app ** : App and Web


 * Rate the Resource on a scale of 1 to 10: ** I would rate this app a 10 out of 10. Can be used with iOS and Android. Free. Good for PreK-Grade 2 but rated for Everyone and parents love it too. A lot to choose from!

**Brief description of the Resource and how it can be used with classroom instruction or training in a work** **setting. (3 - 5 sentences):** Many options in all academic areas. Science, reading etc. The site has games that involve sequencing to help develop early computer skills.


 * How does the resource align with instructional strategy examined for the week (2 - 3 sentences): ** Students develop and employ strategies for understanding and solving problems. ISTE Standards: 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d.



Resource: [|Thinking Myself] Rating: 5/10 Description: Thinking Myself is an interactive site for students to learn about computational thinking. Students can work with patterns, algorithms, and abstract ideas. It is easy to navigate in regards to completing the activities; however, they don’t have a lot of information regarding the purpose of the site or how to use it. It does not look like it has been updated for many years. I think it would be great for elementary school aged students to use. Standards:5b: Students collect data or identify relevant data sets, use digital tools to analyze them, and represent data in various ways to facilitate problem-solving and decision-making. 5d: Students understand how automation works and use algorithmic thinking to develop a sequence of steps to create and test automated solutions.
 * Megan Saputo **


 * Megan Canty **
 * Resource: **Bootstrap
 * Idefntify the Resource: **Software Program
 * Rating: **I rate this a 9/10. You can get all the lesson plans online for the various topics. But there are some things you need to request access to and some other programs you will need to use these math and computational thinking lessons.
 * Description: **Bootstrap is a program that was developed to combine programming with the math and sciences that students are already learning in the classroom. To be able to build their own video games, students have to use the math that they would learn in any Algebra class across the country. Students learn and use the math in a way that connects them to the material. Thre are also lessons and programs for subjects such as physics and data sciences with conferences that teachers can attend to learn more about the program.
 * ISTE Alignment: **In order for students to create their video game, they must use the problem solving and development of concepts in their programming that teaches them the standards of such classes as Algebra. They break down what they want to develop in their game and use the math that they are learning through 5a and 5c.


 * <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Ian Murphy **
 * <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Resource: **lightbot
 * Identify the Resource:** app (Apple, Chrome, Amazon)
 * Rating:** 5/10 The app is $2.99 and is basically a puzzle solving program. It aligns with some of the standards for computational thinking but falls short in others. Lightbot works well to engage students and help them employ strategies for understanding and solving problems. However, it does not require much in the areas of data collection, analysis, and representation.
 * Description:** Lightbot is a puzzle solving app designed to teach students basic ideas of coding. Students must formulate a plan and drag-and-drop directions for their character to follow in order to solve each puzzle and advance to the next level. Each level increases in difficulty and students are given multiple chances to solve each level. The website advertises the use of sequencing, procedures, recursive loops, and conditionals as educational points of the game. There is also a Lightbot Jr version of the game for younger students.
 * ISTE Alignment:** Lightbot uses technology to solve problems using abstract models and basic algorithmic processes. It does not require creation of algorithms in order to solve the puzzles as the sequences created are unique to each individual puzzle and not necessarily repeatable. (5a) Students must analyze data in order to solve each puzzle but the program again falls short of requiring students to collect data or use data sets, use digital tools to analyze data, or represent data in various ways. (5b) In order to solve puzzles in lightbot, students must break problems into component parts and extract key information. (5c) Lightbot makes use of sequencing of steps in order to solve each puzzle and advance to the next level. (5d)


 * <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Jessica Miles **


 * Resource:** [|Project Euler]

<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;;">a Students formulate problem definitions suited for technology-assisted methods such as data analysis, abstract models and algorithmic thinking in exploring and finding solutions. <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;;">5c Students break problems into component parts, extract key information, and develop descriptive models to understand complex systems or facilitate problem-solving. <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;;">5d Students understand how automation works and use algorithmic thinking to develop a sequence of steps to create and test automated solution
 * Identify the resource:** Website
 * Rating:** I would rate this website a 9 out of 10. You can register for free and have access to any of the puzzles they have on their website. There are over thousands of problems and puzzles to solve. However, these problems are only geared toward math or computer programming. This would be a great resource for high school students, AP/advanced classes, and adults. This website might be too complex for children/ young adults. I like that this website is a fun and engaging way to break down a challenging problem and solve it by using conceptual thinking!
 * Brief Description:** This website contains different mathematical puzzles that you need to solve step by step. This website also includes computer programming problems that need more than mathematical skills to solve. This website is a fun way to solve complex problems. Solving these problems can help you enhance your math skills, solve issues with programming, or help you in your line of work. This website is very stimulating to your mind and changes levels of difficulty as you advance through the puzzles.
 * Align with Instructional Strategy:** This website is a great way to demonstrate conceptual thinking. It presents you with a problem/puzzle and it allows you to take the problem apart and solve it in a step by step process. Once you solve each step, you put it together at the end and solve the problem as a whole. There are patterns in the puzzles/algorithms and it allows you to make connections to other problems as well.
 * ISTE standard: Conceptual Thinking **

<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">The game aligns with the Computational Thinker as that is built right into the entire game. The students are introduced to the concept of what defines a Computational Thinker. Problems are easily solve through step by step application. <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">ISTE Standards: <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">5a Students formulate problem definitions suited for technology-assisted methods such as data analysis, abstract models and algorithmic thinking in exploring and finding solutions. <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">5c Students break problems into component parts, extract key information, and develop descriptive models to understand complex systems or facilitate problem-solving. <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">5d Students understand how automation works and use algorithmic thinking to develop a sequence of steps to create and test automated solutions. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: baseline;">
 * <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Cheryl Flannery **
 * <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Resource: **<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;"> [|Thinking Myself]
 * <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Type of resource: **<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;"> Game/Website
 * <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Description & Rating: **<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;"> I would rate this resource a 9 out 10. The Thinking Myself computational thinking game is for children grades K-12 but appears to be geared more towards the elementary level. This is why I gave it a 9/10 score. I think that it’s not really appropriate for high school level students. The game does a great job of defining each of the subject areas, which includes Decompose, Patterns, Abstraction and Algorithms. The game is very user friendly and applies the concepts in an easily understood format. I could see this game being used in a classroom setting quite easily.


 * Stephanie Blahunka **

ScratchJr is a free[| app] for children ages 5-7 where they can code their own stories and games. Children will learn to solve problems, design projects and express themselves on the computer. This app provides literacy and number sense. I would give this resource a 10/10. Children can navigate the app easily and if parents want to get to know what children are learning they can see what the app is all about by visiting the website. The resource aligns with the standards because students are problem solving with stories and games. Children are working with a number of steps when they are creating a story.
 * [|ScratchJr] **

ISTE Standard: Computational Thinker 5c Students break problems into component parts, extract key information, and develop descriptive models to understand complex systems or facilitate problem-solving. 5d Students understand how automation works and use algorithmic thinking to develop a sequence of steps to create and test automated solutions.


 * Erin Guillen **

CS First CS First is a website that is partnered with Google to allow users to become comfortable with different aspects of computer programming. I would rate the resource a 10/10. Parents or teachers can use the site with students or children ages 9-14. It has students work on a problem that correlates with a chosen theme. These themes range from storytelling, friends, fashion & design, art, social media, sports, music, game design, and animation. For each theme there are eight activities to complete that revolve around learning the basics of computer science. Used as a resource in the classroom students would become familiar and comfortable with learning the basics of computer science and programming at young age. They would be in charge of using technology to solve problems by testing out their different creative solutions.

ISTE Standard: Computational Thinker 5c Students break problems into component parts, extract key information, and develop descriptive models to understand complex systems or facilitate problem-solving. 5d Students understand how automation works and use algorithmic thinking to develop a sequence of steps to create and test automated solutions.


 * <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Kristy Beckwith **

<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Name of the resource: Kodable

<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Link: [|Kodable]

<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Identify: App/website

<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Rate: 9/10

<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Brief description: The teacher will develop a computer science lesson and then the students will be able to play games that go along with the lesson. The teacher can use a progress tracker within the site and they are able to adjust each student's level depending on their understanding of the subject. If the students are really struggling then they can make the games that go along with the lesson a lot easier. Kodable is a 21st century game to really get the students to dig deep into the lesson so that they will retain the lesson better.

Kodable breaks down computer science into the basic concepts kids need for a strong foundation life. Kodable offers materials focused on topics ranging from communication and social emotional learning to real world impact of computer science.

<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">5a Students formulate problem definitions suited for technology-assisted methods such as data analysis, abstract models and algorithmic thinking in exploring and finding solutions.

<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">5b Students collect data or identify relevant data sets, use digital tools to analyze them, and represent data in various ways to facilitate problem-solving and decision-making.

<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">5c Students break problems into component parts, extract key information, and develop descriptive models to understand complex systems or facilitate problem-solving.

<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">5d Students understand how automation works and use algorithmic thinking to develop a sequence of steps to create and test automated solutions. <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">

<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Shelton Byrd


 * <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">Name of the Resource

<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Computational Thinking Initiatives. [|www. Computationinitative.org]


 * <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">Identify the resources as an educational website, software program or app

<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">Educational website.


 * <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">Rate the Resource on a scale of 1 to 10.

<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">5/10


 * <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">Brief description of the Resource and how it can is used with classroom instruction or training in a work setting. (3 - 5 sentence)

<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Computational Thinking Initiatives is a website dedicated to offering programs and resources to improve computational thinking among students. It emphasizes development to show how computation can be used to solve real life problems with real life answers. It is centered on the principle of using modern devices to assist with analytical and critical thinking.


 * <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">How does the resource align with instructional strategy examined for the week (2 - 3 sentence)

<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">It aligns with ISTE Standard 5a Students formulate problem definitions suited for technology-assisted methods such as data analysis, abstract models and algorithmic thinking in exploring and finding solutions. 5b Students collect data or identify relevant data sets, use digital tools to analyze them, and represent data in various ways to facilitate problem-solving and decision-making. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">